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Photoelectric Dye‐coupled Polyethylene Film as a Prototype of Retinal Prostheses
Author(s) -
Uji Akihito,
Matsuo Toshihiko,
Ishimaru Sanae,
Kajiura Akiko,
Shimamura Kaoru,
Ohtsuki Hiroshi,
Danoh Yasufumi,
Suga Sadaharu
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1594.2004.29010.x
Subject(s) - retinal , polyethylene , photoelectric effect , materials science , biophysics , calcium , retina , chemistry , optics , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , biochemistry , composite material , biology , physics
Photoelectric dyes, which absorb light and convert photon energy to electric potentials, have been previously shown to stimulate retinal neurons in culture. In this study, a photoelectric dye was coupled to a polyethylene film surface and tested in vitro using retinal tissues from chick embryos at the 12‐day embryonic stage, at which time outer segments of retinal photoreceptor cells have not yet developed. Carboxyl moieties were introduced to a polyethylene film surface by fuming nitric acid, and then a photoelectric dye, 2‐[2‐[4‐(dibutylamino)phenyl]ethenyl]‐3‐carboxymethylbenzothiazolium bromide, was coupled to the film through amide linkage. Intracellular calcium elevation was observed with Fluo‐4 in retinal tissues placed on the dye‐coupled polyethylene film, in contrast to retinal tissues which had no contact with the film. The response was inhibited by calcicludine, a voltage‐gated calcium channel blocker, and also by extracellular calcium depletion. The photoelectric dye, coupled to the polyethylene film surface, absorbed light under a dissecting microscope and stimulated neurons in retinal tissues, showing that the dye‐coupled film could be used as a prototype of retinal prostheses.