Retinal prosthesis woven from tellurium nanowires partially restores vision in blind mice

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June 6, 2025, 6:00 PM

• •A team from Fudan University, the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and Shaoxin Laboratory in China, has developed a retinal prosthesis woven from metal nanowires.
• •The prosthesis is made of tellurium nanowires that convert light energy into electrical energy.
• •Testing on blind mice showed restored vision, pupil reflexes, and neuron firing.
• •The prosthesis also allowed for processing near-infrared light.

Scientists in China have created a retinal prosthesis using tellurium nanowires that successfully restored partial vision in blind mice. The nanowires convert light into electrical energy, stimulating the optic nerve. Testing showed the mice regained pupil reflexes and neuron firing, along with the ability to respond to light and patterns. This innovative approach, which also processes near-infrared light, could lead to advancements in vision restoration technology, potentially offering sharper color contrast and improved night vision.

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