Biocompatibility of subretinal parylene-based Ti/Pt microelectrode array in rabbit for further artificial vision studies.
To evaluate the biocompatibility of subretinal implanted parylene-based Ti/Pt microelectrode arrays (MEA). Eyes were enucleated 3 months after MEAs were implanted into the subretinal space of rabbits. Morphological changes of the retinas were investigated by H&E staining. Immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein and opsin were performed to evaluate changes in Muller cells and photoreceptors in the retinas. Retina tissue around the array remained intact. Photoreceptor degeneration and glial cell activation were observed in the retina overlaying the MEA implant. However, the cells in the inner retinal layers were preserved. Photoreceptor degeneration and glial cell activation at the MEA-retina interface are expected to be a normal reaction to implantation. Material used in this experiment has good biocompatibility within the subretinal environment and is expected to be promising in the further retinal prosthesis studies.
Yu
Weihong
W
Ophthalmology Department, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730 China.
Wang
Xuqian
X
Zhao
Chan
C
Yang
Zhikun
Z
Dai
Rongping
R
Dong
Fangtian
F