Fig. 3: Extracted devices.

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of A planar (n = 4), B honeycomb (n = 4), and C pillar (n = 4) devices extracted after 6 weeks in the subretinal space, indicating the distribution of biological remnants on the implants after surgery. Scale bar 100 µm. Magnified images D–F of the areas indicated by the yellow boxes show apparent acellular organic matter (yellow arrows) and cell-like structures (red arrows) on all three devices. Scale bar 15 µm. G–I Confocal microscopy of the implants (gray) and DAPI staining (blue) confirmed the presence of cell nuclei. J–L Most cell nuclei (blue) co-localized with IBA1 (green), indicating microglial cells. Scale bar 40 µm. N numbers represent individual experiments with biological replicates, all yielding similar results; all extracted implants (n = 4 per group) from A–C went through immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging (G–L), yielding similar results.