A synthetic molecule developed in Italy has shown the potential to restore retinal neurons, offering new hope for combating progressive blindness.
The molecule, named Ziapin2, acts as a “molecular switch,” restoring light sensitivity in retinal neurons affected by retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. These conditions, which can lead to blindness, currently lack effective treatments.
The preclinical study, published in Nature Communications, was conducted by researchers from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino in Genoa, and the Polytechnic University of Milan, with support from the Telethon Foundation.
Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare genetic disease affecting one in 3,500 people, while age-related macular degeneration impacts 7–8% of the population, with incidence rising with age. Existing strategies, such as retinal prostheses, have yielded only partial results.
Ziapin2, first synthesized and tested in 2020 by Chiara Bertarelli, Guglielmo Lanzani, and Fabio Benfenati, functions as a phototransducer. It absorbs light and converts it into electrical signals, modulating neuronal excitability without interfering with ion channels or neurotransmitter receptors.
“This innovative molecule restores the balance between ‘on’ retinal neurons, which detect light, and ‘off’ neurons, which respond to darkness,” explained Fabio Benfenati, coordinator of IIT’s Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology.
In preclinical models of retinitis pigmentosa, a single intraocular injection of Ziapin2 restored light and contrast responses for up to two weeks without causing toxic or inflammatory effects.
“This breakthrough could represent a turning point in visual recovery for retinal degenerative diseases,” said Stefano Di Marco, IIT-affiliated researcher and professor at the University of Genoa.
The findings offer fresh hope for millions affected by progressive blindness.
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