X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and Possibilities
Optogenetics is an established technique that uses visible light to modulate membrane voltage in neural cells. Although optogenetics allows researchers to study parts of the brain like never before, it is limited because it is invasive, and visible light cannot travel very deeply into tissue. This p...
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doaj-07a089fdb9d84b29bf2e020b404f83392020-11-24T20:43:02ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322015-01-0121233910.3390/photonics2010023photonics2010023X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and PossibilitiesRachel Berry0Matthew Getzin1Lars Gjesteby2Ge Wang3The Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USAThe Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USAThe Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USAThe Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USAOptogenetics is an established technique that uses visible light to modulate membrane voltage in neural cells. Although optogenetics allows researchers to study parts of the brain like never before, it is limited because it is invasive, and visible light cannot travel very deeply into tissue. This paper proposes two new techniques that remedy these challenges. The first is x-optogenetics, which uses visible light-emitting nanophosphors stimulated by focused x-rays. X-rays can penetrate much more deeply than infrared light and allow for nerve cell stimulation in any part of the brain. The second is u-optogenetics, which is an application of sonoluminescence to optogenetics. Such a technique uses ultrasound waves instead of x-rays to induce light emission, so there would be no introduction of radiation. However, the tradeoff is that the penetration depth of ultrasound is less than that of x-ray. The key issues affecting feasibility are laid out for further investigation into both x-optogenetics and u-optogenetics.http://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/2/1/23Optogeneticsx-raysultrasoundnanophosphorspenetration depth |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rachel Berry Matthew Getzin Lars Gjesteby Ge Wang |
spellingShingle |
Rachel Berry Matthew Getzin Lars Gjesteby Ge Wang X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and Possibilities Photonics Optogenetics x-rays ultrasound nanophosphors penetration depth |
author_facet |
Rachel Berry Matthew Getzin Lars Gjesteby Ge Wang |
author_sort |
Rachel Berry |
title |
X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and Possibilities |
title_short |
X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and Possibilities |
title_full |
X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and Possibilities |
title_fullStr |
X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and Possibilities |
title_full_unstemmed |
X-Optogenetics and U-Optogenetics: Feasibility and Possibilities |
title_sort |
x-optogenetics and u-optogenetics: feasibility and possibilities |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Photonics |
issn |
2304-6732 |
publishDate |
2015-01-01 |
description |
Optogenetics is an established technique that uses visible light to modulate membrane voltage in neural cells. Although optogenetics allows researchers to study parts of the brain like never before, it is limited because it is invasive, and visible light cannot travel very deeply into tissue. This paper proposes two new techniques that remedy these challenges. The first is x-optogenetics, which uses visible light-emitting nanophosphors stimulated by focused x-rays. X-rays can penetrate much more deeply than infrared light and allow for nerve cell stimulation in any part of the brain. The second is u-optogenetics, which is an application of sonoluminescence to optogenetics. Such a technique uses ultrasound waves instead of x-rays to induce light emission, so there would be no introduction of radiation. However, the tradeoff is that the penetration depth of ultrasound is less than that of x-ray. The key issues affecting feasibility are laid out for further investigation into both x-optogenetics and u-optogenetics. |
topic |
Optogenetics x-rays ultrasound nanophosphors penetration depth |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/2/1/23 |
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