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Stoddart PR, Begeng JM, Tong W, Ibbotson MR, Kameneva T. Nanoparticle-based optical interfaces for retinal neuromodulation: a review. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1360870. [PMID: 38572073 PMCID: PMC10987880 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1360870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of photoreceptors in the retina is a leading cause of blindness, but commonly leaves the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and/or bipolar cells extant. Consequently, these cells are an attractive target for the invasive electrical implants colloquially known as "bionic eyes." However, after more than two decades of concerted effort, interfaces based on conventional electrical stimulation approaches have delivered limited efficacy, primarily due to the current spread in retinal tissue, which precludes high-acuity vision. The ideal prosthetic solution would be less invasive, provide single-cell resolution and an ability to differentiate between different cell types. Nanoparticle-mediated approaches can address some of these requirements, with particular attention being directed at light-sensitive nanoparticles that can be accessed via the intrinsic optics of the eye. Here we survey the available known nanoparticle-based optical transduction mechanisms that can be exploited for neuromodulation. We review the rapid progress in the field, together with outstanding challenges that must be addressed to translate these techniques to clinical practice. In particular, successful translation will likely require efficient delivery of nanoparticles to stable and precisely defined locations in the retinal tissues. Therefore, we also emphasize the current literature relating to the pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles in the eye. While considerable challenges remain to be overcome, progress to date shows great potential for nanoparticle-based interfaces to revolutionize the field of visual prostheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. Stoddart
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - James M. Begeng
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wei Tong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Physics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael R. Ibbotson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tatiana Kameneva
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
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Francia S, Shmal D, Di Marco S, Chiaravalli G, Maya-Vetencourt JF, Mantero G, Michetti C, Cupini S, Manfredi G, DiFrancesco ML, Rocchi A, Perotto S, Attanasio M, Sacco R, Bisti S, Mete M, Pertile G, Lanzani G, Colombo E, Benfenati F. Light-induced charge generation in polymeric nanoparticles restores vision in advanced-stage retinitis pigmentosa rats. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3677. [PMID: 35760799 PMCID: PMC9237035 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31368-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal dystrophies such as Retinitis pigmentosa are among the most prevalent causes of inherited legal blindness, for which treatments are in demand. Retinal prostheses have been developed to stimulate the inner retinal network that, initially spared by degeneration, deteriorates in the late stages of the disease. We recently reported that conjugated polymer nanoparticles persistently rescue visual activities after a single subretinal injection in the Royal College of Surgeons rat model of Retinitis pigmentosa. Here we demonstrate that conjugated polymer nanoparticles can reinstate physiological signals at the cortical level and visually driven activities when microinjected in 10-months-old Royal College of Surgeons rats bearing fully light-insensitive retinas. The extent of visual restoration positively correlates with the nanoparticle density and hybrid contacts with second-order retinal neurons. The results establish the functional role of organic photovoltaic nanoparticles in restoring visual activities in fully degenerate retinas with intense inner retina rewiring, a stage of the disease in which patients are subjected to prosthetic interventions. Retinal dystrophies such as Retinitis pigmentosa are among the most prevalent causes of inherited incurable legal blindness. Here the authors demonstrate that conjugated polymer nanoparticles reinstate visual functions in aged rats with fully degenerated and rewired retinas.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Francia
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - D Shmal
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - S Di Marco
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - G Chiaravalli
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - J F Maya-Vetencourt
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - G Mantero
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - C Michetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - S Cupini
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - G Manfredi
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy.,Novavido s.r.l., Bologna, Italy
| | - M L DiFrancesco
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - A Rocchi
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - S Perotto
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy
| | - M Attanasio
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS Sacrocuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - R Sacco
- Department of Mathematics, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - S Bisti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - M Mete
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS Sacrocuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - G Pertile
- Department of Ophthalmology, IRCCS Sacrocuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, Verona, Italy
| | - G Lanzani
- Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milano, Italy. .,Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - E Colombo
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - F Benfenati
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy. .,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
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Tan STM, Gumyusenge A, Quill TJ, LeCroy GS, Bonacchini GE, Denti I, Salleo A. Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conduction, a Multifunctional Property in Organic Conductors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2110406. [PMID: 35434865 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202110406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors (OMIECs) have gained recent interest and rapid development due to their versatility in diverse applications ranging from sensing, actuation and computation to energy harvesting/storage, and information transfer. Their multifunctional properties arise from their ability to simultaneously participate in redox reactions as well as modulation of ionic and electronic charge density throughout the bulk of the material. Most importantly, the ability to access charge states with deep modulation through a large extent of its density of states and physical volume of the material enables OMIEC-based devices to display exciting new characteristics and opens up new degrees of freedom in device design. Leveraging the infinite possibilities of the organic synthetic toolbox, this perspective highlights several chemical and structural design approaches to modify OMIECs' properties important in device applications such as electronic and ionic conductivity, color, modulus, etc. Additionally, the ability for OMIECs to respond to external stimuli and transduce signals to myriad types of outputs has accelerated their development in smart systems. This perspective further illustrates how various stimuli such as electrical, chemical, and optical inputs fundamentally change OMIECs' properties dynamically and how these changes can be utilized in device applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siew Ting Melissa Tan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Aristide Gumyusenge
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Tyler James Quill
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Garrett Swain LeCroy
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Giorgio Ernesto Bonacchini
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Center for Nano Science and Technology @PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 70/3, Milano, 20133, Italy
| | - Ilaria Denti
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Alberto Salleo
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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