Local probing and stimulation of neuronal cells by optical manipulation

Dan Cojoc

doi:10.1117/12.2064273

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16 September 2014 Local probing and stimulation of neuronal cells by optical manipulation

Dan Cojoc

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Proceedings Volume 9164, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XI; 91640S (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2064273
Event: SPIE NanoScience + Engineering, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

During development and in the adult brain, neurons continuously explore the environment searching for guidance cues, leading to the appropriate connections. Elucidating these mechanisms represents a gold goal in neurobiology. Here, I discuss our recent achievements developing new approaches to locally probe the growth cones and stimulate neuronal cell compartments with high spatial and temporal resolution. Optical tweezers force spectroscopy applied in conjunction with metabolic inhibitors reveals new properties of the cytoskeleton dynamics. On the other hand, using optically manipulated microvectors as functionalized beads or filled liposomes, we demonstrate focal stimulation of neurons by small number of signaling molecules.

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Dan Cojoc "Local probing and stimulation of neuronal cells by optical manipulation", Proc. SPIE 9164, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation XI, 91640S (16 September 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2064273

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