Background

When a drug is absorbed, the brain releases calcium ions which, in turn, provide free electrons and therefore generate an electric current. Monitoring this electric current provides insight into how the drug is affecting the body.

Technology Overview

This invention consists of a nanoscale sensor for detecting such neuronal electric signals within the brain with high temporal and spatial resolution. The sensor is a microparticle or nanoparticle with a core doped with a voltage-sensitive laser dye with anode and cathode coatings on opposing sides. The electric potential generated by the brain via drug absorption then activates the voltage-sensitive laser dye. The sensor then emits light, appearing as optical modes on the emission spectrum. Nanogold particles result in a surface plasmon resonance with the incident light from the microlaser, thus increasing the amplitude of the optical modes, making them more visible (see figure for reference). Additionally, the microlaser is only a few microns in size which allows the exact location of the affected brain cell to be found. This means that the sensor has a high spatial resolution. The voltage-sensitive dye used in this sensor has a two-millisecond response time, meaning that the sensor also has a high temporal resolution.

Benefits

Two-millisecond response time (high temporal resolution)
Allows for the location of exact brain cell (high spatial resolution)
Promising alternative to EEG equipment

Applications

Medical device manufacturing
Clinical research
EEG manufacturing and research

Opportunity

Research and Development Collaboration and Licensing.

Microlaser-based Sensors for Neuronal Cells Activity Monitoring

Patents

IP Status

Seeking