University of South Florida

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc.

Parveen Bazard

Robert Dana Frisina

Venkat Rama Bhethanabotla

Joseph Paul Walton

Xiaoxia Zhu

Ratka Damnjanovic

Bo Ding

Mikalai Budzevich

A novel method of measuring endocochlear potential and cochlear function in a patient is presented. The method uses nuclear imaging, such as PET or SPECT, with a radiotracer such asTl to visualize any potassium ion loss in the cochlea of the patient which can contribute to auditory disorders such as hearing loss. This non-invasive technique represents a new method for auditory diagnoses by measurement of cochlear properties which can aid in the development of new therapeutics for auditory disorders.

Molecular imaging of the cochlea

A method of modulating neural activity using a combination of electrical and optical stimulation transmitted via a gold nanoparticle covered nanoelectrode is presented. The combination of short-duration green visible light optical pulses with the complementary sub-threshold level electric current pulses are capable of producing action potentials in neurons. Cells were found to have a greater than a 5× survival rate using this hybrid stimulation method as compared to pure plasmonic/optical stimulation. The cell stimulation success rate was 3× greater with hybrid stimulation.

Hybrid electro-plasmonic modulation of neural activity with visible-light-sensitive gold nanotransducer interface

A novel method to stimulate electrically active biological cells using visible wavelength light and metallic nanoparticles possessing plasmonic properties is presented herein. Using this technology, prosthetic devices such as cochlear and retinal implants and cardiac pacemakers can be developed to have superior properties as compared to the currently utilized electrical stimulation designs. These properties include improved spatial resolution; less or non-invasive devices; and higher fidelity of transduction. An additional advantage of using visible light wavelengths is the avoidance of unwanted heating of surrounding tissue that occurs with infrared stimulation.

Plasmonic stimulation of electrically excitable biological cells

Growing community of inventors

Tampa, FL, United States of America

Parveen Bazard