2020 Rationalist.org — Evolution Tree content
Artificial retinas made from this ultra-thin supermaterial could help millions see again. Graphene is called a supermaterial for a reason. Despite being only one carbon atom thick, graphene is an incredibly strong, flexible, and lightweight material. It also conducts electricity and is biodegradable. Now, an international research team has found a way to use these supermaterials by producing artificial retinas.
The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye responsible for converting images into impulses that the brain can interpret, and with a non-functioning retina, you cannot see.
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Millions of people are currently struggling with retinal diseases that deprive them of sight. Researchers have developed artificial retinas to help people see again. However, the current solution isn't ideal because the implants are rigid and flat. Therefore, they can produce blurry or distorted images. Although the implants are fragile, they can still damage the surrounding eye tissue.
Graphene, with all its unique properties, could enable us to create a better artificial retina.
Researchers from the University of Texas and Seoul National University have created an artificial retina that is better than existing models of a natural retina, using a combination of graphene, molybdenum disulfide (another 2D material), gold, aluminum oxide, and silicon nitride.
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Based on studies in the laboratory and on animals, researchers determined that their artificial retinas are both biocompatible and able to mimic the characteristics of the human eye. Moreover, they better match the dimensions of the natural retina.
"This is the first demonstration that we can use a single layer of graphene and molybdenum disulfide to successfully fabricate an artificial retina," researcher Nanshu Lu said in a press release.
Although this research is still in its early stages, the possibility of using these materials to enable people to see again is a very exciting start.
If researchers continue their studies on graphene-based artificial retinas, this supermaterial could enable visually impaired people to see again.
Translator: Ayşe Ege Palaz Editor: Ögetay Kayalı
References
1. Futurism, “Artificial Retinas Made of This Ultra-Thin Super Material Could Help Millions See Again” < https://futurism.com/artificial-retinas-graphene/ > 2. Phys.org, “A New Generation of Artificial Retinas Based on 2-D Materials” < https://phys.org/news/2018-08-artificial-retinas-based-d-materials.html >
Originally published on Medium on April 24, 2023. English translation of “Yapay Retinalar Görme Sorunlarını Çözecek!”.