POLYRETINA restores light responses in vivo in blind Göttingen minipigs

Paola Vagni, Marta Jole Ildelfonsa Airaghi Leccardi, Charles-Henri Vila, Elodie Geneviève Zollinger, Golnaz Sherafatipour, Thomas J. Wolfensberger and Diego Ghezzi ()
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Paola Vagni: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Marta Jole Ildelfonsa Airaghi Leccardi: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Charles-Henri Vila: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Elodie Geneviève Zollinger: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Golnaz Sherafatipour: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Thomas J. Wolfensberger: University of Lausanne, Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules-Gonin, Fondation Asile des Aveugles
Diego Ghezzi: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Retinal prostheses hold the potential for artificial vision in blind people affected by incurable diseases of the outer retinal layer. Available technologies provide only a small field of view: a significant limitation for totally blind people. To overcome this problem, we recently proposed a large and high-density photovoltaic epiretinal device, known as POLYRETINA. Here, we report the in vivo assessment of POLYRETINA. First, we characterise a model of chemically-induced blindness in Göttingen minipigs. Then, we develop and test a minimally invasive injection procedure to insert the large epiretinal implant into the eye. Last, we show that POLYRETINA restores light-evoked cortical responses in blind animals at safe irradiance levels. These results indicate that POLYRETINA holds the potential for artificial vision in totally blind patients affected by retinitis pigmentosa.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31180-z

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