Biology subjects

Cannon, T. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Cannon, T. M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Wireless Magnetomechanical Stimulation of Targeted Vagal Gut-Brain Circuits

Causal manipulation of gut-brain neural circuits empowers studies of metabolism and interoception. However, the anatomy and cytoarchitecture of peripheral ganglia relaying gut-brain circuits pose challenges to deployment of optical or electrical stimulation probes. To enable implant-free, cell-type specific, and temporally precise control of defined gut-brain pathways, we develop a neuromodulation platform based on magnetic nanodiscs (MNDs) targeted to peripheral neurons via genetically delivered anchoring moieties. The anchored MNDs selectively transduce externally applied weak magnetic fields to mechanical torque, thereby activating endogenous mechanosensitive pathways in specified cell types with sub-second latency. When targeted to nodose ganglia neurons expressing oxytocin or glucagon-like peptide 1 receptors, MND-mediated stimulation enables robust and reversible activation of gut-brain signaling, which engages hindbrain satiety circuits and regulates feeding behavior. These findings establish MND-mediated stimulation as a genetically targetable, implant-free strategy for modulating gut-brain neural circuits and highlight its potential in studies of brain-body physiology and bioelectronic medicines.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Stretchable thin-film metal electronics enabled by multilayered nanomembranes

Metallic thin films are indispensable in flexible electronics, yet their brittleness under tensile strain has impeded their use in intrinsically stretchable devices. Here, we overcome this barrier with a multilayer platform of alternating nanomembranes of metal and porous elastomer assembled via exponential stacking. The porous elastomer layers anchor adjacent metal layers and facilitate vertical percolation. Under strain, they dissipate stress and laterally misalign cracks within successive metal layers, forming crack-bridging conductive pathways. This architecture achieves synergistic scaling of electrical and mechanical performance with increasing layer number, demonstrating bulk-like conductance at strains exceeding 700% across a wide range of metals. Using nanomembrane stacks of gold and platinum, we fabricated stretchable electrode arrays that enabled high-fidelity recordings and electrical stimulation of murine colonic electrophysiology in vivo.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Fiber-based Probes for Electrophysiology, Photometry, Optical and Electrical Stimulation, Drug Delivery, and Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry In Vivo

Recording and modulation of neuronal activity enables the study of brain function in health and disease. While translational neuroscience relies on electrical recording and modulation techniques, mechanistic studies in rodent models leverage genetic precision of optical methods, such as optogenetics and imaging of fluorescent indicators. In addition to electrical signal transduction, neurons produce and receive diverse chemical signals which motivate tools to probe and modulate neurochemistry. Although the past decade has delivered a wealth of technologies for electrophysiology, optogenetics, chemical sensing, and optical recording, combining these modalities within a single platform remains challenging. This work leverages materials selection and convergence fiber drawing to permit neural recording, electrical stimulation, optogenetics, fiber photometry, drug and gene delivery, and voltammetric recording of neurotransmitters within individual fibers. Composed of polymers and non-magnetic carbon-based conductors, these fibers are compatible with magnetic resonance imaging, enabling concurrent stimulation and whole-brain monitoring. Their utility is demonstrated in studies of the mesolimbic reward pathway by simultaneously interfacing with the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens in mice and characterizing the neurophysiological effects of a stimulant drug. This study highlights the potential of these fibers to probe electrical, optical, and chemical signaling across multiple brain regions in both mechanistic and translational studies.

neuroscience↗