Restoring light sensitivity using tunable near-infrared sensors
Creators
- 1. Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- 2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- 3. Department of Anatomy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Description
Enabling near-infrared light sensitivity in a blind human retina may supplement or restore visual function in patients with regional retinal degeneration. We induced near-infrared light sensitivity using gold nanorods bound to temperature-sensitive engineered transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. We expressed mammalian or snake TRP channels in light-insensitive retinal cones in a mouse model of retinal degeneration. Near-infrared stimulation increased activity in cones, ganglion cell layer neurons, and cortical neurons, and enabled mice to perform a learned light-driven behavior. We tuned responses to different wavelengths, by using nanorods of different lengths, and to different radiant powers, by using engineered channels with different temperature thresholds. We targeted TRP channels to human retinas, which allowed the postmortem activation of different cell types by near-infrared light.
Files
NIR_VisionRestoration_Science_2020.pdf
Files
(3.8 MB)
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