You are here
Flexible Ion-Mediated Artificial Retina
Phone: (860) 486-6720
Email: Rbirge@uconn.edu
Phone: (860) 679-7894
Email: markva@uconnventures.com
Address:
Phone: () -
Type: Nonprofit College or University
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A flexible, protein-based, ion-mediated retinal implant is proposed for the restoration of vision for patients with retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa(RP). The implant under development uses the retinal- containing protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), to convert light into a pH gradient. This gradient is capable of activating the neural circuitry of the retina, specificall the bipolar and ganglion cells. Bacteriorhodopsin is a light-driven proton pump isolated from a salt-marsh archaeon and this protein has a quantum efficiency nearly identical to rhodopsin, the protein in the rod outer segments of the eye. The high thermal and photochemical stability of BRmake it an excellent candidate for use as the photoactive medium in a protein-based retinal implant. The implant will operate by using a local pH gradient to activate the neural circuitry of the retina by decreasing the pH in the milieu surrounding th
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *