Precise rewiring of corticospinal axons and spinal interneurons via near-infrared optogenetics for spinal cord injury treatment.

ABSTRACT: To date, precise restoration of proper connections between posttrauma axons and neurons following spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a substantial challenge. Here, we developed glutamate-linked upconversion nanoparticles (Glu-UCNP) to facilitate optogenetic control of axonal sprouting in SCI mice. After being specifically uptaken by the postsynaptic interneurons innervated by corticospinal tract (CST) axons, Glu-UCNP not only serves as internal light transducers that convert near-infrared light to visible light but also acts as nanobeacons that guide axonal sprouting toward postsynaptic neurons of glutamatergic synapses. This in situ optogenetic modulation successfully demonstrated the restoration of spinal motor circuits by rebuilding functional connections between CST axons and postsynapti

SUBMITTER: Ji Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12315976 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature