Implant nano-antennas that humans may be able to see at night

there is so much light in nature that only a small fraction of the visible light can be seen by the human eye, such as infrared light. But a recent study may give humans infrared light perception.
Recently, Xue Tian Of the Department of Life Sciences and Medicine of the University of Science and Technology of China, in collaboration with the Han Gang Research Group of the Massachusetts State University School of Medicine, combined with visual neurobiology and innovative nanotechnology, realized the infrared light perception and infrared image vision of animal naked eyes for the first time. The findings have been published online in the international authoritative journal Cell.can't see infrared light? This is mainly due to the low energy of infrared photons. In order to perceive infrared light, the eye's photoreceptic protein must lower its absorption energy threshold, but too low an energy threshold makes it easier for thermal energy to spontaneously stimulate the activity of the photoreceptium, thus affecting the detection of signal-to-noise ratios.
" in other words, the electromagnetic spectrum in nature is very wide, divided into wavelengths from short to long including γ rays, X-rays, UV light, visible light, infrared, microwave, radio waves and so on. The visible light that our eyes can feel is only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum, determined by the physical and chemical properties inherent in the photoresponsive proteins in retinal photoresponsive cells. Xue Tian, the project leader, told Science and Technology Daily.
not only humans, but also in the evolution of living things, no animal has been found to be able to sense infrared light at wavelengths of more than 700 nanometers based on photoreceproteins, let than in the brain to form infrared image vision. However, studies have confirmed that individual animals, such as some snakes, can perceive infrared light through temperature.
infrared light is widely found in nature, and its detection perception will help us obtain information beyond the visible spectrum.
in order to obtain information beyond the visible spectrum range, humans invented infrared night vision devices based on photoelectring and photom multiplies. But it has many defects, such as heavy, after wearing mobility, the need for limited battery power, may be exposed to bright light, incompatible with the visible light environment and so on.
In order to solve the above problems and develop passive infrared vision development technology, Xue Tian, who has been engaged in visual research for many years, noticed a conversion nanomaterial from the Han Gang Research Group, which was able to convert near-infrared light into visible light - green light."it would make a lot of sense if we could implant this material in the eyes of animals, " he said. Xue Tian said the researchers developed a specific surface modification method, so that the nanomaterial can be closely connected to the surface of the photorespole membrane specific glycosyl molecules, so that firmly attached to the surface of the photorespositive cells.
" modified nanoparticles become a hidden, no external energy supply of the 'nano-antenna'. Ma Yuqian, ph.D., of the University of Science and Technology of China, the first author of the paper, told reporters, "We named this built-in 'nano-antenna' pbUCNPs, the upper-converted nanoparticles that bind specifically to retinal photoresculation cells." In
to allow mice to see near-infrared light, the researchers injected liquid containing nanoparticles into the mice's eyes. But how can we prove that mice can see near-infrared light and know how strong their near-infrared vision is?
conducted a variety of visual neurophysiological experiments. In the pupil light reflection experiment, under near-infrared light exposure, the pupil of the injected mice contracted, while the pupil of the un injected mice did not change.
the mice were night-time objects, preferring dark features, the researchers designed a box with compartments, one all black and one illuminated with near-infrared light. Observations found that injected mice stayed longer in dark compartments, while non-injected mice stayed in two compartments for about the same amount of time. The researchers said the two experiments showed that the mice's photoreceptor cells were activated by near-infrared light, and that the resulting signals were transmitted through the optic nerve to the visual cortical cortical part of the mouse brain, which has the ability to sense infrared light.
researchers demonstrated that mice injected with pbUCNPs nanoparticles in the lower retina not only gained the ability to perceive infrared light, but also distinguished complex infrared images, from peritonal photoreceptor cells to the visual center of the brain, using a variety of neurovisual physiological experiments, from single-cell electrophysiological records, in-body retinal electrograms (ERGs) and visual induced power levels (VEPs), to multidimensional visual behavior experiments. It is worth noting that while infrared vision was obtained, the visible light vision of mice was not affected.
that animals can see both visible and infrared images, and visible light vision is not affected, " Xue said. " The ", which broke through the limitations of traditional near-infrared devices, and developed passive infrared vision development technology for bare-eyed eyes, demonstrated the possibility that humans have super-visual capabilities. Xue Tian told reporters that mammals like humans can only visually handle light in the visible spectrum, a technology that could in the future give humans the ability to over-see "night vision."
researchers also found that pbUCNPs nanomaterials have good biocompasability. Tests of molecules, cells, tissue organs, and animal behavior have shown that the material can be present in the animal retina for a long time, and no significant negative effects have been found on the retina or animal vision.
this, the researchers believe that this technology effectively expands the range of visual spectrum of animals, the first time to achieve passive infrared image visual perception, breaking through the physical limits of visual perception given to animals by nature.
technology may be able to compensate for 'visual defects' in the future," he said. Xue Tian said that by developing nanomaterials with different absorption and emission spectral parameters, it is possible to help repair visual perception spectrum defects related diseases, such as red color blindness, and this nano-modification technology, which can be closely integrated with photoreceptor cells, can also be given more innovative functions, such as partial slow release of under-eye drugs, light-controlled drug release and so on.