Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of NCs depolarizing neurons upon 405 nm light exposure

Fig. 2 Representative TEM images of (a) TiO2 nanocrystals, (b) Au nanoparticles, and (c) NCs. Inset of (a) optical image of TiO2 nanocrystals dispersed in chloroform, (c) magnifying TEM image of NCs. (d) UV/Vis absorption spectrum of NCs; (e) photocurrent responses of the NCs and TiO2 electrode to a cyclic “on-off” illumination of 405 nm light. Measurements were performed on electrochemical workstation with Pt as counter electrode, Ag/AgCl as reference electrode, and 0.2 mol/L Na2SO4 as electrolyte 405 nm light from Xenon lamp (300 W) was used as the excitation source

Fig. 3 Real-time fluorescence intensity variation of Di-8-ANEPPS (a) and Cal-520 (c) in PC12 cells observed by CLSM. Max fluorescence intensity variation of Di-8-ANEPPS (b) and Cal-520 (d) in PC12 cells; data represents mean ± SD (n = 3)

Fig. 4 (a) Schematic illustration of NCs anti-epileptic performance investigation on zebrafishes. The motion trails in 1 h of (b1) normal zebrafishes, epileptic zebrafishes treated with PBS (b2), NCs (b3), illumination (b4), both NCs and illumination (b5). The red, green and black lines represent motion trails with speed of >20 mm/s, 4-20 mm/s, and <4 mm/s, respectively. (c) Distance of zebrafishes moving with speed of >20 mm/s; normal zebrafishes (I), epileptic zebrafishes treated with PBS (II), NCs (III), illumination (IV), both NCs and illumination (V). Data represents mean ± SD (n = 30)