Eye-mimicked Neural Network Composed of Photosensitive Neural Spheroids with Human Opsin Proteins.

An in vitro model, composed of the short-wavelength opsins and rhodopsins of human, was created. Two types of photosensitive neural spheroids were transfected for selective reaction under bluish-purple and green lights. These were employed to two devices with intact neuron and neural-spheroid to study the interaction. By photostimulation, the photosensitive spheroid initiated photoactivation, and the signal generated from its body was transmitted to adjacent neural networks. Specifically, the signal traveled through the axon bundle in narrow gap from photosensitive spheroid to intact spheroid as an eye-to-brain model including optic nerve. The whole process with photosensitive spheroid was monitored by calcium ion detecting fluorescence images. The results of this study can be applied to examine vision restoration and novel photosensitive biological systems with spectral sensitivity. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.