Gold nanoparticle-assisted all optical localized stimulation and monitoring of Ca²⁺ signaling in neurons.

TitleGold nanoparticle-assisted all optical localized stimulation and monitoring of Ca²⁺ signaling in neurons.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsLavoie-Cardinal F, Salesse C, Bergeron É, Meunier M, De Koninck P
JournalSci Rep
Volume6
Pagination20619
Date Published2016
ISSN2045-2322
Abstract

Light-assisted manipulation of cells to control membrane activity or intracellular signaling has become a major avenue in life sciences. However, the ability to perform subcellular light stimulation to investigate localized signaling has been limited. Here, we introduce an all optical method for the stimulation and the monitoring of localized Ca(2+) signaling in neurons that takes advantage of plasmonic excitation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). We show with confocal microscopy that 800 nm laser pulse application onto a neuron decorated with a few AuNPs triggers a transient increase in free Ca(2+), measured optically with GCaMP6s. We show that action potentials, measured electrophysiologically, can be induced with this approach. We demonstrate activation of local Ca(2+) transients and Ca(2+) signaling via CaMKII in dendritic domains, by illuminating a single or few functionalized AuNPs specifically targeting genetically-modified neurons. This NP-Assisted Localized Optical Stimulation (NALOS) provides a new complement to light-dependent methods for controlling neuronal activity and cell signaling.

DOI10.1038/srep20619
Alternate JournalSci Rep
PubMed ID26857748
PubMed Central IDPMC4746645

Funding

Our research endeavors are made possible by the following agencies:

Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT)Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec   Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) - Conseil de recherche en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG)innovation.caHuman Frontier Science ProgramCanada First Research Excellence FundSentinelle Nord