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MEDICAL DAILY: Light-Activated Compounds Designed to Stand In for Lost Photoreceptors Restore Visual Behavior in Blind Animals

A research consortium led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona has developed a family of light-switchable small molecules designed to occupy the gap. The compounds, called prosthe6, restored visual responses in zebrafish and mouse models of retinal degeneration under ordinary ambient light.

Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration

The inability of the central nervous system (CNS) to regenerate has been attributed to several factors: First, the natural formation of cellular “bridges” essential for axonal regeneration does not occur at the site of injury. Second, the injured CNS fails to produce growth factors necessary to stimulate regeneration. Third, neurons in the injured CNS do … Read more