Session: 20-17-01: Rising Stars of Mechanical Engineering

Paper Number: 172336

Spatially Resolved Modulation of Neuronal Activities With a Photoelectrode 

This DARPA YFA project pioneers NeuroLume, an innovative neuromodulation platform that integrates a flexible photoelectrode with a precisely focused laser source to enable modulation of neural activity at the cellular level. This technology aims to overcome the limitations of conventional neuromodulation tools by offering high spatial resolution, real-time adaptability, and non-genetic operation, thereby redefining localized therapeutic strategies—particularly in models of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Current electrical implants, though widely adopted, are constrained by their coarse spatial resolution and limited adaptability. Drug-based approaches, while effective for systemic modulation, suffer from low specificity, potential side effects, and poor temporal control. Emerging light-based techniques—such as photothermal, electrochemical, and capacitive stimulation—have shown potential, but they typically rely on structured electrode arrays or nanodevices that fall short in achieving reliable, scalable, and reversible control at the single-cell level.

NeuroLume introduces a fundamentally new design: an ultrathin silicon nanomembrane (100 nm–1 µm thick) serving as an unpatterned photoelectrode, activated by a focused laser to generate localized photocurrent. This process triggers charge separation within the semiconductor, enabling precise modulation of the neuronal microenvironment. The system’s flexibility allows it to conform to various tissue geometries, enhancing both spatial targeting and signal specificity.

The research will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in semiconductor physics, bioelectronics, and neuroscience. Validation of NeuroLume will occur in both ex vivo hippocampal slices and in vivo murine somatosensory cortex, providing a rigorous assessment of its capabilities in both controlled and physiologically complex environments.

Beyond its core function of modulation, NeuroLume’s versatility opens avenues for broader operational modalities, including biosensing, spatially patterned drug delivery, pH modulation, and regenerative guidance. The platform’s non-genetic mechanism is especially advantageous for applications requiring temporary or reversible modulation, such as drug screening, neural prosthetics, brain-machine interfaces, and studies of neural plasticity, synaptic integration, and neurotransmitter dynamics.

By enabling precise targeting of neural substructures—even down to individual synapses—NeuroLume offers a transformative tool for investigating and manipulating complex neural networks. Its potential extends across neuroscience, bioengineering, and regenerative medicine. Upon successful implementation, NeuroLume will provide an advanced optoelectronic interface for high-resolution, real-time control of the nervous system, paving the way for next-generation diagnostics, therapeutics, and neurotechnological innovations. Optoelectronic processes can serve as a common driving force for multiple sensing and actuation modalities. The outcomes will shape a design and implementation framework for a versatile “toolbox” for biomedical investigation and engineering. The coupling between the semiconductor and laser establishes a versatile platform for energy transfer and signal transduction. This paves the way for various operational modalities, thereby opening broad applications in neuroscience and other fields.

Presenting Author: Jinghua Li The Ohio State University

Presenting Author Biography: Jinghua Li received her B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Shandong University, China, in 2011. She earned her Ph.D. from Duke University, United States, in chemistry in 2016. She spent 2016–2019 as a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University before joining the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University as an assistant professor in 2019. Her two focus areas are: 1) fundamental understandings on synthesis chemistry and interfacial properties of thin-film materials as bio-interfaces; and 2) engineering efforts on application of these materials for the next generation wearable/implantable biomedical devices to bridge the gap between rigid machine and soft biology. Her faculty position is funded, in part, by the Discovery Themes Initiative in the area of Chronic Brain Injury, which has promoted faculty hires and support of critical materials needs in the areas of imaging, diagnosis, and treatment of brain injury. Dr. Li supports the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence, Nanotech West, and the Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis with her expertise in the function of biomaterials. Dr. Li has been recognized as the 2025 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow, 2024 ACS Materials Au Rising Star, 2024 Nanoscale Emerging Investigator, and 2023 OSU Early Career Innovator of the Year. She also received the DARPA Young Faculty Award, NIH Trailblazer Award, OSU Lumley Research Award and OSU Chronic Brain Injury Program Paper of the Year Award.

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