A5072431247- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Molecular Communication and Nanonetworks
- Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis and Applications
- Optical Imaging and Spectroscopy Techniques
- Random lasers and scattering media
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Optical Coherence Tomography Applications
- Plasmonic and Surface Plasmon Research
- Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics
- Spectroscopy Techniques in Biomedical and Chemical Research
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Photonic and Optical Devices
- Optical Coatings and Gratings
- EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Conducting polymers and applications
- Photonic Crystal and Fiber Optics
- Advanced Fiber Optic Sensors
- Electromagnetic Scattering and Analysis
- Optical Wireless Communication Technologies
- Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analyses
- Electromagnetic Compatibility and Measurements
Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies
2017-2025
Italian Institute of Technology
2017-2025
University of Padua
2023-2024
Istituto di Nanotecnologia
2023
University of Salento
2023
Harvard University
2022
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2022
University of Strathclyde
2016-2017
Clemson University
2002-2004
Fiber photometry is used to monitor signals from fluorescent indicators in genetically-defined neural populations behaving animals. Recently, fiber has rapidly expanded and it now provides researchers with increasingly powerful means record dynamics neuromodulatory action. However, not clear how select the optimal optic given constraints goals of a particular experiment. Here, using combined confocal/2-photon microscope, we quantitatively characterize fluorescence collection properties...
Integration of plasmonic nanostructures with fiber-optics-based neural probes enables label-free detection molecular fingerprints via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and it represents a fascinating technological horizon to investigate brain function. However, developing neuroplasmonic that can interface deep regions minimal invasiveness while providing the sensitivity detect biomolecular signatures in physiological environment is challenging, particular because same waveguide...
Abstract The necessity to continuously and seamlessly monitor human health is calling for compliant, comfortable, safe wearables. employment of piezoelectric biopolymers in form thin film perfectly matches with these needs due their inherent flexibility, sensitivity, biocompatibility. Among them, chitosan a low cost, highly sustainable, biocompatible material great potential applications compliant However, general show relatively coefficients processing difficulties. Here, it shown facile...
Optogenetic control of neural activity in deep brain regions ideally requires precise and flexible light delivery with non-invasive devices. To this end, Tapered Optical Fibers (TFs) represent a versatile tool that can deliver over either large volumes or spatially confined sub-regions, while being sensibly smaller than flat-cleaved optical fibers. In work, we report on the possibility further extending emission length along taper range 0.4 mm-3.0 mm by increasing numerical aperture TFs to...
Vascular grafts are artificial conduits properly designed to substitute a diseased blood vessel. However prosthetic fail can occur without premonitory symptoms. Continuous monitoring of the system provide useful information not only extend graft's life but also optimize patient's therapy. In this respect, various techniques have been used, all them affect mechanical properties To overcome these drawbacks, an ultrathin and flexible smart patch based on piezoelectric Aluminum Nitride (AlN)...
Neurophotonics was launched in 2014 coinciding with the launch of BRAIN Initiative focused on development technologies for advancement neuroscience. For last seven years, Neurophotonics' agenda has been well aligned this focus neurotechnologies featuring new optical methods and tools applicable to brain studies. While 2.0 is pivoting towards applications these novel quest understand brain, article we review an extensive diverse toolkit explore function that have emerged from related...
Integration of plasmonic structures on step-index optical fibers is attracting interest for both applications and fundamental studies. However, the possibility to dynamically control coupling between guided light fields resonances hindered by turbidity propagation in multimode (MMFs). This pivotal point strongly limits range studies that can benefit from nanostructured fiber optics. Fortunately, harnessing interaction modes tip full set bring this technology a next generation progress. Here,...
Optogenetics offers many advantages in terms of cell-type specificity, allowing to investigate functional connectivity between different brain areas at high spatial and neural population selectivity. In order obtain simultaneous optical control electrical readout activity, devices called "optrodes" are employed. They typically composed a linear array microelectrodes integrated on slender probe shafts combined with flat-cleaved fibers (FF) placed above the recording sites. However, due tissue...
With the advent of optogenetic techniques, a major need for precise and versatile light-delivery techniques has arisen from neuroscience community. Driven by this demand, research on innovative illuminating devices opened previously inaccessible experimental paths. However, tailoring light delivery to functionally anatomically diverse brain structures still remains challenging task. We progressed in endeavor micro-structuring metal-coated tapered optical fibers exploiting resulting...
Neurochemical Detection In article number 2200902, Di Zheng, Massimo De Vittorio, Ferruccio Pisanello, and co-workers present a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active probe based on tapered optical fiber decorated with sub-10 nm-gap gold nanoislands, which is designed for neurochemical detection. Through-fiber measurements show the fabricated device can detect neurotransmitters down to micromolar range. Cover image artwork by: Antonio Balena, Barbara Spagnolo, Zheng.
Pre-shaping light to achieve desired amplitude distributions at the tip of a multimode fiber (MMF) has emerged as powerful method allowing wide range imaging techniques be implemented distal facet. Such rely on measuring transmission matrix optically turbid waveguide which scrambles coherent input into an effectively random speckle pattern. Typically, this is done by interferogram between output and reference beam. In recent years, optical setup where beam passes through MMF become...
The use of wavefront shaping has found extensive application to develop ultra-thin endoscopic techniques based on multimode optical fibers (MMF), leveraging the ability control modal interference at fiber's distal end. Although several have been developed achieve MMF-based laser-scanning imaging, short laser pulses is still a challenging application. This due intrinsic delay and temporal broadening introduced by fiber itself, which requires additional compensation optics reference beam...
Abstract Optical methods are driving a revolution in neuroscience. Ignited by optogenetic techniques, set of strategies has emerged to control and monitor neural activity deep brain regions using implantable photonic probes. A yet unexplored technological leap is exploiting nanoscale light‐matter interactions for enhanced bio‐sensing, beam‐manipulation opto‐thermal heat delivery the brain. To bridge this gap, we got inspired cells’ scale propose nano‐patterned tapered‐fiber implant featuring...
Two-photon polymerization is a widely adopted technique for direct fabrication of 3D and 2D structures with sub-diffraction-limit features. Here we present an open-hardware, open-software custom design holographic multibeam two-photon system based on phase-only spatial light modulator three-mirror scanhead. The use three reflective surfaces, two which scanning the phase-modulated image along same axis, allows to overcome loss virtual conjugation within large galvanometric mirrors pair needed...
Achieving high-fidelity image transmission through turbid media is a significant challenge facing both the AI and photonic/optical communities. While this capability holds promise for variety of applications, including data transfer, neural endoscopy, multi-mode optical fiber-based imaging, conventional deep learning methods struggle to capture nuances light propagation, leading weak generalization limited reconstruction performance. To address limitation, we investigated non-locality...
Tapered and micro-structured optical fibers (TFs) recently emerged as a versatile tool to obtain dynamically addressable light delivery for optogenetic control of neural activity in the mammalian brain. Small apertures along metal-coated low-angle taper allow controlling sites tissue by acting on coupling angle launched into fiber. However, their realization is typically based focused ion beam (FIB) milling, high-resolution but time-consuming technique. In this work we describe laser...
As the scientific community seeks efficient optical neural interfaces with sub-cortical structures of mouse brain, a wide set technologies and methods is being developed to monitor cellular events through fluorescence signals generated by genetically encoded molecules. Among these technologies, tapered fibers (TFs) take advantage modal properties narrowing waveguides enable both depth-resolved wide-volume light collection from scattering tissue, minimized invasiveness respect standard flat...
Adaptive optics methods have long been used to perform complex light shaping at the output of a multimode fiber (MMF), with specific aim controlling emitted beam in near field and enabling realization new generation endoscopes based on wide variety spectroscopic techniques. Gaining control other emission properties, including far-field pattern phase generated beam, would open up possibility for fibers act as miniaturized multi-beam steering components implement phase-encoded imaging sensing....
The field of implantable optical neural interfaces has recently enabled the interrogation circuitry with both cell-type specificity and spatial resolution in sub-cortical structures mouse brain. This generated need to integrate multiple channels within same device, motivating requirement multiplexing demultiplexing techniques. In this article, we present an orthogonalization method far-field space introduce mode-division for collecting fluorescence from tapered fibers. is achieved by...
Plasmonic platforms are a promising solution for the next generation of low-cost, integrated biomedical sensors. However, fabricating these nanostructures often requires lengthy and challenging fabrication processes. Here we exploit peculiar features Focused Ion Beam milling to obtain single-step patterning plasmonic two-dimensional (2D) array truncated gold nano-pyramids (TNP), with gaps as small 17 nm. We describe formation bandgaps in arrangement crossed tapered grooves that separate...
Tapered optical fibers (TFs) were recently employed for depth-resolved monitoring of functional fluorescence in subcortical brain structures, enabling light collection from groups a few cells through small windows located on the taper edge [Pisano et al ., Nat. Methods 16 , 1185 ( 2019 ) 1548-7091 10.1038/s41592-019-0581-x ]. Here we present numerical model to estimate properties microstructured TFs implanted scattering tissue. Ray tracing coupled with Henyey–Greenstein enables estimation...
Fiber photometry is widely used in neuroscience labs for vivo detection of functional fluorescence from optical indicators neuronal activity with a simple fiber. The fiber commonly placed next to the region interest both excite and collect signal. However, path excitation photons altered by uneven properties brain, due local variation refractive index, different cellular types, densities shapes. Nonetheless, effect anatomy on actual shape extent volume tissue that interfaces has received...