Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of gold nanoparticles to enable vision in the visually impaired. Retinal neurons remain functional despite photoreceptor degeneration. These neurons can be made light-sensitive to produce action potentials, by gold nanoparticles conjugated to high-avidity ligands for a variety of cellular targets. Once bound to a neuron, these particles transduce millisecond pulses of light into heat, which changes membrane capacitance, depolarizing the cell and eliciting action potentials. The technology described herein along with a camera and decoder can be used to aid the visually impaired by stimulating cells to send the appropriate messages to the visual cortex.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for modulating activity of a cell capable of being activated by light and treating diseases with such methods. The disclosure also provides systems suitable for use in such methods, particularly systems having silicon nanostructures.

Abstract: Provided herein are Si-based materials, methods of making the Si-based materials, and methods for using the Si-based materials. In embodiments, a silicon-based material comprises an aggregate of particles, the particles comprising an ordered array of nanostructures, the nanostructures comprising amorphous silicon, wherein at least some pairs of adjacent nanostructures are connected by one or more bridges comprising amorphous silicon, the one or more bridges extending from the surface of one nanostructure of the pair to the surface of the other nanostructure in the pair.

Abstract: Provided herein are Si-based materials, methods of making the Si-based materials, and methods for using the Si-based materials. In embodiments, a silicon-based material comprises an aggregate of particles, the particles comprising an ordered array of nanostructures, the nanostructures comprising amorphous silicon, wherein at least some pairs of adjacent nanostructures are connected by one or more bridges comprising amorphous silicon, the one or more bridges extending from the surface of one nanostructure of the pair to the surface of the other nanostructure in the pair.

Abstract: A semi-conductor wafer-based device that is used to suspend biological materials, such as lipid bilayers or single cells, for chemical, electrical and/or optical examination. The wafer has a t least one pore that extends therethrough. The pore is of sufficient size to suspend a lipid bilayer or a cell therein. The surface of the pore is coated with an insulating film to provide an insulating surface to which the lipid bilayer/cell is attached when the lipid bilayer/cell is suspended within the pore. The divice is used to measure the physical properties (e.g., voltage gating) of cells and lipid bilayers that contain biomolecules such as transmembrane proteins.