Project description
Optical control of cell functions enabled via organic semiconductors
Controlling the activity of biological systems is a timeless mission for neuroscientists, enabling them to further understand specific functions and manage dysfunctions. Optical modulation offers unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution, reduced invasiveness and higher selectivity compared to electrical methods. However, the vast majority of animal cells do not have a specific sensitivity to light. Organic semiconductors are a promising class of materials that can optically regulate cell activity. They are inherently sensitive to visible light, highly biocompatible, can sustain both ionic and electronic conduction and can be functionalised with biomolecules and drugs. The overall aim of the EU-funded LINCE project is to develop a flexible and biocompatible device based on organic semiconductors, providing neuroscientists with an unprecedented toolbox for in vitro and in vivo studies.
Objective
LINCE will develop light-sensitive devices based on organic semiconductors (OS) for optical regulation of living cells functions.
The possibility to control the activity of biological systems is a timeless mission for neuroscientists, since it allows both to understand specific functions and to manage dysfunctions. Optical modulation provides, respect to traditional electrical methods, unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution, lower invasiveness, and higher selectivity. However, the vast majority of animal cells does not bear specific sensitivity to light. Search for new materials capable to optically regulate cell activity is thus an extremely hot topic. OS are ideal candidates, since they are inherently sensitive to visible light and highly biocompatible, sustain both ionic and electronic conduction, can be functionalized with biomolecules and drugs. Recently, it was reported that polymer-mediated optical excitation efficiently modulates the neuronal electrical activity.
LINCE will significantly broaden the application of OS to address key, open issues of high biological relevance, in both neuroscience and regenerative medicine. In particular, it will develop new devices for: (i) regulation of astrocytes functions, active in many fundamental processes of the central nervous system and in pathological disorders; (ii) control of stem cell differentiation and tissue regeneration; (iii) control of animal behavior, to first assess device biocompatibility and efficacy in vivo. LINCE tools will be sensitive to visible and NIR light, flexible, biocompatible, and easily integrated with any standard physiology set-up. They will combine electrical, chemical and thermal stimuli, offering high spatio-temporal resolution, reversibility, specificity and yield. The combination of all these features is not achievable by current technologies. Overall, LINCE will provide neuroscientists and medical doctors with an unprecedented tool-box for in vitro and in vivo investigations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-STG
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16163 Genova
Italy
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