Matta, R. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2024

Inkjet-printed transparent electrodes for electrical brain stimulation

Electrical stimulation is a powerful tool for investigating and modulating brain activity, as well as for treating neurological disorders. However, understanding the precise effects of electrical stimulation on neural activity has been hindered by limitations in recording neuronal responses near the stimulating electrode, such as stimulation artifacts in electrophysiology or obstruction of the field of view in imaging. In this study, we introduce a novel stimulation device fabricated from conductive polymers that is transparent and therefore compatible with optical imaging techniques. The device is manufactured using a combination of microfabrication and inkjet printing techniques and is flexible, allowing better adherence to the brains natural curvature. We characterized the electrical and optical properties of the electrode and evaluated its performance in the brain of an anesthetized mouse. Furthermore, we combined experimental data with a finite-element model of the in-vivo experimental setup to estimate the maximum electric field that the highly transparent device can generate in the mouse brain. Our findings indicate that the device can generate an electric field as high as 300 V/m, demonstrating its potential for studying and manipulating neural activity using a range of electrical stimulation techniques relevant to human applications. Overall, this work presents a promising approach for developing versatile new tools to apply and study electrical brain stimulation.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Macrophages sense ECM mechanics and growth factor availability through cytoskeletal remodeling to regulate their tissue repair program

Tissue resident macrophages play important roles in tissue homeostasis and repair. However, how macrophages monitor and maintain tissue integrity is not well understood. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a key structural and organizational component of all tissues. Here, we find that macrophages sense the mechanical properties of the ECM in order to regulate a specific tissue repair program. We show that macrophage mechanosensing is mediated by cytoskeletal remodeling and can be performed in three-dimensional environments through a non-canonical, integrin-independent mechanism analogous to amoeboid migration. We find that these cytoskeletal dynamics also integrate biochemical signaling by CSF1 and ultimately regulate chromatin accessibility to control the mechanosensitive gene expression program. This study suggests a distinct mode of ECM mechanosensing and growth factor signaling through which macrophages may regulate tissue repair and fibrosis.

immunology↗