Abstract: The field of optogenetics has enabled the fundamental understanding of neural circuits and disorders. However, current optogenetic techniques require invasive surgical procedures to deliver light to target cells due to the low penetration depth of light into tissue. Therefore, ultrasound (US) was used as alternative trigger since US can deeply penetrate tissue with high spatiotemporal control. Our group develops general molecular technologies based on nucleic acid aptamers and mechanochemistry to control the activity of proteins and drugs by US. A particular emphasis is paid to reducing US energies to make these sonogenetic and sonopharmacological systems compatible with living matter.

Bio: Andreas Herrmann studied chemistry at the University of Mainz (Germany). From 1997 to 2000 he pursued his graduate studies at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz in the group of Prof. Klaus Müllen. Since June 2017 he is scientific board member of the DWI – Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials in Aachen, Germany, and fills a position as full professor at RWTH Aachen University for Macromolecular Materials and Systems. In 2018, he became vice-director of the DWI – Leibniz Institute.