title: Photoelectric dye-coupled polyethylene film as a prototype of retinal prostheses.
abstract: Photoelectric dyes, which absorb light and convert photon energy to electric potentials, have been previously shown to stimulate retinal neurons in culture. In this study, a photoelectric dye was coupled to a polyethylene film surface and tested in vitro using retinal tissues from chick embryos at the 12-day embryonic stage, at which time outer segments of retinal photoreceptor cells have not yet developed. Carboxyl moieties were introduced to a polyethylene film surface by fuming nitric acid, and then a photoelectric dye, 2-[2-[4-(dibutylamino)phenyl]ethenyl]-3-carboxymethylbenzothiazolium bromide, was coupled to the film through amide linkage. Intracellular calcium elevation was observed with Fluo-4 in retinal tissues placed on the dye-coupled polyethylene film, in contrast to retinal tissues which had no contact with the film. The response was inhibited by calcicludine, a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, and also by extracellular calcium depletion. The photoelectric dye, coupled to the polyethylene film surface, absorbed light under a dissecting microscope and stimulated neurons in retinal tissues, showing that the dye-coupled film could be used as a prototype of retinal prostheses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Shikata-cho, Okayama City, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uji
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Sanae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishimaru
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kajiura
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimamura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohtsuki
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dan-oh
authors.forename: Sadaharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suga
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D020959:Polyethylene; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: C501867:2-(2-(4-(dibutylamino)phenyl)ethenyl)-3-carboxymethylbenzothiazolium; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D013844:Thiazoles; C085673:calcicludin; D020959:Polyethylene; D002118:Calcium