title: "Optical communication with brain cells by means of an implanted duplex micro-device with optogenetics and Ca(2+) fluoroimaging".
abstract: To better understand the brain function based on neural activity, a minimally invasive analysis technology in a freely moving animal is necessary. Such technology would provide new knowledge in neuroscience and contribute to regenerative medical techniques and prosthetics care. An application that combines optogenetics for voluntarily stimulating nerves, imaging to visualize neural activity, and a wearable micro-instrument for implantation into the brain could meet the abovementioned demand. To this end, a micro-device that can be applied to the brain less invasively and a system for controlling the device has been newly developed in this study. Since the novel implantable device has dual LEDs and a CMOS image sensor, photostimulation and fluorescence imaging can be performed simultaneously. The device enables bidirectional communication with the brain by means of light. In the present study, the device was evaluated in an in vitro experiment using a new on-chip 3D neuroculture with an extracellular matrix gel and an in vivo experiment involving regenerative medical transplantation and gene delivery to the brain by using both photosensitive channel and fluorescent Ca(2+) indicator. The device succeeded in activating cells locally by selective photostimulation, and the physiological Ca(2+) dynamics of neural cells were visualized simultaneously by fluorescence imaging.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Developmental Gene Regulation, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Makito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haruta
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Developmental Gene Regulation, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumata
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Developmental Gene Regulation, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Kawori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eizumi
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Chikara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kitsumoto
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motoyama
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maezawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Life Engineering, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Maebashi, Gunma 371-0816, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002460:Cell Line; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D019736:Prostheses and Implants
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium