# Mechanoluminescent nanomaterials for optogenetic neuromodulation

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE · 2024 · $281,240

## Abstract

The exponential surge in the prevalence of neurological diseases/disorders, partly due to the rapid growth in the
aged population, poses a significant challenge to the prevention and treatment of impairments in cognitive,
sensory, and motor functions. However, our insufficient understanding of the mechanisms underlying the
pathogenesis of many neurological diseases delays the development of effective treatments to address this
challenge. Recent advances in optogenetics have provided novel tools to investigate complex neural circuits and
brain functions. Due to a limited penetration depth of photons, however, the invasiveness of light sources into
the brain tissue of live animals to control opto-sensitive ion channels has been one of the major challenges in
optogenetics. In this regard, our goal is to develop a modular mechanoluminescent (ML) material platform for
the non-invasive, acoustic activation of various optogenetic channels for neural modulation with a high
spatiotemporal resolution. This project builds upon our recent technological achievements, in which we
developed various synthesis methods to produce novel structures of inorganic nanomaterials and high
piezoelectric organic nanofiber fragments. Based on our preliminary computational modeling, we hypothesize
that such structures enable greater effective strains that maximize the ML performance of the inorganic-organic
hybrid nanomaterials. This project aims to develop two unique optogenetic modulation systems based on ML
nanomaterials. In Aim 1, we will synthesize zinc sulfide nanoparticles doped with various metal ions to control
emission wavelengths and investigate the effect of nanoparticle morphology and dimension on ML performance.
Furthermore, the interaction between those nanoparticles and encapsulating polymer will be optimized to
maximize the ML performance of nanocomposites. In Aim 2, we will characterize the piezoelectric properties of
electrospun fiber-derived nanofragments and investigate the incorporation of ML nanoparticles into the
piezoelectric nanofragments to boost ML performance. An in vitro model based on a neural stem cell line
transduced with Channelrhodopsin-2 will be utilized to determine the performance of these ML nanomaterials
for neuromodulation. Overall, we anticipate that these studies will provide material bases for ML nanoparticles
injectable into the circulatory system (Aim 1) and for ML nanofragments injectable into a site of interest (Aim 2).
The results of this exploratory project are expected to identify candidates for ML nanomaterial platforms for
further optimization and animal testing in subsequent studies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10846840
- **Project number:** 5R21EY034806-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE
- **Principal Investigator:** Jin Nam
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $281,240
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10846840

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10846840, Mechanoluminescent nanomaterials for optogenetic neuromodulation (5R21EY034806-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10846840. Licensed CC0.

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