Novel vehicle for exploring networks dynamics in excitable tissue

Since the initial demonstration of nerve excitation and the subsequent action potential generation by Hodgkin and Huxley in 1952, most efforts in modulating or restoring neural activity to cure diseases or injury have concentrated on using neural interfaces for electrical stimulation with electrodes. However, it was soon appreciated that repeated chronic stimulations necessary for lasting rehabilitation could have its drawbacks. Namely, the eventual degradation of tissue and electrodes, issues of biocompatibility and immune responses to foreign objects. However, new innovative methods are emerging which can improve the quality and duration of neural stimulations. Here, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) as a novel delivery system can prove to be a viable alternative to electrode based stimulations for exploring network dynamics or when used in therapeutic rehabilitation.