Development and application of opto-neural prosthetic devices as a therapeutic approach for Retinitis pigmentosa

Research in nano-biotechnologies aims at the generation of artificial materials which can replace degenerating tissues in human. The possibility to render artificial materials biocompatible with human tissue is one of the big challenges in this novel and multidisciplinary field in which metal and silicon met severe limitations. Goal of the present project is to cure blindness due to irreversible photoreceptor degeneration associated with genetic diseases such as Retinitis pigmentosa through a photosensitive plastic foil implanted in the retina. The research aims at creating an artificial retina consisting of an organic semiconductor in contact with retina neurons. In this system, light absorbed by the organic layer (substituting the photoreceptors) will elicit neuronal depolarization and firing, mimicking the physiological process of photo-activation of retinal neurons. The use of organic polymers that are successfully applied in plastic electronics, is very innovative and brings a number of advantages. Such materials are soft, light, flexible and well-tolerated by the surrounding tissues. The proposed device is photovoltaic, based on the same concept exploited in solar cells, meaning that there is no need of an external power supply. Furthermore, the mechanism of cell stimulation does not involve heat dissipation, resulting less toxic. This approach represents a promising alternative to the currently used methods for retinal prosthesis, based on silicon devices for rescuing photosensitivity in degenerated retinas. The realization of this bio-hybrid device will pave the way not only to a new generation of retinal prosthesis, but also, potentially, to other applications in the fields of Neuroscience and Biomedicine, based on neuronal photostimulation.