title: Photofunctional nanomodulators for bioexcitation.
abstract: A single organism comprises diverse types of cells. To acquire a detailed understanding of the biological functions of each cell, comprehensive control and analysis of homeostatic processes at the single-cell level are required. In this study, we develop a new type of light-driven nanomodulator comprising dye-functionalized carbon nanohorns (CNHs) that generate heat and reactive oxygen species under biologically transparent near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. By exploiting the physicochemical properties of the nanohorns, cellular calcium ion flux and membrane currents were successfully controlled at the single-cell level. In addition, the nanomodulator allows a remote bioexcitation of tissues during NIR laser exposure making this system a powerful tool for single-cell analyses and innovative cell therapies.
authors.affiliation: Nanotube Research Center (NTRC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8565 (Japan). e-miyako@aist.go.jp.
authors.forename: Eijiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miyako
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russier
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cebrian
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yawo
authors.forename: Cécilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ménard-Moyon
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yudasaka
authors.forename: Sumio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Cola
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D007834:Lasers; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D015398:Signal Transduction
keywords: biological activity; laser chemistry; nanomaterials; nanotechnology