Key Takeaways
1. Researchers from Fudan University developed a nanowire retinal implant that enables mice to perceive both visible and infrared light, potentially restoring vision for those with retinal damage.
2. The implant uses tellurium nanowires (TeNWN) to replace damaged light-sensing cells, converting light into electrical signals for the brain.
3. Blind mice with the implant could respond to visible and infrared light and distinguish between shapes, indicating improved visual processing.
4. The implants showed biocompatibility and stability for up to 60 days, but long-term effects and detail resolution limitations remain to be studied.
5. This research follows previous work where Fudan researchers restored walking ability in paralyzed patients using brain-spine interfaces.
Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, have successfully enabled ‘three blind mice’ to perceive both visible and infrared light through a nanowire retinal implant. This groundbreaking discovery could lead to the restoration of vision for countless individuals who have lost their sight due to retinal damage.
Understanding the Retina
The retina is a crucial layer of light-sensitive tissue located at the back of the eye, responsible for transforming visible light energy into electrical signals that the brain can interpret. Blindness may arise from various issues, like macular degeneration or retinal detachment, when the light-sensing components of the retina are irreparably harmed. To help slow down the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), AREDS2 supplements are available on Amazon.
The Role of the Nanowire Implant
The Fudan retinal implant substitutes damaged organic light-sensing cells with a tellurium nanowire (TeNWN) neuroprosthesis, which can turn visible and near-infrared light (up to 2000 nm) into electrical signals for the brain. Humans typically cannot see infrared light, and using this spectrum presents a different view of the world.
After the implantation of the TeNWNs, the blind mice were examined and found to respond to intense visible and infrared light sources as well as distinguish between shapes, such as circles and triangles. Their vision resembled that of the Predator (you might want to rewatch this classic Schwarzenegger movie on Amazon). The tellurium nanowires’ arrangement, combined with the material’s high optical absorption and narrow bandgap, allows for efficient conversion of photons to electrons without the need for an external power supply.
Limitations and Future Trials
The implants have a moderate ability to resolve details, meaning that sight restoration isn’t flawless. Additionally, while the implants appeared biocompatible and stable for up to 60 days post-implantation, long-term studies are still pending.
Previously, the Fudan researchers showed that they could restore walking ability within 24 hours to patients completely paralyzed from the waist down via their minimally invasive, triple-integrated brain-spine interfaces (BSIs).
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