Back to results
US 9,956,425 B2Granted
Methods to regulate polarization and enhance function of cells
OwnerGholam A. Peymaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and compositions to controllably regulate cells at a target site. A quantum dot-targeting agent complex is administered to a patient in need of therapy, and the complex is stimulated using an implanted fiber optic system. In embodiments, the system includes an electrical sensor that detects and monitors electrical activity of the stimulated controllably regulated cells, and relays this information to a controller that can regulate further stimulation.
Claims20
A method to enhance functional recovery of a cell in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:
- administering to a patient in need thereof, in or with a biocompatible fluid, a plurality of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of graphene quantum dots, graphene-oxide quantum dots, graphene-zinc oxide quantum dots, quantum dots with at least one (poly)ethylene glycol (PEGylated) quantum dot, graphene nanotubes, carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof, where the nanoparticles are coated with a biocompatible molecule for cell uptake, contain an antibody that targets the nanoparticles to a cell, and a gene selected from the group consisting of a rhodopsin gene, a channelrhodopsin gene, a halorhodopsin gene, and combinations thereof, one or more of the nanoparticles functioning as a carrier of the gene to the cell, and are injected with a biocompatible fluid for, without reliance on a viral vector, building a light activated rhodopsin channel in a membrane of a cell having a defective or absent gene selected from the group consisting of a rhodopsin gene, a channelrhodopsin gene, a halorhodopsin gene, and combinations thereof so that the cell can be stimulated by an external or internal light transmitted by
- a fiber optic device comprising a fiber optic tip containing a light source, the fiber optic device further comprising an electrical sensor including a plurality of graphene ribbons spaced apart on the surface of the fiber optic tip,
- and
- a controller to receive and generate electrical signals resulting from the altered cellular electrical property at the site, the controller being operatively connected to the plurality of graphene ribbons of the electrical sensor, the controller receiving feedback from the plurality of graphene ribbons of the electrical sensor, and
- providing the signals to a processor to monitor and/or controllably alter the light activated nanoparticles and the rhodopsin membrane channel using the controller.
2 more elements
A method for providing therapy for a condition in a patient, the method comprising:
- administering to a patient in need thereof a composition comprising
- nanoparticles comprising graphene quantum dots, PEGylated quantum dots, graphene nanotubes, carbon nanotubes, hybrid quantum dots, or combinations thereof,
- an agent to target the complex to a specific site in the patient,
- a biocompatible molecule for cell uptake, and
- a gene selected from the group consisting of a rhodopsin gene, a channelrhodopsin gene, a halorhodopsin gene, and combinations thereof, and
- injecting the composition with a biocompatible fluid for, without reliance on a viral vector, building a light activated rhodopsin channel in a membrane of a cell having a defective or absent gene selected from the group consisting of a rhodopsin gene, a channelrhodopsin gene, a halorhodopsin gene, and combinations thereof so that the cell can be stimulated by an external or internal light transmitted by
- controllably activating the nanoparticles at the site with localized light using an implanted fiber optic device comprising a light source, a battery, and a fiber optic comprising an electrical sensor, the electrical sensor of the fiber optic device including a plurality of graphene ribbons spaced apart on a surface of at least a portion of the fiber optic, the plurality of graphene ribbons of the electrical sensor terminating at different distances from a tip of the fiber optic at the site;
- connecting the plurality of graphene ribbons of the electrical sensor to a controller, and sensing an electrical signal using the plurality of graphene ribbons as transistors for providing feedback to the controller;
- and
- using the controller to controllably regulate an electrical property in a cell at the site by modifying the light delivered by the fiber optic device based upon the feedback received from the electrical sensor.
7 more elements
A method for providing therapy for a condition in a patient, the method comprising:
- administering to a patient in need thereof a composition comprising
- nanoparticles comprising graphene quantum dots, PEGylated quantum dots, graphene nanotubes, carbon nanotubes, hybrid quantum dots, or combinations thereof,
- an agent to target the complex to a specific site in the patient,
- a biocompatible molecule for cell uptake, and
- a gene selected from the group consisting of a rhodopsin gene, a channelrhodopsin gene, a halorhodopsin gene, and combinations thereof, and
- injecting the composition with a biocompatible fluid for, without reliance on a viral vector, building a light activated rhodopsin channel in a membrane of a cell having a defective or absent gene selected from the group consisting of a rhodopsin gene, a channelrhodopsin gene, a halorhodopsin gene, and combinations thereof so that the cell can be stimulated by an internal light
- controllably activating the nanoparticles at the site with localized light using an implanted fiber optic device comprising a light source, a battery, and a fiber optic comprising an electrical sensor, the electrical sensor including a plurality of graphene ribbons spaced apart on a surface of the fiber optic, the plurality of graphene ribbons of the electrical sensor terminating at different distances from the tip of the fiber optic at the site;
- connecting the electrical sensor to a controller and sensing an electrical signal, the plurality of graphene ribbons operatively connected to the controller;
- and
- using the controller to controllably alter an electrical property in a cell at the site, and using the plurality of graphene ribbons of the electrical sensor as transistors so as to provide feedback to the controller on the polarization status of cells at different depths within tissue at the site.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.