Research Topics

Research Topic Examples

Non-Viral Gene Delivery

Currently, delivery of optogenetic genes utilizes AAVs (adeno-associated virus vectors) for gene transduction in neurons. These AAVs suffer from a number of limitations such as lack of economic scalability for clinical applications, limitations on maximum gene size, host immune response, disputed safety profile and the lack of stable transduction in the peripheral nervous system. Due to these limitations, we plan on exploring and testing non-viral vectors such as cationic polymers and liposomes as replacements for viral vectors for gene delivery in optogenetics Compared to AAVs, these non-viral systems offer high customizability for improved safety, gene loading, transfection efficiency and economic feasible scalability for gene delivery in neurons. Check out our review article here. 

Sono-optogenetics

Over the past decade, optogenetics has increasingly become an important technology for neuroscience research and treatment of neurological disorders. One of the biggest challenges in optogenetics is the delivery of visible light for activation of opsins located in the neural systems. Traditionally, fiber optics would have to be implanted inside the brain due to the inability for photons to effectively penetrate the skull and tissue. We plan on working on mechanoluminescent nanoparticles that travel via circulatory system to be activated locally via focused ultrasound arising from outside the body, providing an optical source for optogenetic neuron modulation. This will provide an efficient, minimally invasive method to turn off and on neurons in regions of interest. Check out our review article here. 

Wearable EEG Devices

Electroencephalograph (EEG) has been widely used clinically for diagnostics of epilepsy and sleep disease but it requires complex wiring and measurement process. We are working on the wearable electroencephalograph (EEG) platform for long-term monitoring of brain activity. The field of wearable EEG sensors can be divided into two main parts: data acquisition and data analysis. For data acquisition, we will be developing novel EEG electrodes with features of high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), high stability and good adhesion to meet the real-life EEG user cases. For data analysis, we will integrate the state-of-art algorithms and signal processing techniques into our platform for wearable applications. Check out our review article here.