Carpe lucem: harnessing organic light sources for optogenetics

Abstract

With the advent of optogenetics, numerous functions in cells have been rendered responsive to the experimental delivery of light. The most common implementation of this technique features neurons genetically modified to express light-sensitive ion channel proteins, which open specifically in response to pulses of blue light, triggering electrical impulses in neurons. Optogenetics now has matured to a point where in addition to answering fundamental questions about the function of the brain, scientists begin to consider clinical applications. Further progress in this field however will require new ways of delivering light. One of these involves the use of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display technology increasingly common in modern-day smart phones, for the optical stimulation of cells.