Neural activities can be modulated by leveraging light-responsive nanomaterials as interfaces for exerting photothermal, photoelectrochemical or photocapacitive effects on neurons or neural tissues. Here we show that bioresorbable thin-film monocrystalline silicon pn diodes can be used to optoelectronically excite or inhibit neural activities by establishing polarity-dependent positive or negative photovoltages at the semiconductor/solution interface. Under laser illumination, the silicon-diode optoelectronic interfaces allowed for the deterministic depolarization or hyperpolarization of cultured neurons as well as the upregulated or downregulated intracellular calcium dynamics. The optoelectronic interfaces can also be mounted on nerve tissue to activate or silence neural activities in peripheral and central nervous tissues, as we show in mice with exposed sciatic nerves and somatosensory cortices. Bioresorbable silicon-based optoelectronic thin films that selectively excite or inhibit neural tissue may find advantageous biomedical applicability.

可以通过利用光响应纳米材料作为对神经元或神经组织施加光热、光电化学或光电容效应的界面来调节神经活动。在这里，我们表明生物可吸收薄膜单晶硅 pn 二极管可用于通过在半导体/溶液界面建立极性相关的正或负光电压来光电激发或抑制神经活动。在激光照射下，硅二极管光电接口允许培养神经元的确定性去极化或超极化以及上调或下调的细胞内钙动力学。光电接口也可以安装在神经组织上，以激活或抑制周围和中枢神经组织的神经活动，正如我们在暴露了坐骨神经和体感皮质的小鼠身上所展示的那样。选择性激发或抑制神经组织的生物可吸收硅基光电薄膜可能会发现有利的生物医学应用。