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Membrane may help increase resolution of retinal prostheses, experiment suggests
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Experimental studies suggest that retinal cells can be made to grow into retinal prostheses for artificial vision, possibly helping to increase the resolution of the vision implants, according to a recent publication.
Daniel Palanker and colleagues at Stanford University and the University of Southern California used Mylar membranes containing perforations of 3 µm to 40 µm in diameter as substrates for in vitro retinal cultures. The membranes were also transplanted into the subretinal space of adult rats, with a seal on one side to restrict cell migration.
Within 3 days, the in vitro retinal tissue grew through perforations in the membrane larger than 5 µm. The tissue grew only when the implant was positioned on the photoreceptor side of the tissue and not when placed on the inner retinal surface.
Similar growth was seen in the rat retinal cells within 5 days after implantation of the membranes, the authors noted.
Microscopy studies showed that the cells retained neuronal structures needed for signal transduction, the researchers found. They noted that the stability of the cells remains to be determined over the long term.
The study is published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science.