Silicon Nanomaterials for Neuronal Cell Activation

SUMMARY

• Silicon is highly desirable for biomedical device applications because of its thermal and mechanical properties, as well as its biocompatibility. However, its practical application is presently limited by a lack of deformability and degradability.
• The inventors developed a novel amorphous silicon material that retains all the advantageous properties of silicon and is also deformable and degradable. The material is amenable to medical device nanotechnology applications such as tissue engineering for muscle and neuron growth and tissue specific electrical stimulation.
• The product is a novel amorphous silicon material that can be used in the construction of medical nanotechnology devices. The new class of material combines the advantages of both traditional silicon and biopolymers.
• In in vitro proof-of-concept studies, bioelectric interfaces were constructed with the silicon material and used to stimulate action potentials across root ganglia neurons (DRG). In in vivo toxicity studies, mice showed progressively declining immune response to subcutaneously administered silicon material.

FIGURE

ADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES

• Easier attachment to bio surfaces
• Fast photothermal effect in cells
• Thermally stable
• Electrically conductive
• Low immunogenicity

APPLICATIONS

• Electroceuticals (muscle and neuronal stimulation)
• Ex-vivo Tissue engineering
• Biomedical nanotechnology  

PUBLICATIONS

• Jiang, Y; et al. Heterogeneous silicon mesostructures for lipid-supported bioelectric interfaces. Nat Mater. 2016 Sept; 15(9): 1023-30.

July 26, 2019

Proof of concept

Patent Pending

Licensing

Bozhi Tian

• US:15/623,133

• Preliminary in vivo immunogenicity and toxicity studies