Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed Opto-vTrap, an optogenetic tech freely controls brain functions and behaviors.
The team, led by Professor Lee Chang-jun of the Center for Cognitive and Sociality at IBS and Professor Huh Won-do at KAIST, has also confirmed that developed technology can control brain activity and behaviors and emotions through an animal experiment.
The brain regulates its activity by sending and receiving signals between brain cells such as neurons and glial cells. The organ achieves this interaction through the release of neurotransmitters contained in vesicles within brain cells.
By promoting or inhibiting the activity of a specific part or cell of the brain, it is possible to reveal how the brain works in a specific situation, such as the function of a specific part of the brain, the role of interaction between various parts of the brain, and the function of various brain cells in a specific situation.
However, it was difficult to freely control the activity of specific brain cells at the desired time with the existing brain activity control technology, which uses a cell potential difference control method.
The method changes the acidity of the surrounding environment or induces other unwanted stimuli and has limitations as the technology did not work on cells that did not respond to an electric potential difference.
To overcome such limitations, the team developed Opto-vTrap technology that can directly and specifically control cell vesicles and can be used in various types of brain cells at any time.
To directly control the secretion of neurotransmitters, the research team applied their proprietary technology that creates traps like a snare inside when irradiating light to the cells and applied to the cysts.
When the team applies light to cells or tissues expressing Opto-vTrap, it agglomerates the photoreceptor proteins in the follicle, traps the vesicle, and inhibits neurotransmitter secretion.
In addition to cell and tissue experiments, the research team confirmed that its technology could regulate brain cell signaling and memory, emotion, and behavior through animal experiments using Opto-vTrap.
“Opto-vTrap works well for both neurons and glial cells, so the team expects that it has a wide range of use various neuroscience researches,” Professor Huh said. “In the future, we plan to use this technology to study the spatiotemporal function of specific brain cells.”
Professor Lee also said, “Opto-vTrap can be used not only for brain cells but also for various cells, so its application possibilities are endless.”
In the future, it will contribute to neuroscience fields such as completion of brain function circuit maps and epilepsy treatment, as well as muscle spasm and skin muscle expansion technology, Lee added.