Nitrogen‐Doped Ultrananocrystalline Diamond – Optoelectronic Biointerface for Wireless Neuronal Stimulation
At a Glance
Section titled “At a Glance”| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2025-02-11 |
| Journal | Advanced Healthcare Materials |
| Authors | Yue Yao, Arman Ahnood, Andre Chambers, Wei Tong, Steven Prawer |
| Institutions | The University of Melbourne, RMIT University |
| Citations | 2 |
Abstract
Section titled “Abstract”Abstract This study presents a semiconducting optoelectronic system for light‐controlled non‐genetic neuronal stimulation using visible light. The system architecture is entirely wireless, comprising a thin film of nitrogen‐doped ultrananocrystalline diamond directly grown on a semiconducting silicon substrate. When immersed in a physiological medium and subjected to pulsed illumination in the visible (595 nm) or near‐infrared wavelength (808 nm) range, charge accumulation at the device‐medium interface induces a transient ionic displacement current capable of electrically stimulating neurons with high temporal resolution. With a measured photoresponsivity of 7.5 mA W −1 , the efficacy of this biointerface is demonstrated through optoelectronic stimulation of degenerate rat retinas using 595 nm irradiation, pulse durations of 50-500 ms, and irradiance levels of 1.1-4.3 mW mm −2 , all below the safe ocular threshold. This work presents the pioneering utilization of a diamond‐based optoelectronic platform, capable of generating sufficiently large photocurrents for neuronal stimulation in the retina.