146 results about "Optogenetics" patented technology

The invention provides methods, cells and constructs for optical measurement of membrane potential. These methods can be used in cells that are not accessible to presently available methods using electrodes. The methods can be directed to, for example, high-throughput drug screening assays to determine agents that can affect membrane potential of a target cell.

Provided herein are compositions comprising lanthanide-doped nanoparticles which upconvert electromagnetic radiation from infrared or near infrared wavelengths into the visible light spectrum. Also provided herein are methods activating light-responsive opsin proteins expressed on plasma membranes of neurons and selectively altering the membrane polarization state of the neurons using the light delivered by the lanthanide-doped nanoparticles.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for disrupting at least one reward-related behavior in an individual through the use of light-responsive opsin proteins used to control the polarization state of the cholinergic interneurons of the nucleus accumbens or the striatum.

The invention relates to an animal behaviour testing platform for optogenetics regulation and control, used for carrying out a behaviour test on tested animals. The testing platform comprises a central control system, an environmental control system, a behaviour monitoring system, a photoelectric detection, regulation and control system and a case device used for fixing the systems. A standard and integrated behaviour testing platform used for testing animal optogenetics regulation and control is established by combining an optogenetics neural regulation and control technology and electrophysiology and behaviour tests and the like; by virtue of the platform, optogenetics regulation and control as well as behaviour record on the tested animals in certain environment can be realized, thus being easy to understand relation between the animal optogenetics regulation and control and the behaviour and meeting requirements of research on pathogenesis and treatment mechanism of a nervous system and mental diseases.

The invention provides methods, cells and constructs for optical measurement of membrane potential. These methods can be used in cells that are not accessible to presently available methods using electrodes. The methods can be directed to, for example, high-throughput drug screening assays to determine agents that can affect membrane potential of a target cell.

Aspects of the disclosure include devices, systems and methods for optogenetic modulation of action potentials in target cells. The subject devices include light-generating devices, control devices, and delivery devices for delivering vectors to target cells. The subject systems include light-activated proteins, response proteins, nucleic acids comprising nucleotide sequences encoding these proteins, as well as expression systems that facilitate expression of these proteins in target cells. Also provided are methods of using the subject devices and systems to optogenetically inhibit and intercept action potentials in target cells, e.g., to treat a neurological or psychiatric condition in a human or non-human animal subject.

Configurations are described for utilizing light-activated proteins within cell membranes and subcellular regions to assist with medical treatment paradigms, such as hypertension treatment via anatomically specific and temporally precise modulation of renal plexus activity. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-sensitive proteins to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides systems, devices, and methods for millisecond-timescale temporal control of certain cell activities using moderate light intensities, such as the generation or inhibition of electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells.

Configurations are described for utilizing light-activated proteins within cell membranes and subcellular regions to assist with medical treatment paradigms, such as hypertension treatment via anatomically specific and temporally precise modulation of renal plexus activity. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-sensitive proteins to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides systems, devices, and methods for millisecond-timescale temporal control of certain cell activities using moderate light intensities, such as the generation or inhibition of electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells.

The invention discloses a light control and neural information detection system. The system comprises a light stimulation control module, an electrochemical detection module, an electrophysiological detection module, a synchronous data acquisition module, a main control module and a synchronous control module, wherein the light stimulation control module can be combined with the optogenetics technology to carry out light control via laser fibers or LED lamp electrodes; the electrochemical detection module is used for detecting neurochemical signals; the electrophysiological detection module is connected with a microelectrode array and is used for detecting neural electrophysiological signals; the synchronous data acquisition module is used for synchronously acquiring neural electrochemical and electrophysiological signals; the main control module is used for carrying out synchronous coordinated control on light stimulation and neural signal detection and completing data communication; the synchronous control module is used for completing the functions of man-machine interaction, data processing, display, analysis and storage, and the like. The system can be used for solving the problems that light control and signal detection are difficult in synchronous and experiment operation is fussy in the research on neurosciences.

A protein construct including a gene encoding a light-sensitive protein fused to at least one of either a low complexity sequence, an intrinsically disordered protein region (IDR), or a repeating sequence of a linker and another gene encoding a light-sensitive protein. Among the many different possibilities contemplated, the protein construct may also advantageously include cleavage tags. This protein construct may be utilized for a variety of functions, including a method for protein purification, which requires introducing the protein construct into a living cell, and inducing the formation of clusters by irradiating the construct with light. The method may also advantageously include cleaving a target protein from an IDR, and separating the clusters via centrifuge. A kit for practicing in vivo aggregation or liquid-liquid phase separation is also included, the kit including the protein construct and a light source capable of producing a wavelength that the light-sensitive protein will respond to.

A photostimulation device of decision behaviors comprises a central control system, a barrier maze system, a photostimulation system, an infrared detection system and a video analysis system, wherein the central control system is respectively connected with the photostimulation system, the infrared detection system and the video analysis system and is used for controlling the photostimulation system, the infrared detection system and the video analysis system, the photostimulation system is used for applying photostimulation signals to animals to be tested, the infrared detection system is used for monitoring the moving process of the animals to be tested in the barrier maze system, and the video analysis system is used for recording and analyzing the moving state of the animals to be tested in the barrier maze system. According to the device, a reward-system-based and effort-based decision behavior testing model is established, the states of the animals before and after the choice and the reaction incubation period are judged, and people can have interference in the decision behaviors of the animals by combining optogenetics method.

Methods and systems of using X-ray radiation to irradiate X-ray sensitive biomolecules to allow for specific control over the behavior of cells via the X-ray irradiation are provided. The systems and methods are influenced by the field of optogenetics, which uses visible light instead of X-ray radiation. X-ray stimulation penetrates both bone and soft tissue with very little attenuation and can be performed without any physical contact with the sample. Image reconstruction methods using deep learning are also provided. A deep learning algorithm can be used to obtain a reconstructed image from raw data obtained via medical imaging, either with or without first performing a conventional algorithm.

Disclosed are methods and systems and methods for methods for neuromodulation of deep-brain and other neural targets in mammals using optogenetics to treat clinical conditions or achievement of a physiological state. The neuromodulation can produce acute or long-term effects. The latter occur through Long-Term Depression (LTD) and Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) via training. Included is control of optical intensity / amplitude, pulse width, pulse shape, pulse rate, burst frequency, pulse pattern, burst rate, burst width, and optical-fiber configuration including through the stimulation of incorporated opsins in the target neural membranes accomplishing up-regulation and / or down-regulation.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for disrupting at least one reward-related behavior in an individual through the use of light-responsive opsin proteins used to control the polarization state of the cholinergic intemeurons of the nucleus accumbens or the striatum.

Provided herein are compositions comprising lanthanide-doped nanoparticles which upconvert electromagnetic radiation from infrared or near infrared wavelengths into the visible light spectrum. Also provided herein are methods activating light-responsive opsin proteins expressed on plasma membranes of neurons and selectively altering the membrane polarization state of the neurons using the light delivered by the lanthanide-doped nanoparticles.

A neural network is disclosed. The neural network comprises a plurality of optogenetically modified neural cells being three-dimensionally distributed in a hydrogel medium and being disconnected from any solid support having a shear modulus above 1 GPa.

Configurations are described for utilizing light-activated proteins within cell membranes and subcellular regions to assist with medical treatment paradigms, such as hypertension treatment via anatomically specific and temporally precise modulation of renal plexus activity. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-sensitive proteins to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides systems, devices, and methods for millisecond-timescale temporal control of certain cell activities using moderate light intensities, such as the generation or inhibition of electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells.

Methods and systems for performing optogenetics using X-rays or ultrasound waves are provided. Visible-light-emitting nanophosphors can be provided to a sample, and X-ray stimulation can be used to stimulate the nanophosphors to emit visible light. Alternatively, ultrasonic waves can be provided to the sample to cause sonoluminescence, also resulting in emission of visible light, and this can be aided by the use of a chemiluminescent agent present in the sample. The emitted light can trigger changes in proteins that modulate membrane potentials in neuronal cells.

An apparatus for in vivo electroporating a plasmid into a retina of any eye includes a first electrode with a first polarity of voltage placed in contact with a cornea of the eye, a second electrode with an opposite second voltage at least in part behind the retina, and a pulsed voltage source for providing a pulsed DC voltage with an optimized field strength amplitude, frequency, number of pulses, group repetition rate and duration of pulse and group repetition, which are optimized for transfection of the channelrhodospsin-2 (ChR2) gene into the retinal ganglion cells. An in vivo method for treating retinal ganglion cells in an eye without use of viral transfection includes the steps of nonviral in vivo delivering a channelrhodospsin-2 (ChR2) gene to target the specific (retinal ganglion) cells of a retina by intravitreous injection of plasmid DNA, electroporating the plasmid into the retina and use of image intensification device for stimulating the retinal ganglion cells with ambient lighting conditions.

Provided are implantable biomedical devices and related methods for interfacing with a target tissue. The devices comprise a substrate, an electronic device supported by the substrate and a freely positionable injectable needle electronically connected to the electronic device by a deformable interconnect, where the injectable needle has one or more optical sources provided on a distal tip end. The injectable needle may further comprise a photodetector.

The invention provides an RNA editing system based on CRISPR-Cas13 and application of the RNA editing system. The RNA editing system comprises a targeting element, an editing effect element and a guide element, wherein the targeting element comprises a stimulus-responsive protein A and an inactivated Cas13 enzyme (dCas13), and the editing effect element comprises a stimulus-responsive protein B and an RNA editing effect protein; the stimuli-responsive protein A and the stimuli-responsive protein B are combined with each other under the action of stimuli and are uncombined after the stimuli disappear; the concept of light-operated RNA editing is provided for the first time, optogenetics and RNA editing are combined, the light-operated RNA editing system based on the CRISPR-Cas system is constructed, accurate space-time regulation and control of RNA editing are achieved, and the system has wide application prospects and huge market value.

The invention provides an empathy nerve experiment system based on observational fear acquisition. The empathy nerve experiment system based on observational fear acquisition comprises a behavioristics implementation device, a video monitoring device, a physiological signal acquisition device, a light control device and an electric signal acquisition device. The behavioristics implementation device comprises an observational fear acquisition experiment box, and a victim mouse and an observer mouse are put in the observational fear acquisition experiment box in the experiment process. The observational fear acquisition experiment box is used for carrying out an electric shock on the victim mouse. The light control device is used for carrying out specific neuron irradiation on a target region of brain tissue of the victim mouse. The video monitoring device is used for acquiring behavior reactions of the observer mouse. The physiological signal acquisition device is used for acquiring physiological reactions of the observer mouse. The electric signal acquisition device is used for acquiring activity signals of the observer mouse. The empathy nerve experiment system can be used for evaluating the emotional empathy states of animals and exploring relevant neural circuit mechanisms in combination with optogenetics.

A neural probe is presented for local neural optogenetics stimulation and neurochemistry recordings. The neural probe includes a probe body, a shank extending from the probe body to a tip, a plurality of micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned across a length of a first surface of the shank for providing neuron-affecting light, a plurality of carbon devices, and a plurality of carbon electrodes positioned across a length of a second surface of the shank, the second surface in opposed relation to the first surface. The plurality of carbon electrodes can be vertically aligned carbon nanotubes or vertically aligned carbon nanofibers. The plurality of carbon electrodes can also be horizontally aligned carbon nanotubes. The plurality of micro LEDs activate neurons and the plurality of vertically aligned carbon electrodes electrochemically record neurotransmitters.

Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vivo or in vitro, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. One example involves a vector for delivering a light-activated NpHR-based molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that codes for light-activated NpHR-based molecule and a promoter. Either a high expression of the molecule manifests a toxicity level that is less than about 75%, or the light-activated NpHR-based proteins are expressed using at least two NpHR-based molecular variants. Each of the variants characterized in being useful for expressing a light-activated NpHR-based molecule that responds to light by producing an inhibitory current to dissuade depolarization of the neuron. Other aspects and embodiments are directed to systems, methods, kits, compositions of matter and molecules for ion pumps or for controlling inhibitory currents in a cell (e.g., in in vivo and in vitro environments).

The embodiment of the invention provides a fluorescence collection device, a miniature two-photon microscope and a dual photon imaging method. The fluorescence collection device comprises a first optical path and a second optical path; the first optical path sequentially comprises a first lens, a first optical filter, a dichroic mirror, an infrared filter and a coupling lens; the second optical path sequentially comprises the coupling lens, the infrared filter, the dichroic mirror, a second optical filter and a second lens. According to the fluorescence collection device, the miniature two-photon microscope and the dual photon imaging method, two light pathes are integrated, by selecting filters and dichroic mirrors, reusing infrared filters and coupling lenses, optogenetics controlling and the fluorescence signal collection can be carried out simultaneously in a brain of a free and active animal without increase of weight and volume of the miniature two-photon microscopic probe, different forms of photogenetics stimulation can be realized so as to achieve synchronous collection of fluorescence signals under different optogenetics stimulation, operation is simple, and use is convenient.