Abstract
Light rather than electrical current: The inner or outer surfaces of glass micropipettes can be coated with nanoparticles of a narrow-band-gap semiconductor. When visible or near-infrared light is used for excitation, these micropipettes (labeled PE Stim in the image) can activate nearby neurons (labeled *) in brain tissue without the damage associated with electrical stimulation.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Brain / cytology
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Brain / physiology*
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Electric Stimulation
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Electrodes
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Infrared Rays
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Lead / chemistry
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Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
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Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
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Neurons / physiology*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Selenium Compounds / chemistry
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Semiconductors
Substances
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Selenium Compounds
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lead selenide
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Lead