Organic Semiconductor Nanoparticles Restore Vision in Blind Retinas

Inherited retinal dystrophies and late-stage age-related macular degeneration, for which treatments remain limited, are among the most prevalent causes of legal blindness. Retinal prostheses have been developed to stimulate the inner retinal network; however, lack of sensitivity and resolution, and the need for wiring or external cameras, have limited their application. Here I report on the use of conjugated polymer nanoparticles (P3HT NPs), showing that they mediate light-evoked stimulation of retinal neurons and persistently rescue visual functions when subretinally injected in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa. In particular I will report on recent results showing that the organic liquid prosthesis is effective also in retinas that have undergone a process of rewiring caused by the loss of photoreceptor function.