Intravitreal quantum dots injection to extracellular stimulation of retina ganglion cell: A computational modeling study
Hadi Mohammadi1 *, Hashem Rafii-Tabar1
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: Experimental and computational studies show that retinal electrical stimulation is a promising treatment method for retinal degeneration diseases. Quantum dots (QDs) can convert light into electrical impulses. Therefore, they may have therapeutic potential for these types of diseases.
Methods: : This research is organized in two parts. The first part is related to the use of the density functional theory in energy optimization and geometrical structure. Doping by Al was used to tune the insufficient band gaps and the electrical dipole moments of the QDs for visible light. In the second part, the electric field from these dots in both free-standing and bio-conjugated cases was calculated using the antenna theory. The Fohlmeister model was used for the generation of the action potential in the ganglion cell. The calculations pertinent to the second part were performed using the mathematical modeling approach.
Results: Both types of quantum dots i.e., free-standing and bio-conjugated cases, have the ability to convert light into electrical stimuli. The magnitude of their permanent electric dipole moment was calculated, and the electric field emanating from these dipole moments was used to stimulated, the cell membrane, leading to the generation of the action potential.
Conclusion: The electric field, resulting from quantum dots, as an external source, causes the stimulation of the ganglion cell, generating the action potentials and spike trains in the cell. The computational approach shows that the intravitreal injection of quantum dots has the ability to generate action potentials in retina.
