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Silicon Nanomaterials for Neuronal Cell Activation

Published:
Lead Inventor: Bozhi Tian
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SUMMARY

  • Silicon is highly desirable for biomedical device applications because of its thermal and mechanical properties, as well as its biocompatibility. However, its practical application is presently limited by a lack of deformability and degradability.
  • The inventors developed a novel amorphous silicon material that retains all the advantageous properties of silicon and is also deformable and degradable. The material is amenable to medical device nanotechnology applications such as tissue engineering for muscle and neuron growth and tissue specific electrical stimulation.
  • The product is a novel amorphous silicon material that can be used in the construction of medical nanotechnology devices. The new class of material combines the advantages of both traditional silicon and biopolymers.
  • In in vitro proof-of-concept studies, bioelectric interfaces were constructed with the silicon material and used to stimulate action potentials across root ganglia neurons (DRG). In in vivo toxicity studies, mice showed progressively declining immune response to subcutaneously administered silicon material.

 

FIGURE

Action potentials were measured across neurons by illuminating a single silicon particle attached to a cell with different laser intensities (top, middle, bottom). Green bars indicate laser pulses delivered.

 

 

ADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES

  • Easier attachment to bio surfaces
  • Fast photothermal effect in cells
  • Thermally stable
  • Electrically conductive
  • Low immunogenicity

 

APPLICATIONS

  • Electroceuticals (muscle and neuronal stimulation)
  • Ex-vivo Tissue engineering
  • Biomedical nanotechnology  

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

  • US:15/623,133
  • Preliminary in vivo immunogenicity and toxicity studies