Abstract: Devices are provided for inhibiting the electrical activity of an excitable cell through the application of a pulse of light which includes a substrate and a photoreactive film both of non-conducting material and laid directly on one another, in which the photoreactive film includes a layer of semiconductor polymer material and has an interface surface which can be placed in contact with an excitable cell and an electrolyte solution. After absorbing light, when placed in contact with the excitable cell and the electrolyte solution, the photoreactive film produces a potential difference across this interface surface which is capable of giving rise to hyperpolarisation of the membrane of the excitable cell. Methods of inhibiting the electrical activity of excitable cells using such devices are also provided.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 1, 2014
Publication date:
June 16, 2016
Applicants:
FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA, ISTITUTO DON CALABRIA - OSPEDALE CLASSIFICATO SACRO CUORE
Inventors:
Diego GHEZZI, Fabio BENFENATI, Guglielmo LANZANI, Maria Rosa ANTOGNAZZA, Giuliano FREDDI, Ilaria DONELLI, Maurizio METE, Grazia PERTILE