[China Tech] Local brain science experts making new progress

Restoring vision to the blind

People with severe eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, are expected to have their vision restored in the future, thanks to an invention in Shanghai.

Local experts from Fudan University have developed a next-generation retinal prosthesis, which when implanted into the eye base can activate the remaining nerve cells on the retina.

Globally, there are over 200 million people with retinal degeneration, deeply impacting their life quality.

The prothesis is a safe chip-like device based on tellurium nanowire networks that can convert broadband light with extra auxiliary equipment, as the prothesis can take the place of dead photoreceptor cells on the retina to receive light signals and transfer them into electrical signals to activate remaining nerve cells on the retina.

Experts said they tried various materials for the prothesis and finally chose tellurium nanowire, which can contact the retina directly and transfer signals, working like a brain-computer interface technology.

The device has so far been implanted onto blind mice and Macaca fascicularis, a monkey with the same eye and brain structure as humans.

In blind mice, the implanted nanoprosthesis replaced damaged photoreceptors and triggered responses in both the optic nerve and visual cortex. Implanted mice showed better light-induced pupil reactions and improvement in light-associated learning behaviors (such as water reward–based visual-cue associative learning and choice-box tasks) when compared with untreated mice.

The biocompatibility and efficacy of the proposed nanoprosthesis was further demonstrated in nonhuman primates (Macaca fascicularis), where the nanoprosthesis was tightly bound to the retina in the subretinal space and generated robust retina-derived responses to visible and infrared light.

This successful animal study paves the way for future human trials, showcasing the potential of this prosthesis to restore vision and expand augmented infrared perception for blind humans and offer a safer, more effective, and wider-spectrum solution than existing technologies, according to Wang Shuiyuan, a major researcher in the study.

"After being implanted with the prothesis, no animal models have shown negative rejection. Now the team has launched long-term safety evaluation on nonhuman primates and further studies of the higher-efficient coupling mechanism of the prothesis and retina," said Zhou Peng, one of the experts guiding the study.

"The purpose of our study is always to try our best to help blind patients, is always the purpose of our study," said Zhang Jiayi, a leading expert in the team.

"In addition to developing bioprothesis, we are also trying to offer genetic therapy in the early stage. When the disease deteriorates to the terminal stage, patients can try prosthesis, as their photoreceptors have died and lost the biological targets."

The study was published by world-leading journal Science on Friday.

Better brain health for children

Children's Hospital of Fudan University announced that it has initiated the world's first artificial intelligence (AI) model focusing on children's brain health research in order to boost the intelligent and precise diagnosis and treatment and support children's intelligent and psychological growth.

Due to an unbalanced distribution of medical resources, a lack of professionals and different diagnosis and treatment standards in different regions, China's early screening and precise identification of children's brain problems is low and lacks unified evaluation and intervention system. The long-term tracking and health management are still not satisfactory.

"To solve these issues and help more children to receive timely, precise and high-quality service, we have led the development and application of this new AI model," said Dr Wang Yi, president of the hospital, a home of the National Center of Pediatrics.

"The current general AI models don't have the professional ability to fully identify the features of children's mental and physical development. So we decided to make this AI model, which integrates clinical experience of leading medical experts as well as world-leading research achievements.

"It offers clinical support on medical diagnosis and treatment, supports brain health evaluation at home and school in order to achieve early detection and early intervention on children's brain problems, and aids grassroots medical professionals to improve their capability."

In addition to supporting medical staff, Wang highlighted the AI model's application at home and school, where parents and teachers can do basic and regular screening of children's brain health and achieve better health management.