Biology subjects

Liang, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Liang, J..

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Cryo-ET of IgG bivalent binding on SARS-CoV-2 provides structural basis for antibody avidity

The bivalent nature of IgG enhances its neutralization potency against enveloped viruses; however, on-virion structural details of IgG bivalent binding with antigens remain elusive. Here we used cryo-ET to investigate how two potent IgGs P17 and S309 interact with S-trimers on the SARS-CoV-2 surface. We found that these antibodies exploit the mobility of S-trimers to form diverse bivalent binding patterns. P17 stabilizes S-trimers in a one-RBD-up conformation and gathers S-trimer into linear multimers within minutes, whereas S309 primarily forms circular S-trimer assemblies that extend into lattice-like structures. Additionally, both IgGs can facilitate inter-virion coupling through bivalent binding of opposing S-trimers. These findings provide a structural basis for understanding IgG avidity and offer insights for antibody engineering and vaccine design.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Effects of Lamina-Chromatin Attachment on Super Long-Range Chromatin Interactions

The interactions between chromatin and lamin proteins localized on the nuclear envelope play a crucial role in the three-dimensional (3D) organization of the genome. This study investigates the influence of lamin associated domains (LADs) on genome organization at the chromosome level using 3D polymer models of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and embryonic stem cells (mESCs). By integrating genome-wide LAD maps from DamID assays, we simulated chromatin conformations with and without LAD attachment to the nuclear envelope. Our results show that incorporating LAD-lamin interactions yields a radial chromatin distribution consistent with experimental observations. Moreover, LAD-lamin interactions induce significant super long-range chromatin contacts across distant genomic regions. These findings suggest two distinct mechanisms driving induction of chromatin interactions by LAD-lamin attachment.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2025

Chromosome segregation in Escherichia coli involves DNA binding by the MinC-MinD complex

The Escherichia coli Min system, composed of the proteins MinC, MinD, and MinE, is crucial for directing septum formation at mid-cell. MinD has also been shown to bind DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner and to tether plasmid DNA to liposomes. A role for the Min system in chromosome segregation has been proposed, whereby repeated, transient membrane-tethering events mediated by MinD could help prevent backward movements of the duplicated chromosomes once entropic forces weaken. However, the contribution of the other Min proteins to DNA binding has remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that DNA binding is strongly enhanced when MinD and MinC form a complex, while MinE and FtsZ (at high concentrations) interfere with this binding. We reveal a critical role for the linker connecting MinCs N- and C-terminal domains in both DNA binding and inhibition of FtsZ polymerization. E. coli strains expressing MinC linker variants from the native locus, in combination with the alpha subunit of HU tagged with GFP, display chromosomes that appear more spread throughout the cell. This phenotype could reflect reduced compaction, chromosome segregation defects, or a combination of both. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized role for the MinC linker in DNA binding and provide new insights into a potential physiological role of MinCD-DNA bnding in chromosome organization and/or dynamics.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Polarizing SNPs without outgroup

Asserting which allele is ancestral or derived, known as polarization, is a prerequisite of many population and quantitative genetic methods. In particular, it allows inference of the unfolded site-frequency spectrum (uSFS). The most widely used approaches are based on outgroup data. However, for studies on species for which closely related outgroups are difficult to obtain, information on many sites of interest may be missed due to alignment problems. Here, we present PolarBEAR (Polarization By Estimation of the Ancestral recombination graph), a method that uses the local genealogies from the ancestral recombination graph (ARG) to infer ancestral states. We show that PolarBEAR can reach high accuracy in polarization and uSFS estimation using simulations under several scenarios. This accuracy, however, heavily depends on the ARG used as input. It is maximal when the true ARGs is used, but can be very low depending on the ARG reconstruction method employed. We also applied our method to human population data and compared it with the outgroup-based method est-sfs. Although our method could not infer the ancestral state with high confidence at certain positions, it obtained results for positions that est-sfs could not polarize due to missing outgroup data. The polarization results of the two methods were highly consistent at positions inferred by both methods. The two methods inferred similar uSFS, with PolarBEAR estimating slightly fewer high-frequency derived alleles. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PolarBEAR is robust to the mutation model used, while est-sfs exhibits a bias in the presence of heterogeneous base composition. PolarBEAR can complement outgroup-based methods, or replace them when no appropriate outgroup sequence is available.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Intense oocyte competition builds the female reproductive reserve in mice

During the process of ovariogenesis, more than two-thirds of germ cells are sacrificed to enhance the quality of the remaining oocytes. But the detail process of selection is not completely understood in mammals. Here, by creating a high resolution 4- dimensional ovariogenesis imaging system, we recorded the progress of oocyte fate determination in live mouse ovaries, and discovered an oocyte competition mechanism that determines the survival of oocytes. We found that dominant oocytes catch and absorb the cell debris from sacrificed oocytes to enrich their cytoplasm for survival. Single-cell sequencing demonstrated that this competition follows a classic autophagy- driven model. Blocking competition by suppressing autophagy resulted in an enlarged pool of survived oocytes. However, these oocytes lacking competition were unable to fully develop and contribute to fertility. Our study suggests that mammals have evolved a unique intensive competition system to enhance oocyte quality, necessary to support their long reproductive lifespan.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Super-omics and PCAS reveal rheumatoid arthritis as a tumor-like disease

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating systemic autoimmune disorder that significantly impairs quality of life. To elucidate the molecular alterations in RA progression, we performed comprehensive super-omics analyses on synovial tissues from patients with joint trauma, arthritis, and RA. These analyses included transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiomics, and fourteen PTMs (phosphorylation, acetylation, lactylation, O-GlcNAc glycosylation, arginine monomethylation, lysine monomethylation, lysine dimethylation, lysine trimethylation, succinylation, malonylation, glutarylation, tyrosine nitration, N-glycosylation, and O-glycosylation). Additionally, we developed a protein-centered association study (PCAS) method to integrate these complex datasets. Using this approach, we identified key proteins, such as STK17B, and its interactors, which may be crucial in RA pathogenesis. Tumor-like features, including aberrant angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, were observed in RA, alongside the potential involvement of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Finally, we constructed a molecular interaction blueprint of RA, providing a comprehensive framework for advancing RA pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

Roles of Cro2 and CI2 binding to OR operators in controlling lysogeny stability during prophage induction

The lysogeny-lysis switch in bacteriophage lambda serves as a model for understanding cell fate decisions. The molecular network controlling this switch has been explored through extensive experimental and computational studies. Yet, the specific role of protein-DNA interactions, like the binding of CI2 and Cro2 proteins to operator sites, in regulating lysogeny stability during prophage induction remains less under-stood. This study employs a minimalistic model and the Accurate Chemical Master Equation (ACME) method to construct detailed probability landscapes of the networks behavior under varying conditions, such as different dissociation and CI2 degradation rates which simulate UV irradiation effects. Our findings indicate that Cro2 binding at OR3 and CI2 at OR1 significantly influence lysogeny stability, with the former destabilizing and the latter stabilizing it. Conversely, interactions at OR1 by Cro2 and OR3 by CI show minimal impact on this stability. Through the ACME approach, we could examine the networks global behavior under conditions unapproachable by conventional stochastic simulations. This study highlights the critical roles of specific protein-DNA interactions in maintaining lysogeny and provides insight into the broader dynamics of the lysogeny-lysis switch under various physiological stresses.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2025

AAVone: A Cost-Effective, Single-Plasmid Solution for Efficient AAV Production with Reduced DNA Impurities

Currently, the most common approach for manufacturing GMP-grade adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors involves transiently transfecting mammalian cells with three plasmids that carry the essential components for production. The requirement for all three plasmids to be transfected into a single cell and the necessity for high quantities of input plasmid DNA, limits AAV production efficiency, introduces variability between production batches, and increases time and labor costs. Here, we developed an all-in-one, single-plasmid AAV production system, called AAVone. In this system, the adenovirus helper genes (E2A, E4orf6, and VA RNA), packaging genes (rep and cap), and the vector transgene cassette are consolidated into a single compact plasmid with a 13-kb backbone. The AAVone system achieves a two- to four-fold increase in yields compared to the traditional triple-plasmid system. Furthermore, the AAVone system exhibits low batch-to-batch variation and eliminates the need for fine-tuning the ratios of the three plasmids, simplifying the production process. In terms of vector quality, AAVs generated by the AAVone system show similar in vitro and in vivo transduction efficiency, but a substantial reduction in sequences attributed to plasmid backbones and a marked reduction in non-functional snap-back genomes. In Summary, the AAVone platform is a straightforward, cost-effective, and highly consistent AAV production system - making it particularly suitable for GMP-grade AAV vectors.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2024

Single-cell analysis reveals distinct immune characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma in HBV-positive versus HBV-negative cases

Infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a key risk factor for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and progression. It is widely recognized that immunopathological mechanisms are pivotal in developing HBV-related HCC. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms by which HBV-induced modifications within the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to HCC pathogenesis are still not well understood. Here, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze and compare the immune landscapes between HBV-positive and HBV-negative HCC. We discovered that HBV infection significantly modifies the immune cell makeup and state, and leads to the suppression and exhaustion of T cells within the TME. Specifically, an increase in SLC4A10+ CD8+ T cells and IFITM3+ macrophages was observed, along with the upregulation of the gene SLC35F1 in various immune cell subtypes. These findings offer valuable insights into the alteration of the immunological microenvironment in HCC associated with HBV infection, suggesting possible targets for immunotherapeutic intervention.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2024

Exploring Genetic Interactions with Rare Variants Reveals Gene Networks Susceptible to Complex Diseases

Genetic interactions play a crucial role in understanding the susceptibility and etiology of complex human diseases. However, existing methods for analyzing gene-gene interactions are often limited to common variants and may not capture the effects of rare variants. In this study, we propose a novel method called GGI-RUNNER that is specifically designed for analyzing gene-gene interactions of rare variants. GGI-RUNNER evaluates the enrichment of rare variant interaction burden in patients relative to baselines in the general population. The baselines are estimated for pairwise genes by a recursive truncated negative-binomial regression model on multiple genomic features available from public data. Intensive simulations demonstrate that GGI-RUNNER exhibits substantially higher statistical power than alternative epistasis tests and maintains reasonable type I error rates even in stratified populations. Applied to real data, GGI-RUNNER identified significant rare variant interactions associated with Alzheimers disease, Hirschsprungs disease, Ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. Furthermore, we found that these identified genes for each trait can form interconnected networks, which may provide valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2024

Molecular Insights into the Regulation of GNPTAB by TMEM251

In vertebrates, newly synthesized lysosomal enzymes traffick to lysosomes through the mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) pathway. The Golgi membrane protein TMEM251 was recently discovered to regulate lysosome biogenesis by controlling the level of GlcNAc-1-phosphotransferase (GNPT). However, its precise function remained unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that TMEM251 is a two-transmembrane protein indispensable for GNPT stability, cleavage by Site-1-Protease (S1P), and enzymatic activity. We reconcile conflicting models by showing that TMEM251 enhances GNPT cleavage and prevents its mislocalization to lysosomes for degradation. We further establish that TMEM251 achieves this by interacting with GOLPH3 and retromer complexes to anchor the TMEM251-GNPT complex at the Golgi. Alanine mutagenesis identified F4XXR7 motif in TMEM251s N-tail for GOLPH3 binding. Together, our findings uncover TMEM251s multi-faceted role in stabilizing GNPT, retaining it at the Golgi, and ensuring the fidelity of the M6P pathway, thereby providing insights into its molecular function.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

In-Situ Structure and Topography of AMPA Receptor Scaffolding Complexes Visualized by CryoET

Most synapses in the brain transmit information by the presynaptic release of vesicular glutamate, driving postsynaptic depolarization through AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs). The nanometer-scale topography of synaptic AMPARs regulates response amplitude by controlling the number of receptors activated by synaptic vesicle fusion. The mechanisms controlling AMPAR topography and their interactions with postsynaptic scaffolding proteins are unclear, as is the spatial relationship between AMPARs and synaptic vesicles. Here, we used cryo-electron tomography to map the molecular topography of AMPARs and visualize their in-situ structure. Clustered AMPARs form structured complexes with postsynaptic scaffolding proteins resolved by sub-tomogram averaging. Sub-synaptic topography mapping reveals the presence of AMPAR nanoclusters with exclusion zones beneath synaptic vesicles. Our molecular-resolution maps visualize the predominant information transfer path in the nervous system.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

An intracellular calcium sensory complex CPKs/ECA1 controls cytosolic calcium homeostasis for plant osmosensitivity

Intracellular Ca2+ controls various cellular functions and local Ca2+ dynamics is tightly regulated upon environmental cues. Maintaining cellular Ca2+ balance is essential for plant survival. Here we report a calcium-dependent protein kinases (CPKs)-mediated signaling pathway, in conjunction with the ER membrane-resident Ca2+-ATPase ECA1, acts influentially for cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis and osmotic stress tolerance. We show that targeting cytosolic Ca2+ efflux via specific inhibitors or eca1 mutation results in augmented [Ca2+]cyt spikes, elevated cytoplasmic ABA ([ABA]cyt) level and ultimately hypersensitive to osmotic stress. Screening of Arabidopsis CPKs revealed direct binding of CPK2/6/11 to ECA1. Moreover, CPK2/6/11 phosphorylate the N-terminal of ECA1 at Ser5, thereby enhancing its activity for cytosolic Ca2+ efflux into ER and subsequently lower [ABA]cyt. The cumulative effect of ECA1 and CPKs mutation on Arabidopsis plant sensitivity to osmotic stress further illustrates that CPKs/ECA1 acts an intracellular sensory module for plant stress tolerance via regulating [Ca2+]cyt and [ABA]cyt homeostasis. One-sentence summary: CPKs/ECA1 acts an intracellular sensory module for plant osmotic stress tolerance via regulating cytosolic Ca2+ and ABA homeostasis.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Discovery of novel 1,4-dicarbonylthiosemicarbazides as DNA gyrase inhibitors for the treatment of MRSA infection

Antibiotic resistance has become a serious threat to public health, thus novel antibiotics are urgently needed to combat drug-resistant bacteria including MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus). The 1,4-dicarbonylthiosemicarbazide is an interesting chemotype that could exhibit antibacterial activity. However, the currently available compounds are not as potent as clinical antibiotics. Herein, we adopted the computer-aided drug design strategy, substructure search, to retrieve antibacterial 1,4-dicarbonylthiosemicarbazide derivatives, and identified compound B5 (Specs ID: AG-690/15432331) from the Specs chemical library that exhibited moderate activity (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 6.25 {micro}g/mL) against S. aureus (ATCC 29213). Based on that compound, we further designed and synthesized 45 derivatives, and evaluated their antibacterial activity. Eight derivatives were more potent than or equivalent to vancomycin (MIC: 1.56 {micro}g/mL). We compared the three most potent ones for their cytotoxicity to HepG2 and HUVEC cells and selected compound 1b as our lead compound for comprehensive biological evaluation. As a result, compound 1b exhibited a bacteriostatic mode, and was active against a panel of gram-positive bacteria strains, metabolically stable, and effective to protect the mice from MRSA infection. More importantly, we applied 2D similarity calculation and reverse docking to predict potential targets of compound 1b. Through experimental validation and molecular dynamics simulation, we were able to confirm that compound 1b inhibited S. aureus DNA gyrase (IC50: 1.81 {micro}M) and DNA supercoiling, potentially by binding to the ATPase domain, where ASP81, GLU58 and GLN91 formed key hydrogen bonds. Taken together, we have discovered a new class of DNA gyrase inhibitors represented by compound 1b for the treatment of MRSA infection, through the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel 1,4-dicarbonylthiosemicarbazides. Graphic Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=137 SRC="FIGDIR/small/611349v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (48K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@549dadorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@13bff64org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1fc2c00org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@acee76_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LIAn interesting 1,4-dicarbonylthiosemicarbazide derivative B5 with moderate antibacterial activity for S. aureus was discovered by substructure search. C_LIO_LIBased on B5, 45 new 1,4-dicarbonylthiosemicarbazides were designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated, which led to the discovery of a promising lead compound 1b. C_LIO_LICompound 1b exhibited good antibacterial activity for a panel of gram-positive bacteria strains, and was effective to protect mice from MRSA infection. C_LIO_LIThe 1,4-dicarbonylthiosemicarbazides represented by compound 1b were discovered as a new class of DNA gyrase inhibitors, by target prediction and experimental validation. C_LI

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2024

Mitochondrial transplantation: a novel therapy for liver ischemia/reperfusion injury

MINI-ABSTRACTMitochondrial transplantation prevented liver ischemia/reperfusion-induced hepatocellular injury and inflammation. In vivo intravital microscopy demonstrated that liver resident macrophages, namely Kupffer cells, rapidly sequestered, internalized and acidified transplanted mitochondria through the CRIg immunoreceptor. Mechanistically, both Kupffer cells and CRIg were necessary for the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of mitochondrial transplantation. STRUCTURED ABSTRACTO_ST_ABSObjectiveC_ST_ABSTo investigate the hepatoprotective effects of mitochondrial transplantation in a murine liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model. Summary background dataSequential liver ischemia followed by reperfusion (I/R) is a pathophysiological process underlying hepatocellular injury in a number of clinical contexts, such as hemorrhagic shock/resuscitation, major elective liver surgery and organ transplantation. A unifying pathogenic consequence of I/R is mitochondrial dysfunction. Restoration of mitochondria via transplantation (MTx) has emerged as potential therapeutic in I/R. However, its role in liver I/R and its mechanisms of action remain poorly defined. MethodsWe investigated the hepatoprotective effects of MTx in an in vivo mouse model of liver I/R and used in vivo imaging and various knockout and transgenic mouse models to determine the mechanism of protection. ResultsWe found that I/R-induced hepatocellular injury was prevented by MTx, as measured by plasma ALT, AST and liver histology. Additionally, I/R-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine release (IL-6, TNF) was dampened by MTx, and anti-inflammatory IL-10 was enhanced. Moreover, MTx lowered neutrophil infiltration into both the liver sinusoids and lung BALF, suggesting a local and distant reduction in inflammation. Using in vivo intravital imaging, we found that I/R-subjected Kupffer cells (KCs), rapidly sequestered transplanted mitochondria, and acidified mitochondria within lysosomal compartments. To specifically interrogate the role of KCs, we depleted KCs using the diphtheria toxin-inducible Clec4f/iDTR transgenic mouse, then induced I/R, and discovered that KCs are necessary for the beneficial effects of MTx. Finally, we induced I/R in complement receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily (CRIg) knockout mice and found that CRIg was required for mitochondria capture by KCs and mitochondrial-mediated hepatoprotection. ConclusionsIn this study, we demonstrated that CRIg-dependent capture of mitochondria by I/R-subjected Kupffer cells is a hepatoprotective mechanism in vivo. These data progress knowledge on the mechanisms of MTx and opens new avenues for clinical translation.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Function-first discovery of high affinity monoclonal antibodies using Nanovial-based plasma B cell screening

Antibody discovery technologies, essential for research and therapeutic applications, have evolved significantly since the development of hybridoma technology. Various in vitro (display) and in vivo (animal immunization and B cell-sequencing) workflows have led to the discovery of antibodies against diverse antigens. Despite this success, standard display and B-cell sequencing-based technologies are limited to targets that can be produced in a soluble form. This limitation inhibits the screening of function-inducing antibodies, which require the target to be expressed in cells to monitor function or signaling, and antibodies targeting proteins that maintain their physiological structure only when expressed on cell membranes, such as G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). A high-throughput two-cell screening workflow, which localizes an antibody-secreting cell (ASC) and a cell expressing the target protein in a microenvironment, can overcome these challenges. To make function-first plasma cell-based antibody discovery accessible and scalable, we developed hydrogel Nanovials that can capture single plasma cells, target-expressing cells, and plasma cell secretions (antibodies). The detection and isolation of Nanovials harboring the antigen-specific plasma cells are then carried out using a flow cytometry cell sorter - an instrument that is available in most academic centers and biopharmaceutical companies. The antibody discovery workflow employing Nanovials was first validated in the context of two different cell membrane-associated antigens produced in recombinant form. We analyzed over 40,000 plasma cells over two campaigns and were able to identify a diversity of binders that i) exhibited high affinity (picomolar) binding, ii) targeted multiple non-overlapping epitopes and iii) demonstrated high developability scores. A campaign using the two-cell assay targeting the immune checkpoint membrane protein PD-1 yielded cell binders with similar EC50s to clinically used Pembrolizumab and Nivolumab. The highest selectivity for binders was observed for sorted events corresponding with the highest signal bound to target cells on Nanovials. Overall, Nanovials can provide a strong foundation for function-first antibody discovery, yielding direct cell binding information and quantitative data on prioritization of hits with flexibility for additional functional readouts in the future.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2024

S-RNase Evolution in Self-Incompatibility: Phylogenomic Insights into Synteny with S-Like Genes

S-RNases are essential in the gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system of many flowering plants, where they act as stylar-S determinants. Despite their significance, the syntenic genomic origin and evolutionary trajectory of S-RNase genes in eudicots have remained largely unclear. Here, we performed large-scale phylogenetic and microsynteny network analyses of RNase T2 genes across 130 angiosperm genomes, encompassing 35 orders and 56 families. Based on the connections observed in the synteny network, particularly the persisting synteny block in none-SI Cucurbitaceae species, we infer that well-characterized S-RNase genes (Class III-A RNase genes) were duplicated and evolved from Class I S-like RNase genes, possibly as a result of the gamma triplication event shared by core eudicots. Additionally, we identified frequent lineage-specific gene transpositions of S-RNase genes across diverse angiosperm lineages, including Rosaceae, Solanaceae, and Rutaceae families, accompanied by a significant increase in transposable element (TE) activity near these genes. Our findings delineate the precise genomic origin and evolutionary path of eudicot S-RNase genes, enhancing our understanding of the evolution of the S-RNase-based GSI system.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Stiffness-tunable neurotentacles for minimally invasive implantation and long-term neural activity recordings

Flexible implantable microelectrodes have been demonstrated to exhibit excellent biocompatibility for chronic neural activity recordings. However, the low bending strength of the commonly employed flexible materials presents a significant challenge for probe insertion into the brain. Traditional implantation methods for flexible electrodes generally require additional auxiliary materials or tools, which tend to have a much larger footprint than the probes themselves, greatly increasing the damage to neurons during insertion. Here we have proposed a stiffness-tunable polyimide probe for deep brain implantation, referred to as Neurotentacle, enabled by embedded microchannels in which the liquid pressure is controllable (from 0.1MPa to more than 2.0MPa). During the insertion phase into the brain, the neurotentacle can pose a high stiffness under elevated internal pressure to penetrate the brain tissues without the use of any additional materials or tools. Once the device has been successfully inserted, it can regain its flexibility by reducing the internal pressure. Importantly, the novel multilayer microfabrication process keeps the structural dimensions of the neurotentacle similar to those of a regular flexible probe. Therefore, the neurotentacle can produce an extremely low level of damage to brain tissue during its insertion phase, while extending its long-term biocompatibility and stability, which has been experimentally verified in histological evaluations conducted on both acute and chronic animal specimens. In addition, the chronically implanted neurotentacles enabled stable neural activity recordings in mice with an average spike yield of 96% and an average signal-to-noise ratio of 15.2. The proposed neurotentacle does not necessitate the use of complex devices and its insertion process is straightforward and highly controllable, thus rendering it an appealing technique for minimally invasive implantation and long-term neural recording of flexible electrodes.

neuroscience↗