title: Laser Nano-Neurosurgery from Gentle Manipulation to Nano-Incision of Neuronal Cells and Scaffolds: An Advanced Neurotechnology Tool.
abstract: Current optical approaches are progressing far beyond the scope of monitoring the structure and function of living matter, and they are becoming widely recognized as extremely precise, minimally-invasive, contact-free handling tools. Laser manipulation of living tissues, single cells, or even single-molecules is becoming a well-established methodology, thus founding the onset of new experimental paradigms and research fields. Indeed, a tightly focused pulsed laser source permits complex tasks such as developing engineered bioscaffolds, applying calibrated forces, transfecting, stimulating, or even ablating single cells with subcellular precision, and operating intracellular surgical protocols at the level of single organelles. In the present review, we report the state of the art of laser manipulation in neuroscience, to inspire future applications of light-assisted tools in nano-neurosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soloperto
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzolo
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Hanako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsushima
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Evelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chieregatti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council of Italy Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vassalli
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Brain Technologies Department, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Difato
keywords: intracellular surgery; laser dissection; laser nano-surgery; opto-transfection; photo-polymerization; photo-stimulation