Nanoparticle-enhanced infrared neural stimulation.

Objective: Recent research has demonstrated that nerves can be stimulated by transient heating associated with the absorption of infrared light by water in the tissue. There is a great deal of interest in using this technique in neural prostheses, due to the potential for increased localization of the stimulus and minimization of contact with the tissue. However, thermal modelling suggests that the full benefits of increased localization may be reduced by cumulative heating effects when multiple stimulus sites and/or high repetition rates are used.

Gold-nanorod-assisted near-infrared stimulation of primary auditory neurons.

Infrared stimulation offers an alternative to electrical stimulation of neuronal tissue, with potential for direct, non-contact activation at high spatial resolution. Conventional methods of infrared neural stimulation (INS) rely on transient heating due to the absorption of relatively intense laser beams by water in the tissue. However, the water absorption also limits the depth of penetration of light in tissue.

Ultra-pure, water-dispersed Au nanoparticles produced by femtosecond laser ablation and fragmentation.

Aqueous solutions of ultra-pure gold nanoparticles have been prepared by methods of femtosecond laser ablation from a solid target and fragmentation from already formed colloids. Despite the absence of protecting ligands, the solutions could be (1) fairly stable and poly size-dispersed; or (2) very stable and monodispersed, for the two fabrication modalities, respectively. Fluorescence quenching behavior and its intricacies were revealed by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy in rhodamine 6G water solution.

In situ deposition of gold nanoparticles on polydopamine functionalized silica nanosphere for ultrasensitive nonenzymatic electrochemical immunoassay.

A novel gold nanoprobe was prepared for the signal tracing of ultrasensitive nonenzymatic electrochemical immunoassay at a carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based disposable immunosensor. The gold nanoprobe was prepared via in situ deposition of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the polydopamine functionalized silica nanosphere followed by the labeling of signal antibodies. The immunosensor was prepared through the covalent immobilization of capturing antibodies on the CNTs modified screen-printed carbon electrode.

Laser exposure of gold nanorods can increase neuronal cell outgrowth.

The usage of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in biological applications has risen significantly over the last 10 years. With the wide variety of chemical and biological functionalization available and their distinctive optical properties, Au NPs are currently used in a range of biological applications including sensing, labeling, drug delivery, and imaging applications. Among the available particles, gold nanorods (Au NRs) are particularly useful because their optical absorption can be tuned across the visible to near infrared region.