NanoNeuro: Hacking neural circuits with nanopipettes and nanoparticles
9th November 2022
Timing : 1 pm EST
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For a list of all talks at the NanoBio seminar Series Fall'22, see here
The study of electronic properties of materials at the nanoscale has unveiled new physical laws
and generated novel materials, such as nanoparticles, quantum dots, nanodiamonds,
nanoelectrodes and nanoprobes. Independently, large-scale public and private neuroscience
programs have been launched to develop new methods to measure and manipulate neural circuits
in living animals and humans. I will discuss an upcoming field, NanoNeuro, defined as the
intersection of Nanoscience and Neuroscience, that aims to develop nanoscale methods to record
and stimulate neuronal activity. Specifically, I will focus on the use of plasmonic nanoparticles
as optical actuators of neuronal activity (1) and on flexible quartz nanopipettes to record the
electrical properties of neuronal subcompartments in vitro (2) and neurons (3) in vivo. Because
of their unique physical properties, nanomaterials have many intrinsic advantages as biosensors
and actuators and may be applicable to humans without the need of genetic modifications. Thus,
nanoscience could make major methodological contributions to the future of neuroscience and,
more generally, to biomedical sciences (4) .
Supported by the NEI (R01EY011787), NSF (2203119) and Vannevar Bush Faculty
Award (ONR N000142012828).
1. de Boer W, Hirtz JJ, Capretti A, Gregorkiewicz T, Izquierdo-Serra M, Han S, Dupre C, Shymkiv
Y, Yuste R. Neuronal photoactivation through second-harmonic near-infrared absorption by gold
nanoparticles. Light Sci Appl. 2018;7:100. doi: 10.1038/s41377-018-0103-0. PubMed PMID: 30534369;
PMCID: PMC6279767.
2. Jayant K, Hirtz JJ, Plante IJ, Tsai DM, De Boer WD, Semonche A, Peterka DS, Owen JS, Sahin
O, Shepard KL, Yuste R. Targeted intracellular voltage recordings from dendritic spines using quantum-
dot-coated nanopipettes. Nat Nanotechnol. 2017;12(4):335-42. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2016.268. PubMed
PMID: 27941898.
3. Jayant K, Wenzel M, Bando Y, Hamm JP, Mandriota N, Rabinowitz JH, Plante IJ, Owen JS,
Sahin O, Shepard KL, Yuste R. Flexible Nanopipettes for Minimally Invasive Intracellular
Electrophysiology In Vivo. Cell Rep. 2019;26(1):266-78 e5. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.12.019. PubMed
PMID: 30605681.
4. Garcia-Etxarri A, Yuste R. Time for NanoNeuro. Nature Methods. 2021;18(11):1287-93. doi:
10.1038/s41592-021-01270-9. PubMed PMID: WOS:000708359800001.
Rafael Yuste
Professor of Biology
Columbia University, New York, USA
Rafael Yuste, M.D., Ph.D, is a neuroscientist that studies the cerebral cortex at Columbia
University, where he is Professor of Biological Sciences and Director of the Neurotechnology
Center. Yuste obtained his M.D. at the Universidad Autónoma in Madrid. After working in
Sydney Brenner's laboratory at the Medical Research Council in Cambridge, UK, he was a Ph.D.
student with Larry Katz in Torsten Wiesel’s laboratory at Rockefeller University in New York,
and postdoctoral student of David Tank at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. He joined Columbia
in 1996 and is currently director of its Neurotechnology Center and co-director of its Kavli
Institute for Brain Circuits.
Yuste has pioneered the development of imaging techniques, such as calcium imaging of
neuronal circuits, two-photon imaging of spines and circuits, photostimulation using inorganic
caged compounds, two-photon optogenetics and holographic microscopy. He led the researchers
that proposed the US BRAIN Initiative, and coordinated the launch of the International BRAIN
Initiative. He also led the “Morningside” group of 25 researchers and clinicians who proposed
novel human rights (“Neurorights”) to protect citizens from neurotechnologies. He has obtained
awards for his research from the Mayor of New York City, the Society for Neuroscience and the
Director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Tällberg/Eliasson Global Leadership
Prize.