近日，暨南大学的辛洪宝&李宝军及其研究团队取得一项新进展。经过不懈努力，他们利用光机械生物飞镖实现亚细胞精度的神经刺激与调制。相关研究成果已于2024年9月19日在国际知名学术期刊《光：科学与应用》上发表。

本文报道了一种利用光机械生物飞镖实现亚细胞精度神经刺激与调制的光机械方法。该生物飞镖取自向日葵花粉粒的尖端，当被光纤探针控制的光散射力驱动时，能在细胞膜上以亚微米级的空间分辨率产生瞬时压力，从而通过精确激活膜上的机械敏感离子通道，实现精准的神经刺激。

重要的是，该方法能够实现对单个神经元的可控调制，甚至精确到树突、轴突和胞体等亚细胞神经元结构。此外，这种生物药物亲和反应靶向稳定还可用作多功能神经刺激与调制的药物递送工具。值得注意的是，这一光机械生物飞镖还可用于幼体斑马鱼的体内神经刺激。这一策略为亚细胞精度的神经刺激与调制提供了新方法，为高精度神经元可塑性和神经调制开辟了道路。

据悉，实现高空间分辨率的神经刺激与调制对于调节神经元信号传导和可塑性至关重要，有助于更深入地理解神经元功能障碍和神经退行性疾病。然而，开发一种生物相容且精确可控的技术，以在亚细胞水平上实现准确有效的神经元刺激与调制，是一项极具挑战性的任务。

附：英文原文

Title: Neural stimulation and modulation with sub-cellular precision by optomechanical bio-dart

Author: Zhu, Guoshuai, Xiong, Jianyun, Li, Xing, He, Ziyi, Zhong, Shuhan, Chen, Junlin, Shi, Yang, Pan, Ting, Zhang, Li, Li, Baojun, Xin, Hongbao

Issue&Volume: 2024-09-19

Abstract: Neural stimulation and modulation at high spatial resolution are crucial for mediating neuronal signaling and plasticity, aiding in a better understanding of neuronal dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases. However, developing a biocompatible and precisely controllable technique for accurate and effective stimulation and modulation of neurons at the subcellular level is highly challenging. Here, we report an optomechanical method for neural stimulation and modulation with subcellular precision using optically controlled bio-darts. The bio-dart is obtained from the tip of sunflower pollen grain and can generate transient pressure on the cell membrane with submicrometer spatial resolution when propelled by optical scattering force controlled with an optical fiber probe, which results in precision neural stimulation via precisely activation of membrane mechanosensitive ion channel. Importantly, controllable modulation of a single neuronal cell, even down to subcellular neuronal structures such as dendrites, axons, and soma, can be achieved. This bio-dart can also serve as a drug delivery tool for multifunctional neural stimulation and modulation. Remarkably, our optomechanical bio-darts can also be used for in vivo neural stimulation in larval zebrafish. This strategy provides a novel approach for neural stimulation and modulation with sub-cellular precision, paving the way for high-precision neuronal plasticity and neuromodulation.

DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01617-9

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41377-024-01617-9