▲ (from the left) Professor Junyeop Lee (Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center), Professor Jaeheung Cho (Chemistry, UNIST), and Professor Mu-Hyun Baik (Chemistry, KAIST)

Retinal vascular occlusion, which can lead to sudden sight loss without any warning signs, is recently increasing in incidence due to aging and underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. However, fundamental treatment methods have yet to be established.

A research team led by Professor Junyeop Lee (Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center), Professor Jaeheung Cho (Chemistry, UNIST), and Professor Mu-Hyun Baik (Chemistry, KAIST) developed a new treatment based on the iron-nitrosyl complex, synthesizing iron and nitric oxide that has the effect of blood vessel dilation and blood flow increase. This complex, characterized by light-responsive nature, can be injected into the eye to supply nitric oxide at a desired time and location through light control.

The research team injected the treatment into the eyes of small animal models with retinal vascular occlusion and observed changes in blood vessels and blood. As a result, in 15 minutes after flashing light on the retina, the retinal vascular diameter increased by about 1.59 times. More than 85% of the non-perfused peripheral retinal areas where retinal vessels were blocked recovered to restore blood flow.

Professor Junyeop Lee said, “We will continue our research efforts on this vasodilator to establish an innovative treatment strategy that can also be applied in clinical practice.”

The research findings were recently published in ‘Chem,’ a sister journal to ‘Cell,’ a prestigious chemistry academic journal.