{
  "abstract": "Stimuli-responsive nanomaterials offer powerful capabilities for neuromodulation, yet there is a continuous need for more versatile methods to ensure cell-specific targeting, a prerequisite for their precise application in neuroscience. To address this gap, we introduce the nanomaterial-genetics (NMG) system, a strategy that integrates genetically encoded synthetic receptors with ligand-functionalized nanoparticles to achieve receptor-guided, cell-selective targeting. Neurons are engineered to express an NMG Receptor carrying an extracellular HaloTag, which selectively captures HaloTag ligand-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNP-Ligands). This genetically encoded receptor-ligand pairing enables efficient and localized nanomaterial-mediated photothermal activation under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation at ultralow nanoparticle doses, whereas receptor-negative neurons remain largely unresponsive. Receptor-guided targeting substantially reduces nanomaterial-associated cytotoxicity under the tested conditions while preserving robust neuromodulatory efficacy. We demonstrate genetically targeted activation of neurons in vitro and in vivo, including transcranial NIR modulation of mouse locomotor behavior. Collectively, the NMG system offers an extensible complement to current neuromodulation technologies, providing a versatile platform for multimodal and precision neuromodulation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Zhongshan School of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China.",
    "IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.",
    "Neuropharmacology Platform of the Center of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.",
    "State Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology and Beijing Key Laboratory of Cryobiomedicine, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.",
    "School of Flexible Electronics (SoFE) and State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies (OEMT), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China.",
    "School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China."
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 15,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yi Liu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0088-5203"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiaolei Wang",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-2392-2926"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Weiwei Yin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiahui Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yu Fan"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jiani Yang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yu Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lin Ge",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4430-9304"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Wei Rao",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4168-0298"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Laiyuan Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cheng Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zengcai V. Guo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Nan Liu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9606-4732"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xuyang Sun",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0867-1100"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yaxiong Yang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3313-6049"
    }
  ],
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  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1126/sciadv.aef7843",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13715694",
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  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
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  "native_subjects": [
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      "heading",
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      "heading",
      "Neuroscience"
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      "heading",
      "Research Article"
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      "openalex",
      "2204|Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics"
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  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13715694?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13715694",
  "pmid": "42950029",
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a0ppf6s4megew.ris",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "heading:Neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    },
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "heading:Materials Science",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
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  ],
  "title": "Nanomaterial-genetics enables near-infrared-driven genetically targeted neuromodulation",
  "title_text": "Nanomaterial-genetics enables near-infrared-driven genetically targeted neuromodulation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-01T12:22:55Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a0ppf6s4megew",
  "venue": "Science Advances",
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}