Artificial retina developed using biocompatible graphene

Graphene components are being used in the development of a promising new form of artificial retina created in Germany.

Led by physicists at the Technische Universitat Munchen (TUM), the project is taking advantage of the many beneficial properties of graphene, including its thinness, transparency, tensile strength and conductivity.

It also offers excellent biocompatibility thanks to its great flexibility and chemical durability, making it an efficient interface for communication between the retina prosthesis and nerve tissue.

Dr Jose Garrido at the Walter Schottky Institut of the TUM is leading the research, which is being carried out in partnership with the Institut de la Vision of the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris and the French company Pixium Vision.

Retinal implants offer considerable potential for use as optical prostheses for blind people, converting light into electrical impulses transmitted to the brain via the optical nerve. Graphene components could help to ensure these implants are not rejected by the body and transmit a higher quality of signal to the brain.