Protein-based artificial retinas.

Artificial retinas based on the light transducing photoelectric protein bacteriorhodopsin exhibit differential responsivity, edge enhancement and motion detection. Under appropriate conditions, these artificial receptors mimic the differential responsivity characteristic of mammalian photoreceptor cells. The use of orientated bacteriorhodopsin to generate the photoelectrical signal provides rapid responsivity, high quantum efficiency and offers the potential of directly coupling the protein response to charge-sensitive semiconductor arrays. The ability to manipulate the properties of the protein via chemical and genetic methods enhances design flexibility.