Speaker:
Professor Paul Stoddart, Swinburne University of Technology
Abstract:
Emerging techniques based on optogenetics and photoactivable molecules are having a major impact in neuroscience. It is also known that neurons can be stimulated by transient heating associated with the absorption of mid-infrared light by water. However, these techniques are limited by the penetration depth of the visible or infrared wavelengths in tissue. Gold nanoparticles with a near-infrared plasmon absorption peak at 780 nm have been used to improve the efficiency of infrared neural stimulation. Gold nanorods were stabilized by the addition of a polyelectrolyte layer or a silica shell. After incubation with the coated particles, NG108-15 neuronal cells showed good preservation of proliferation and cell membrane integrity. When spiral ganglion neurons were cultured with the nanorods and exposed to 780 nm light, patch clamp experiments exhibited action potentials. These results demonstrate that nanorod absorbers can enhance the process of infrared neural stimulation, suggesting potential future applications in neural prostheses.
Bio:
Paul Stoddart is currently the Director of the ARC Training Centre in Biodevices at Swinburne University of Technology. His research interests include applied optics and biophotonics, with projects in the areas of fibre optic sensors, Raman spectroscopy and laser nerve stimulation. Biomedical Engineering provides many opportunities to apply optical and photonics principles, because biological systems respond well to a “light touch”. The advantages of non-contact interactions in biomedical applications are illustrated by our focus on laser nerve stimulation for bionic implants and optical biosensors. The research is mainly undertaken within the Applied Optics Group, which works closely with other research groups in Biomedical Engineering. Paul Stoddart graduated with BSc (Honours) in physics and PhD in laser spectroscopy from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. He worked on industry-focused surface science and microanalysis problems in a national lab for three years before moving to Swinburne.