Retinal Prosthesis with Tellurium Nanowires Partially Restores Vision in Blind Mice (and More)
Retinal Prosthesis with Tellurium Nanowires Partially Restores Vision in Blind Mice (and More) 🧠 1. The Innovation: What Is This Retinal Prosthesis? Scientists from Fudan University and several Chinese institutions have introduced a groundbreaking retinal prosthesis made from ultra-thin tellurium nanowires woven into a tiny mesh. This implant is placed behind the retina, converting both visible light and near-infrared (NIR) light directly into electrical signals that stimulate the optic nerve—and ultimately restore part of the visual experience in blind mice. Remarkably, this device requires no external battery or bulky hardware (phys.org). 🔬 2. Why Tellurium Nanowires? Tellurium (Te), a unique light-sensitive semiconductor, offers several advantages: Broad-spectrum photoconversion : It responds to visible and infrared light, enabling the eye to detect NIR wavelengths (up to 1550 nm), which human eyes cannot do naturally (neurosciencenews.com). Self-powered des...