Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T02:31:21.346Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Novel Interface to Biological Systems for Retinal Prosthetics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Mark C. Peterman
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4090
Christina Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
Theodore Leng
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5308
Philip Huie
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5308
Harvey A. Fishman
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5308
Get access

Abstract

The development of retinal prostheses requires a method for interconnecting an imaging system to the retina. Such a system must be able to individually address and stimulate retinal neurons, a significant advance from current technology. As a step toward this goal, we present a novel electronic-to-biologic interface using microfabricated apertures in a silicon substrate. Apertures are created in a thin silicon nitride membrane, after which the surface is appropriately modified to support cell growth. Excitable cells are seeded on the device and imaged using Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dyes in either an inverted or confocal microscope. Using rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, we show the ability to stimulate locally through the apertures. The device allows for the stimulation of cells at precise locations, a necessary requirement for future high-resolution retinal prostheses.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Rizzo, J. F., Wyatt, J., Humayun, M., Juan, E. de, Liu, W. T., Chow, A., Eckmiller, R., Zrenner, E., Yagi, T., and Abrams, G., “Retinal prosthesis: An encouraging first decade with major challenges ahead,” Ophthalmology, vol. 108, pp. 1314, 2001.Google Scholar
[2] Zrenner, E., “Will retinal implants restore vision?,” Science, vol. 295, pp. 10221025, 2002.Google Scholar
[3] Masland, R. H., “The fundamental plan of the retina,” Nature Neuroscience, vol. 4, pp. 877886, 2001.Google Scholar
[4] Chow, A. Y., Pardue, M. T., Chow, V. Y., Peyman, G. A., Liang, C. P., Perlman, J. I., and N. Peachey, S., “Implantation of silicon chip microphotodiode arrays into the cat subretinal space,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 9, pp. 8695, 2001.Google Scholar
[5] Duffy, D. C., McDonald, J. C., Schueller, O. J. A., and Whitesides, G. M., “Rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems in poly(dimethylsiloxane),” Analytical Chemistry, vol. 70, pp. 49744984, 1998.Google Scholar
[6] McDonald, J. C., Duffy, D. C., Anderson, J. R., Chiu, D. T., Wu, H. K., Schueller, O. J. A., and Whitesides, G. M., “Fabrication of microfluidic systems in poly(dimethylsiloxane),” Electrophoresis, vol. 21, pp. 2740, 2000.Google Scholar
[7] Hirata, I., Iwata, H., Ismail, A. B. M., Iwasaki, H., Yukimasa, T., and Sugihara, H., “Surface modification of Si3N4-coated silicon plate for investigation of living cells,” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Part I: Regular Papers and Short Notes, vol. 39, pp. 64416442, 2000.Google Scholar
[8] Greene, L. A. and Tischler, A. S., “Establishment of a noradrenergic clonal line of rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells which respond to nerve growth factor,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 73, pp. 24242428, 1976.Google Scholar
[9] Appell, K. C. and Barefoot, D. S., “Neurotransmitter Release from Bradykinin-Stimulated Pc12 Cells: Stimulation of Cytosolic Calcium and Neurotransmitter Release,” Biochemical Journal, vol. 263, pp. 1118, 1989.Google Scholar