Ziapin2: how the light-controlled muscle contraction molecule works

Thanks to one molecule patented by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Polytechnic of Milan, muscle contraction can be remote controlled with light. This important result was obtained thanks to the molecular switch Ziapin2a discovery that could revolutionize the treatment of diseases such as stroke and Parkinson’s.

Patented in 2018 and presented for the first time in 2020 on Nature Nanotechnology, Ziapin2 it’s a phototransducer. This means that it is capable of absorbing light and transforming it into an electrical signal. In this new study, the molecule was administered to skeletal muscle cells, which are those responsible for the voluntary contraction of muscles. When these cells are illuminated, the light is translated into electricity, inducing contractions.

Advantages of photostimulation over electrical stimulation

The researchers, led by Guglielmo Lanzani of the Unit Nanomaterials for Energy and Lifescience at IIT, compared light stimulation with electrical stimulation, discovering that Photostimulation offers several advantages:

• Versatility: light can be administered by remote without physical contact.
• Precision: High selectivity can be achieved space–storm.
• Less invasive and toxic: the use of light reduces the risk Of degradation of the tissues and the electrodes themselves.

These advantages make photostimulation a promising technique not only for the long-term treatment of patients, but also for applications in cardiology, muscle rehabilitation and hybrid robotics.

The future of photostimulation

Thanks to his promising characteristics, the photostimulation of cells could be used in the future in many fields, from cardiology to muscle rehabilitation, including the treatment of neuronal degeneration. Also, this one technology it could be applied in hybrid robotics, useful for environmental explorations or medical and prosthetic applications.

Would you like to know more about how these new technologies can influence our daily lives? What other applications do you imagine for photostimulation?