O2 Plasma-Treated p-Type Silicon for Non-Genetic Cell Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing implantable devices for treating diseases through extracellular electrical stimulation are bulky, mechanically invasive, and lack the ability to target single cells without genetic modifications, while optical stimulation methods using photodiode substrates face challenges in drug-like administration and chronic cellular effects due to heat.

Innovation Solution

O2 plasma-treated p-type silicon devices are used to create biointerfaces with cells or tissue, enabling optical modulation that mimics natural extracellular signals and modulates cellular activity without genetic manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If extracellular electrical stimulation devices are used to treat diseases, then disease treatment efficacy is improved, but device bulkiness and mechanical invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease treatment efficacyVSAvoiddevice bulkiness and mechanical invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/electrical stimulation systems with optical stimulation systems. Specifically, it uses photovoltaic silicon materials that convert light into electrical signals to stimulate cells, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical electrodes and wires while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the stimulation modality from direct electrical contact to optical illumination. By using light-induced photovoltaic effects in silicon materials, the system achieves cell stimulation without mechanical invasion, reducing device complexity while preserving treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If photodiode substrates are used for optical stimulation of cells, then non-invasive stimulation is achieved, but drug-like administration capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-invasive stimulationVSAvoiddrug-like administration capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the physical and chemical properties of silicon materials through surface treatment and doping to enable them to function as photovoltaic stimulators that can be administered in a drug-like fashion. The silicon materials are engineered to be biocompatible and capable of optical stimulation without requiring genetic modification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If photothermally-modulating materials are used for optical stimulation, then drug-like administration is achieved, but chronic cellular effects due to heat become unknown

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug-like administrationVSAvoidchronic cellular effects due to heat

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes thermal mechanisms with photovoltaic mechanisms. Instead of using materials that modulate cells through heat generation, the invention uses silicon-based photovoltaic materials that convert light directly into electrical signals for cellular stimulation, avoiding thermal-related cellular effects while maintaining drug-like administration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If optogenetics is used for optical stimulation, then sub-cellular specificity is achieved, but genetic modifications are required which are difficult to implement in vivo

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesub-cellular specificityVSAvoiddifficulty of in vivo genetic modification

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces exogenous silicon-based photovoltaic materials as intermediaries that can be administered systemically and accumulate in target tissues. These materials serve as the optical stimulation interface without requiring genetic modification of cells, achieving sub-cellular specificity through the photovoltaic effect while avoiding the complexities of in vivo genetic engineering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The silicon devices provide non-invasive, sub-cellular specificity for modulating cellular behavior, allowing for effective treatment of diseases such as neuronal and cardiovascular conditions by optically training myocardium to beat at a target frequency.

Implementation Method 1

optical stimulation techniques, where organic or inorganic photodiode substrates are used for photovoltaic stimulation of cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Implementation Method 2

O2 plasma-treated Si-based devices can establish biointerfaces with cells (such as cardiomyocytes) or tissue (such as myocardium)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma treatment: Plasma

Data Source

PatentUS12420110B2Methods and systems for modulating cellular activation

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

AI summary

This disclosure relates to methods for modulating activity of cells and tissue with materials that are capable of being activated by light, such methods useful for treating diseases. The disclosure also provides devices and systems suitable for use in such methods, particularly devices and systems having oxygen plasma-treated p-type (boron) silicon.