Harnessing the power of photosynthesis, scientists have pioneered an experimental, light-based treatment, derived from spinach, for dry eye disease. Photosynthesis is the preserve of the plant world (aside from some savvy solar-powered sea slugs) – but it may not stay that way forever. An innovative new treatment for dry eye disease, from researchers at the National University of Singapore, involves transplanting plant-derived photosynthetic machinery into corneal cells to produce a protective molecule when exposed to light. As well as offering a simple, non-invasive solution to keep the eye hydrated, the breakthrough represents a small step toward enabling mammalian cells to acquire at least a limited form of photosynthetic functionality. Dry eye disease, also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide and is accompanied by discomfort, pain and impaired visual function. The condition is driven by inflammation in the cornea, which triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS). Normally, antioxidant production induced by coenzyme NADPH can neutralize these aggressive molecules before they damage the eye, but under stress, such as during dry eye disease, NADPH is insufficient to override ROS production and can actually exacerbate it, kickstarting a vicious cycle of inflammation. Current anti-inflammatory therapies face significant limitations and can provoke further irritation, hence the need for alternatives. As NADPH is present in both plant and animal cells and a key end product of photosynthesis, the team behind the new research proposed an ingenious therapeutic paradigm: using photosynthetic plant membranes and ambient light to spark production of the metabolite directly…
