eWear: A key to assembling materials on the surface of live neurons

Summary

At Stanford University, postdoctoral researcher Anqi Zhang, working with Professors Zhenan Bao and Karl Deisseroth, developed a groundbreaking genetic engineering approach to assemble functional materials directly on the surface of live neurons. By linking a catalytic enzyme to the membrane protein CD2, Zhang enabled precise polymer formation on targeted neurons, overcoming previous inefficiencies in enzyme placement. This innovation allows scientists to modify neuronal connectivity, sensitivity, and electrical properties with remarkable precision—potentially even “drawing” electrodes into the brain using light. The technique, published in Science Advances, opens new possibilities for minimally invasive brain interfaces and broader applications in neuroscience and bioengineering.

Read more in PDF