# Synthetic design of an all-optical electrophysiology system

> **NIH NIH R21** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $151,396

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Optogenetics encompasses a broad array of tools and techniques that involve the use of light, in conjunction
with molecular genetic tools, to drive and monitor activity of specific types of excitable cells in the nervous system
and heart. Compared to traditional electrophysiological techniques, these methods are far less invasive and have
the potential to monitor and manipulate electrical activity at multiple sites at the same time. The promise of
optogenetics is not solely limited to expanding our basic understanding of complex organ systems but will also
have a profound impact on the development of new therapeutics. Despite their promise, the current generation
of optogenetic actuators are inferior compared to standard electrophysiological methods. While the membrane
potential in a typical electrophysiological experiment can be changed by hundreds of millivolts on a sub-
millisecond timescale, the current generation of light-activated ion channels are able to drive membrane potential
by only a few millivolts in a millisecond. Much of the cutting-edge development in the field has focused on
modifying and reengineering naturally-occurring ion channels, but these approaches have some inherent
limitations. Herein, we propose to develop a new class of synthetic probes that serve as light-activated actuators
for controlling membrane potential and ion concentrations with high temporal and spatial resolution. Employing
a chemical synthesis approach towards these probes will allow us much greater flexibility to engineer and design
more efficient actuators having the necessary throughput to drive cellular membrane potential. In addition, these
chemical ion carriers can be combined with genetically encoded light-activated probes to provide even greater
flexibility. The proposed research capitalizes on the expertise of a synthetic chemist (Prof. Schomaker, UW-
Chemistry) and an ion channel electrophysiologist (Prof. Chanda, UW-Neuroscience). The two specific aims will
focus on: a) the design and synthesis of photoactive ionophores and ion carriers, b) Characterization of the
optical and transport properties of these designer ionophores and ion carriers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10225934
- **Project number:** 7R21GM131662-03
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Baron Chanda
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $151,396
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10225934

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10225934, Synthetic design of an all-optical electrophysiology system (7R21GM131662-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10225934. Licensed CC0.

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