Syracuse University

University of Connecticut

Lambdavision Incorporated

Robert R Birge

Rekha Rangarajan

Jeffrey A Stuart

Duane L Marcy

Joseph Chaiken

Albert F Lawrence

Megan Nollenberger

Matthew Ranaghan

Deshan S Govender

Daniel J Sandberg

Eric Hock Tan

Nicole Wagner

Jordan A Greco

Kristina Nicole McCleary

Megan Sandberg

Protein-based subretinal implants offer a new approach to restoring vision for patients blinded by conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The present invention relates to bacteriorhodopsin-based (BR-based) retinal implants that can be implanted in a subretinal position to replace degenerated photoreceptor cells.

Method for stimulating retinal cells and treating vision loss

Protein-based photovoltaic cells and the manufacture and use of protein-based photovoltaic cells are described. In one embodiment, bacteriorhodopsin from, which undergoes structural transitions when irradiated with a given wavelength of light, is used as the protein in the protein-based photovoltaic cells. In another embodiment, mutant bacteriorhodopsin fromis used. Exposure of the protein to sunlight causes proton transfer across a membrane resulting in the generation of an electrical charge. The protein can be oriented and/or layered on a substrate and modified by mutation to enhance transmembrane proton transfer, covalent binding to a substrate and layering. The protein-based photovoltaic cells sequentially or simultaneously generate hydrogen gas from water or salt, which also can be harnessed to produce electricity.

Protein-based photovoltaics and methods of use

Bacteriorhodopsin protein variants and methods using the bacteriorhodopsin variants for performance in holographic and three-dimensional (3D) memory storage devices are described. The amino acid and chemical modifications of bacteriorhodopsin provided herein achieve greatly enhanced protein performance. The memory storage devices write, read and erase data proficiently. The bacteriorhodopsin protein variants are useful in optical memory storage and associative processor systems. Irradiation of the light-sensitive protein with light of known wavelength causes the protein to switch between different states. The variants enter the branched photocycle via a single or a two photon process and form the permanent 'Q' state more efficiently than the wild-type bacteriorhodopsin protein. This branching photocycle of the variants is exploited in the fabrication of 3D memory storage devices.

Bacteriorhodopsin protein variants and methods of use for long term data storage

Multilayer protein films are provided, which comprise native bacteriorhodopsin and/or specialized bacteriorhodopsin mutants as the photoactive element. Also provided are artificial subretinal and epiretinal implants carrying such bacteriorhodopsin films, as well as methods for making and using the same, for example, to treat retinal diseases and conditions.

Protein-based artificial retinas

A bacteriorhodopsin based chemical sensing architecture based upon the collective response of bacteriorhodopsin and a number of its mutants; the wild type protein and a selection of genetically-engineered variants was able to respond differentially to a selection of amines. The observable response to the presence of a target chemical was manifested through a modulation of bacteriorhodopsin's photokinetic properties, which are monitored through pump-probe techniques using a custom prototype flash photolysis system. Differential responsivity exists at two levels; (1) bacteriorhodopsin proteins (wild-type and genetically-engineered variants) respond differentially upon exposure of a target chemical, and (2) the response pattern exhibited by the proteins differs from chemical to chemical. This dichotomy forms the basis for a BR-mediated chemical sensing technology that is highly sensitive and selective and may therefore discriminate between different chemicals.

Bacteriorhodopsin-based photochromic sensor for detection of chemical and environmental toxins

Tungsten and molybdenum oxide, and oxides of other metals and bronzes derived from such oxides, constitute a broad class of materials having applications as photochromic sunblock/cosmetics. These materials are well known in the prior art in the context of photochromic optical data storage media and they offer an excellent match with the very properties needed for cosmetic applications. The invention relates to the adaptation of the class of tungsten and molybdenum oxide photochromics to sunblocking/dosimetry, energy storage, and cosmetic coloration. In addition, certain naturally occurring proteins which exhibit the necessary photochromism can also be used alone for the same purpose or with the oxide systems described above.

Photochromic materials suitable for cosmetic and sunblocking effects

A method of preparing an analog of bacteriorhodopsin in which organic cations selectively replace calcium and magnesium cations. The method comprises preparing a cation-free blue membrane and incubating the blue membrane with an organic cation selected from the group consisting of monovalent quaternary ammonium cations, bolaform cations and pyridinal cations.

Analog bacteriorhodopsin molecules

A high density volmetric optical memory stores information in three dimensions by selectively activating a photochemical branching reaction from a short-lived thermal intermediate of the primary photocycle of a light-transducing protein storage medium. A paging laser actuates a selected planar sheet or page of the medium at one wavelength, and data lasers send selected data beams at another wavelength orthogonal to the selected page. In a preferred mode, the medium is bacteriorhodopsin, and the paging beam raises the photocycle from the ground or resting state bR to an intermediate O, and the data beams interact with the O intermediate to create branch species P and Q. The data beams do not interract strongly with bR or with the P or Q. A differential read operation can employ the same paging and data wavelengths. Preferably a partial conversion only is required, with [95% bR, 5% P+Q] representing '0' and [90% bR, 10% P+Q] representing '1'.

Branched photocycle optical memory device

A high density rapid access data storage device employs a volume of field-oriented bacteriorhodopsin in a polymer medium, and contained in a vessel that can be accurately displace in three dimensions. X-axis and Y-axis laser illumination systems each converge a beam in the respective direction at a location at which a particular bit cell is to have a '1' or '0' recorded or is to be interrogated. Both laser systems are pulsed on at one wavelength to write a '1' or at a second wavelength to write a '0'. After writing, a cleaning step is carried out by actuating the laser systems non-simultaneously at the other of the wavelengths to remove any undesired photochemistry from adjacent bit cells. A read cycle involves actuating two or four lasers, and then discriminating the '1' or '0' state from the electrical signal generated by the medium.

Three-dimensional optical memory

An electro optical random access memory uses a film of bacteriorhodopsin or similar photochromic substance which can change between two light absorbing states in response to light of each of two wavelengths. In one embodiment combined red and green laser beams are steered in two orthogonal directions to memory locations on the film. The relative amounts of the light of the two wavelength reflected from memory cell is sensed and discriminated to indicate '1' or '0'. A crowbar circuit holds one or the other of the two laser beams on to compensate for degradation that occurs in a read cycle. In another embodiment a single wavelength is employed for read and write operations, but at a much greater strength for the write operation.

Growing community of inventors

Coventry, CT, United States of America

Robert R Birge