Mightex BLS-series BioLED light sources are modularized fully-customizable turn-key solutions for optogenetics, fluorescence excitation, and other biophotonics applications. Precisely-timed and high-intensity light pulses are required in optogenetics experiments to activate channelrhodopsins (ChR2, ChR1 etc.) and halorhodopsins (NpHR) in order to excite and inhibit neurons. To meet these requirements, Mightex has developed a proprietary “IntelliPulsing” technology to allow BLS-series sources to output significantly higher power in pulse mode than what the LEDs are rated for in CW mode.
Features:
Optical fiber not shown in the photo.
Mightex’s optogenetics starter kits are ready-to-use turn-key solution for ChR2 stimulation, and they feature super-high output power (up to 7.2mW with a 200µm fiber) and ultra-low power variation (<2%) during rotation. The optogenetics starter kit is typically composed of the following items:
Liu Y, Ohshiro T, Sakuragi S, Koizumi K, Mushiake H, Ishizuka T & Yawo H
In an effort to better understand how multiple afferent inputs are integrated in the brain, Liu et al., developed a transgenic rat line that expressed Channelrhodopsin-2 within mechanoreceptive neurons such that they could produce illusions of touch within the rat brain using light. To study how the rat brain could integrate many different whisker inputs, they created a system using Mightex’s fiber coupled LEDs to stimulate light sensitive whisker pads while electrically recording from the brain region of rats known to integrate somatosensory inputs (i.e. barrel cortex).
Wiegert JS, Pulin M, Gee CE, & Oertner TG
To determine how plasticity could affect synaptic stability, Wiegert et al., recorded from CA1 neurons, both electrically and optically, while stimulating light sensitive CA3 inputs using Mightex’s fiber-coupeld LED. By combining optogenetics, electrophysiology and two-photon imaging, the group was able to find links between certain plasticity inducing protocols and how they affected synaptic survival.
Ketzef M, Spigolon G, Johansson Y, Bonito-Oliva A, Fisone G, & Silberberg G
Ketzef et al., sought to better understand how dopamine depletion effects sensory processing in different types of striatal neurons. In order to identify different types of neurons in real time, Ketzef et al., used the ‘optopatcher’, an electrode holder that allows for simultaneous intracellular recordings and optical manipulation, coupled to Mightex’s fiber coupled LEDs.
