Membrane targeted light driven nanoactuators for neuro-stimulation

This project aims at studying new intramembrane, molecular light actuators that elicit living cell photostimulation. The actuators are based on photochromic and amphiphilic moieties that dwell in the cell membrane and upon illumination behave like light driven molecular machines that perturb the membrane environment enough to hyperpolarize or depolarize the cell. The workplan includes the study of their effect in cell membranes, including that of excitable cells, by using in-vitro electrophysiology. The activity will bring new knowledge in the field of non-genetic cell photostimulation and it will develop innovative neuro-technologies for the study of the central nervous system with special reference to the learning and adaptation strategies of the nervous tissue and the relationships between neural molecules and information coding and processing in the brain. Moreover, it will pave the way to new clinical applications addressing vision and central nervous system disorders.