Inorganic Voltage Nanosensors

by Shimon Weiss

at Physics Colloquium

Tue, 24 Apr 2018, 15:30
Nanotechnology institute building (#51) room 15

Abstract

We have been developing targetable voltage sensing inorganic nanoparticles vsNPs that are designed to self insert into the cell membrane and non invasively optically record via the quantum confined Stark effect action potential on the single particle level at multi sites and in a large field of view We synthesized a library of vsNPs with different compositions and developed a high throughput screen for optimization of their performance We have explored several strategies for imparting these vsNPs with membrane protein like properties including functionalization with libraries of peptides lipids and nanodiscs We have developed screening assays for improving the efficiency of vsNPs membrane insertion and for their voltage sensitivity once embedded in the membrane We have demonstrated membrane voltage sensing by membrane inserted vsNPs in WT HEK cells using valinomycin and modulated concentration of potassium ions in a microfluidic chamber and by patch clamped in primary cultured cortical neurons These novel voltage nansensors hold great promise for electrophysiological investigations of the nervous system Refreshments are served at 15:15

Created on 17-04-2018 by Bar Lev, Yevgeny (ybarlev)
Updaded on 17-04-2018 by Bar Lev, Yevgeny (ybarlev)