NUS Induces Photosynthesis in Mice Eyes, Cutting Dry-Eye Damage Within 5 Days
Updated
Updated · GIGAZINE（ギガジン） · May 19
NUS Induces Photosynthesis in Mice Eyes, Cutting Dry-Eye Damage Within 5 Days
6 articles · Updated · GIGAZINE（ギガジン） · May 19
Spinach-derived LEAF eye drops drove light-triggered production of ATP and NADPH in mice eyes, with corneal damage recovering to a near-healthy state within 5 days under indoor light.
400-nm chloroplast particles were engineered to keep only the light reactions of photosynthesis, aiming to break dry eye’s oxidative-stress cycle by replenishing NADPH and reducing reactive oxygen species.
30 minutes of light restored NADPH in inflamed cells, while tests on dry-eye patient tears lifted NADPH about 20-fold and cut hydrogen peroxide by more than 95%.
Two preclinical mouse studies found no adverse effects over 2 months and reported stronger efficacy than existing dry-eye drugs such as Restasis.
The Cell study suggests similar light-powered treatment could extend to the retina, skin and skeletal muscle, though outside experts said durability and cell targeting still need proof.
Beyond eyes, could we insert plant machinery into our bodies and photosynthesize our way out of other diseases?
Could a photosynthetic engine from spinach, powered by light, become the cure for a disease affecting 1.5 billion people?
What are the long-term risks of creating human-plant hybrids at the cellular level to fight common ailments?
From Spinach to Sight: LEAF’s Plant-Based Nanotechnology for Next-Generation Dry Eye Disease Therapy
Overview
The National University of Singapore (NUS) team has made a major breakthrough by successfully transplanting plant photosynthetic machinery into mammalian tissue for the first time. This innovative approach, called LEAF, enables the generation of biologically useful molecules powered entirely by visible light. The findings, published in Cell on May 15, 2026, mark a pivotal moment in biomedical research. Dr. Xing Kuoran, the study's first author, emphasized the excitement and novelty of using plant mechanisms within mammalian systems, opening new possibilities for future therapies and highlighting the significance of this discovery.