Implantable optogenetic stimulator wirelessly powered by flexible photovoltaics with near-infrared (NIR) light

Abstract

Understanding the link between brain function and behavior is one of the important issues in neuroscience because it is necessary to treat brain disease and determine the cause of neurological disorders such as stroke, tremor, and Parkinson’s disease etc. Optogenetics enabled researchers to regulate the specific cell type in freely moving animals using light with a specific wavelength, contributing to investigate the brain functions and brain disorder states. However, a tethered system to deliver light into the brain has the limitation that tethered system could constrain the natural behavior of freely moving animals, have risk breakage of cables over time and be improper for utilization in large and complex shaped experimental arenas. This thesis introduces the alternative approach for the untethered system which is an optically powered and controlled wireless optogenetic system using near-infrared (NIR) light for high transmittance through living tissues. In vivo optogenetic stimulation, the demonstration which controlling the whisker movement of channelrhodopsin-expressing mice caused by the wireless optogenetic system with NIR light illumination confirmed that photovoltaic array generated sufficient electrical power and the wireless optogenetic system was remotely controlled successfully. The developed wireless optogenetic system provides an improved applicability of optogenetic study with freely moving animals.