Development of new photo-releasable neuropeptide nano-vesicles for studying modulation in the brain

Neuropeptides are widely-expressed, important neuromodulators in the brain; however, due to current limitations in neurotechnology, little is known about their actions on neural circuits. Drs. Qin, Slesinger, and colleagues will develop a novel, potentially transformative technology using nanotechnology-based photo-release of neuropeptides combined with cell-based neurotransmitter fluorescent engineered reporters to release neuropeptides at localized targets in real-time in awake animals. This project could allow, for the first time, all-optical, spatiotemporal mapping and modulation of neural circuits modulated by neuropeptides.