Optical control of neuronal firing via photoinduced electron transfer in donor-acceptor conjugates.

ABSTRACT: A series of porphyrin-fullerene linked molecules has been synthesized to evaluate the effects of substituents and molecular structures on their charge-separation yield and the lifetime of a final charge-separated state in various hydrophilic environments. The selected high-performance molecule effectively achieved depolarization in a plasma cell membrane by visible light as well as two-photon excitation using a near-infrared light laser. Moreover, it was revealed that the depolarization can trigger neuronal firing in rat hippocampal neurons, demonstrating the potential and versatility for controlling cell functions using light.

SUBMITTER: Takano Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6006863 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature