title: Subcellular neural probes from single-crystal gold nanowires.
abstract: Size reduction of neural electrodes is essential for improving the functionality of neuroprosthetic devices, developing potent therapies for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, and long-term brain–computer interfaces. Typical neural electrodes are micromanufactured devices with dimensions ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers. Their further miniaturization is necessary to reduce local tissue damage and chronic immunological reactions of the brain. Here we report the neural electrode with subcellular dimensions based on single-crystalline gold nanowires (NWs) with a diameter of ∼100 nm. Unique mechanical and electrical properties of defect-free gold NWs enabled their implantation and recording of single neuron-activities in a live mouse brain despite a ∼50× reduction of the size compared to the closest analogues. Reduction of electrode dimensions enabled recording of neural activity with improved spatial resolution and differentiation of brain activity in response to different social situations for mice. The successful localization of the epileptic seizure center was also achieved using a multielectrode probe as a demonstration of the diagnostics potential of NW electrodes. This study demonstrated the realism of single-neuron recording using subcellular-sized electrodes that may be considered a pivotal point for use in diverse studies of chronic brain diseases.
authors.forename: Mijeong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Seungmoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Huanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Taejoon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hosuk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Youngdong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jin-Pyo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jae-Pyoung
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Juhyoun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Daejong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kotov
authors.forename: Bongsoo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D062207:Brain-Computer Interfaces; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D053770:Nanowires
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes; D006046:Gold
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