A new study by researchers at Brown University suggests that gold nanoparticles—microscopic bits of gold thousands of times thinner than a human hair—might one day be used to help restore vision in people with macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

In a study published in ACS Nano, the team showed that gold nanoparticles injected into the retina stimulated the visual system in mice with retinal disorders. The technique uses nanoparticles activated by infrared light to bypass damaged photoreceptors and stimulate bipolar and ganglion cells. This activation pattern mirrors natural visual signals processed by the brain. Unlike previous prosthetic approaches that require implanted electrodes, this method relies on a simple injection and a wearable device with an infrared laser.

Researchers found no signs of toxicity or inflammation over several months, and visual cortex activity indicated that signals were reaching the brain. Although more testing is needed before clinical use, the findings point to a less invasive option for vision restoration.

“This is a new type of retinal prosthesis that has the potential to restore vision lost to retinal degeneration without requiring any kind of complicated surgery or genetic modification,” said Jiarui Nie, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institutes of Health, who led the research under the supervision of Brown professor Jonghwan Lee. “We believe this technique could potentially transform treatment paradigms for retinal degenerative conditions.”

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, among other organizations. RP