Nanomachine to Stimulate Neurons

Researchers are creating a new nanomachine that can operate at a scale of 1000 times smaller than a human hair. It will be made from a combo of liposomes, DNA, sliver molecules and gold molecules. It will basically deliver an electrical impulse to a single cell. The team who will synthesize this device describes it as a remotely powered and controlled pacemaker. It will have antennas for receiving both commands and power from the outside world. The antennas of this device will be built of Noble metal nanospheres. They can amplify and also focus light to a nanometer precision.

The team who will create this device thinks that it can be injected into a person's body and potentially targeted at cells like neurons. Then they can remotely stimulate neurons. This might have the potential to improve a variety of brain based disorders as individual neurons could be targeted for stimulation. It also might allow scientists to get a much better understanding of the brain.

The light-powered artificial electrocyte could become a critical tool for improving micro-surgery, and advancing the understanding of cellular biology.

“Once you have such capabilities, it has the potential for application in deep brain stimulation, the treatment of brain damage, or such things as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease,” Diaz said.