We developed membrane voltage nanosensors that are based on inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles. We provide here a feasibility study for their utilization. We use a rationally designed peptide to functionalize the nanosensors, imparting them with the ability to self-insert into a lipid membrane with a desired orientation. Once inserted, these nanosensors could sense membrane potential via the quantum confined Stark effect, with a single-particle sensitivity. With further improvements, these nanosensors could potentially be used for simultaneous recording of action potentials from multiple neurons in a large field of view over a long duration and for recording electrical signals on the nanoscale, such as across one synapse.

California NanoSystems Institute University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Harvard University MA 02138 USA

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA

Department of Microbiology Immunology and Molecular Genetics University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA

Department of Physics University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA

Department of Physiology University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AS CR Prague 166 10 Czech Republic

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Interfacing with the Brain: How Nanotechnology Can Contribute