PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Hejian Xiong
AU  - Kevin A. Alberto
AU  - Jonghae Youn
AU  - Jaume Taura
AU  - Johannes Morstein
AU  - Xiuying Li
AU  - Yang Wang
AU  - Dirk Trauner
AU  - Paul A. Slesinger
AU  - Steven O. Nielsen
AU  - Zhenpeng Qin
TI  - Optical Control of Neuronal Activities with Photoswitchable Nanovesicles
AID  - 10.1101/2022.06.10.495373
DP  - 2022 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2022.06.10.495373
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/06/12/2022.06.10.495373.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/06/12/2022.06.10.495373.full
AB  - Precise modulation of neuronal activity by neuroactive molecules is essential for understanding brain circuits and behavior. However, tools for highly controllable molecular release are lacking. Here, we developed a photoswitchable nanovesicle with azobenzene-containing phosphatidylcholine (azo-PC), coined ‘azosome’, for neuromodulation. Irradiation with 365 nm light triggers the trans-to-cis isomerization of azo-PC, resulting in a disordered lipid bilayer with decreased thickness and cargo release. Irradiation with 455 nm light induces reverse isomerization and switches the release off. Real-time fluorescence imaging shows controllable and repeatable cargo release within seconds (< 3 s). Importantly, we demonstrate that SKF-81297, a dopamine D1-receptor agonist, can be released from the azosome to activate cultures of primary striatal neurons. Azosome shows promise in precise optical control over the molecular release and can be a valuable tool for molecular neuroscience studies.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.