Manufacturing Artificial Retinas in Space to Restore Sight on Earth

https://issnationallab.org/upward/manufacturing-artificial-retinas-in-space-to-restore-sight-on-earth/?utm_source=upward_edm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=upward_9.1&utm_content=pr_6-10 Biotech Startup Turns to Space to Manufacture Artificial Retinas LambdaVision’s artificial retinas could one day help restore vision in people with blindness from macular degeneration. However, manufacturing these delicate films on Earth presents challenges. The artificial retinas are made of hundreds of ultra-thin layers of a light-sensitive protein, and gravity-driven forces can cause uneven layering that leads to material waste and limits scalability. To overcome this, the company leveraged the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, where sustained microgravity allows the thin films to form more evenly. Over multiple missions, LambdaVision worked with Commercial Service Provider Space Tango to develop an automated system for manufacturing artificial retinas in space. The result: thin films with improved uniformity, stability, and performance—while using fewer raw materials. This work marks a significant step toward scalable production and highlights how space-based manufacturing can unlock new possibilities for advanced biomaterials on Earth. https://issnationallab.org/press-releases/biotech-startup-turns-to-space-to-manufacture-artificial-retinas-for-treating-blindness/