Retinal Mesh Optoelectronics

Introduction

Visual sense is vital for all of us. Blindness has severe negative psychological, social, and economical consequences, and degeneration of photoreceptors is a leading cause of it. Photovoltaic retina implants are the current electronic solution to restore vision loss due to photoreceptor degeneration.

Challenges of Current Solutions

Since the state-of-the-art implants are based on photodiodes, they face challenges in terms of:

1. Miniaturization
2. Efficiency
3. Compatibility with mechanical and structural properties of the retina

As a result, artificial vision still falls short of overcoming the legal blindness level.

Proposed Solution

We propose a novel concept of Retinal Mesh Optoelectronics that will simultaneously satisfy the following criteria:

• High-pixel density for high visual acuity
• Conformability to match the natural curvature of the retina for optimal vision quality
• Flexibility for coverage of a large area of the retina for a wide field of view
• Seamless integration to keep the remaining healthy photoreceptors intact
• Biocompatibility
• Usage of safe capacitive current
• Injectability
• Removability

Development Plan

Toward this aim, we will initially develop efficient, thin, and cellular-sized photovoltaic neural interfaces based on quantum dots and nanowires.

Material Synergy

For that, non-toxic quantum dots that have strong light absorption at near-infrared will be synergized with the nanowires that have unique light-trapping and high surface area for efficient photostimulation of neurons.

Device Translation

Then, we will translate these devices to porous and flexible tissue-like retinal implants for artificial vision.

Research Scope

Starting from the nanomaterial synthesis to optoelectronic device fabrication and bioelectronic mesh formation, this challenging innovation combining nanomaterials, photonics, and abiotic-biotic interfaces will be explored from primary neurons up to in-vivo experimental models of photoreceptor degeneration in order to move the results toward clinical application.