title: Light-evoked hyperpolarization and silencing of neurons by conjugated polymers.
abstract: The ability to control and modulate the action potential firing in neurons represents a powerful tool for neuroscience research and clinical applications. While neuronal excitation has been achieved with many tools, including electrical and optical stimulation, hyperpolarization and neuronal inhibition are typically obtained through patch-clamp or optogenetic manipulations. Here we report the use of conjugated polymer films interfaced with neurons for inducing a light-mediated inhibition of their electrical activity. We show that prolonged illumination of the interface triggers a sustained hyperpolarization of the neuronal membrane that significantly reduces both spontaneous and evoked action potential firing. We demonstrate that the polymeric interface can be activated by either visible or infrared light and is capable of modulating neuronal activity in brain slices and explanted retinas. These findings prove the ability of conjugated polymers to tune neuronal firing and suggest their potential application for the in-vivo modulation of neuronal activity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feyen
authors.affiliation: Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.|Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Duco
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Endeman
authors.affiliation: Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nova
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laudato
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy.|Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Antognazza
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano Science and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133 Milano, Italy.|Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lanzani
authors.affiliation: Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.|Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benfenati
authors.affiliation: Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers