In this coloured image from an electron microscope, we can see how the plastic (red) has wrapped around the axon of a neuron (blue). | Photo: M. J. I. Airaghi Leccardi et al. (2024)

A tiny piece of plastic wraps itself closely around the axon of a neuron, without causing any damage to its fragile structure. “This opens up new possibilities for neuroscience”, says Marta Airaghi Leccardi, a recipient of an SNSF Mobility Fellowship who has developed this method at MIT in the United States. For example, electronic components could be integrated into the patches, which are only a few micrometres in size. That would make it possible to stimulate individual nerve cells wirelessly and precisely. It is also conceivable that damaged neurons could be repaired with such patches in the future.

M. J. I. Airaghi Leccardi et al.: Light-induced rolling of azobenzene polymer thin films for wrapping subcellular neuronal structures. Communications Chemistry (2024)

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