Abstract
Optogenetics has emerged as a revolutionary technology especially for neuroscience and has advanced continuously over the past decade. Conventional approaches for patterned in vivo optical illumination have a limitation on the implanted device size and achievable spatio-temporal resolution. In this work, we developed a fabrication process for a microfiber array platform. Arrayed poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microfibers were drawn from a polymer solution and packaged with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The exposed end face of a packaged microfiber was tuned to have a size corresponding to a single cell. To demonstrate its capability for single cell optogenetics, HEK293T cells expressing channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) were cultured on the platform and excited with UV laser. We could then observe an elevation in the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations due to the influx of Ca2+ through the activated ChR2 into the cytosol. The statistical and simulation results indicate that the proposed microfiber array platform can be used for single cell optogenetic applications.
Highlights
Optogenetics is a recently emerged photonics-based technology to manipulate cellular functions through the activation of light-sensitive proteins expressed in cells [1]
We developed a fabrication process for a microfiber array platform
Arrayed poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microfibers were drawn from a polymer solution and packaged with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
Summary
Optogenetics is a recently emerged photonics-based technology to manipulate cellular functions through the activation of light-sensitive proteins expressed in cells [1]. Microscope equipped with DMD-based projector or two-photon excitation system could elevate the spatial resolution to single-cell level and even have the excitation in 3-D pattern [9,10]; the associated microscope objective and pulsed light source limit the applications. Among those developed single cell optical neural stimulation methods, silica fiber taper could not be the optimal solution of chronic implants due to the damage in implantation. The emission profile and material compatibility limits the in vivo optogenetic applications of micro LED with high cellular resolution
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