Minimally invasive photonic therapies

• Photocoagulation
• Selective photothermolysis
• UV laser ablation
• Femtosecond laser ablation
• Laser photodisruption
• Laser microdissection
• Laser transfection
• Light-guided gene therapy
• Laser tissue welding
• Laser laparoscopy
• Endoscopic laser surgery
• Skin resurfacing by laser and high power lamps
• Laser hair removal
• Low power laser treatments
• Laser-activation of endogenous and exogenous chromophores
• Photodynamic therapy
• Photothermal therapy
• Photochemical therapy
• Laser-assisted nanomedicine

For more detailed information please consult the P4L database.

Case study: Laser welding of biological tissues

Laser welding in eye surgery

• Already in the clinical phase for use in the transplant of the cornea
• Pulsed or CW diode laser welding in association with the topical application of a laser-absorbing dye
• Applied to induce closure of corneal cuts and adhesion of corneal grafs
• Reduced postoperative astigmatism

Laser welding in micro vascular surgery

• Preclinical studies in animal models
• Anastomosis of small caliber vessels (both arteries and veins)
• Application in bypass surgery of the carotid artery to reduce the occlusion time and minimise the risk of brain damage
• Less trombogenic than conventional sutures
• Minimal foreign body reaction and better healing process

Tissue welding by laser activation of new nanochromphores

• Preclinical ex vivo studies
• Synthesis of gold nanorods absorbing light in the near infrared (700-900 nm)
• Biocompatible coating with PEG and Silica
• Diode laser welding of collagen tissues using Nano Rods as photo enhancing chromophores
• Perspectives of nanopaticle fuctionalisation