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US 12,263,351 B2Granted
Methods and systems for modulating cellular activation
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsBozhi Tian, Francisco Bezanilla, Erin Adams, Ramya Parameswaran, Yuanwen Jiang, João L. Carvalho-de-Souza, Kelliann C. Koehler, Michael G. Burke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to methods for modulating activity of a cell capable of being activated by light and treating diseases with such methods. The disclosure also provides systems suitable for use in such methods, particularly systems having silicon nanostructures.
Claims12
A method for modulating activity of a cell, the method comprising:
- contacting a membrane of the cell with a silicon nanostructure to form a structure-cell membrane interface, the silicon nanostructure comprising a p-type/intrinsic/n-type (PIN) coaxial Si nanowire or a PIN Si diode junction, wherein the silicon nanostructure further comprises gold, silver, or platinum on a surface of the silicon nanostructure, wherein the silicon nanostructure is distributed on or within a flexible substrate comprising one or more polymers, and wherein the flexible substrate includes a mesh;
- and
- exposing the interface to light so as to depolarize the cell membrane thereby increasing a threshold for activation of the cell, wherein the cell is capable of being activated by light, and wherein the cell is a neuron or an immune cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.