AI-based laser alignment for Flow Cytometry

April 4, 2024 by Modulight Content
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Next generation flow cytometry Lasers have been historically the key light sources utilized in flow cytometry due to their ability to deliver the precise amount of energy needed to trigger the Stokes shift, which is the key phenomena underlying flow cytometry operation. For the same reason lasers and optical system in general are referred to as the “heart of flow cytometer”, since they are the integral component initiating the instrument operation. To ensure smooth and repeatable flow cytometer performance laser source needs to exhibit excellent Continue reading →

Photobiomodulation for pain treatment using ML6600

March 15, 2024 by Modulight Content
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Background Photobiomodulation with low-level laser or light therapy is an effective treatment for pain. It has various effects, such as analgesic (pain-relieving) effects, anti-inflammatory effects, tissue regeneration promoting effects, and wound healing effects. Photobiomodulation can be used to relief both acute and chronic pain and has the advantage of being noninvasive and safe. Earlier studies have shown that photobiomodulation affects the activity of pain-transmitting nerves, even though the mechanisms are not fully understood. Because lasers are scattered and absorbed by biological tissues, the laser intensity Continue reading →Customer case University of Toyama is a Japanese national university located in Toyama City and Takaoka City and established in 1949. It is comprised of 3 former national universities Toyama University, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, and Takaoka National College. Naoya Ishibashi Daisuke Uta Modulight products: ML6600 Laser use: Studying pain treatment with photobiomodulation. Links to articles:     Background Photobiomodulation with low-level laser or light therapy is an effective treatment for pain. It has various effects, such as analgesic (pain-relieving) effects, anti-inflammatory effects, tissue regeneration Continue reading →

Development of thermosensitive liposomes with the help of ML8500

March 13, 2024 by Modulight Content
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Background The proper delivery and release of therapeutic drugs to a specific site or cell type is one of the main challenges in the treatment of diseases. Liposomes, which are vesicles composed of lipids, serve as carriers for drug delivery thanks to their long circulation time. This results to reduced toxicity in healthy tissues and improved therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated drugs. However, conventional liposomes can often be even too stabile, leading to insufficient drug release at the target site. Light activation can offer a solution Continue reading →Customer case Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology led by Professor Timo Laaksonen on controlled drug release and delivery using modern methods and materials. Particular interest lies in using light to both monitor nanomaterial behavior and to trigger e.g. drug release processes. Modulight products: ML8500, ML6600, MLAKIT Prof. Timo Laaksonen Dr. Tatu Lajunen Laser use: Light-triggered drug release studies from light-activated liposomes. ML8500 with 808 nm wavelength was used to induce the release of calcein from liposomes under different temperatures. The effect of different type of lipids on liposomal Continue reading →

ML7710 for photoactivated treatment of lung cancer

March 6, 2024 by Modulight Content
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Deadliest cancer Precision with photoactivation Photoimmunotherapy with ML7710 offers a clinical therapeutic option for NSCLC patients even with advanced disease stage. Besides laser light, this therapy involves photoactivated drug, which can be activated precisely at the tumor site with laser fibers, hence minimizing drug effects to healthy tissues. Smaller invasiveness compared to surgery can enable patients to stay less time recovering at the hospital. It can also be repeated if needed multiple times without cumulating toxicities, unlike radiation therapy. Some previously inoperable tumors can decrease Continue reading →Deadliest cancer Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with more than 2.2 million cases and 1.8 million deaths each year [1]. Lung cancer can be divided into two types, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with the latter accounting for about 85% of all lung cancer cases. NSCL is usually less sensitive to chemo- and radiotherapy and in many cases tumor cannot be removed surgically or has spread from lungs to distant sites at the time Continue reading →

Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) Laser Diodes

January 22, 2024 by Modulight Content
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Introduction to DRB lasers Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) laser diodes are a class of single-frequency monolithic semiconductor lasers. Monolithic semiconductor lasers in general are small in size, mechanically robust, and have good power conversion efficiency. They also provide opportunities for hybrid integration with photonic integrated circuits (PICs). This application note provides an overview of DBR lasers, their principles of operation, their modal behavior, and their diverse applications. Principles of DBR Laser Operation A DBR laser is a semiconductor laser with one or several quantum wells Continue reading →

Light-induced drug delivery with indocyanine green liposomes

August 30, 2022 by Modulight Content
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Introduction to light-controlled drug delivery systems Study description It is important that light-triggered liposomes efficiently release their contents, while the liposome stability should be maintained in the absence of laser light. The aim of this study is to determine how liposomal stability and drug release are affected by liposomal formulation. Indocyanine green was used as the light-sensitizing compound in the liposomes since it is clinically approved light-sensitive agent. Three different liposomal formulations were prepared: Formulation A: ICG in the aqueous core, liposomes coated Formulation B: ICG in the liposomal Continue reading →Customer case Faculty of Pharmacy at University of Helsinki is specialized in top-level pharmaceutical research. Multidisciplinary research fields include clinical pharmacy, experimental drugs, nanomedicines, and pharmaceutical drug design. Drug delivery unit led by Professor Arto Urtti focuses on design and testing of advanced drug delivery systems especially for ocular indications. Light is studied as an important tool to control the drug delivery to the target tissues. Modulight products: ML6600 (810 nm) + Modulight in vitro illumination kit (MLAKIT) Professor Arto Urtti   Senior Pharmaceutical Researcher Tatu Continue reading →

Fluorescence imaging & endoscopy for tumor visualization and diagnostics

July 6, 2022 by Modulight Content
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Several fluorescent agents have been approved for fluorescence based diagnosis & intraoperative imaging: Dye generic name Countries Excitation Detection Indications Indocyanine Green (ICG) Worldwide 800 nm Near-infrared (820 nm) Multiple uses: lymphatic mapping, tissue perfusion, visualization of biliary ducts and blood veins, retinal angiography Fluorescein Worldwide 490 nm Green fluorescence (525 nm) Fluorescein angiography or angioscopy (ophthalmology) Methylene Blue Worldwide 665 nm 688 nm Endoscopic polypectomy, chromoendoscopy, lymphatic drainage 5-ALA Hydrochloride (converted to Pp-IX) Worldwide 400 – 410 nm Red fluorescence (620 – 710 nm) Continue reading →Introduction to fluorescence imaging Fluorescence is a phenomenon where substance that has absorbed certain wavelength of light emits it back at another wavelength. These substances are called fluorophores or fluorescent dyes. The emitted light has a longer wavelength than the absorbed one since some energy of the photon is lost in the process. The difference in wavelengths between absorbed and emitted light, called Stokes shift, allows very low background for fluorescence detection by separating it from the excitation light. The process of fluorescence generation is Continue reading →

Flow cytometry

March 28, 2022 by Modulight Content
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Introduction Flow cytometry is a widely used method in biomedical research and increasingly also in clinical diagnostics. It is a powerful and rapid technique to analyze physical and chemical properties of single cells or particles as they are suspended in liquid and pass in a narrow line across laser beams. Fluorescence together with scattered laser light is then filtered, detected, and analyzed on the other side of the sample. In addition to analysis, many flow cytometers can also sort and purify cell populations of interest Continue reading →Introduction Flow cytometry is a widely used method in biomedical research and increasingly also in clinical diagnostics. It is a powerful and rapid technique to analyze physical and chemical properties of single cells or particles as they are suspended in liquid and pass in a narrow line across laser beams. Fluorescence together with scattered laser light is then filtered, detected, and analyzed on the other side of the sample. In addition to analysis, many flow cytometers can also sort and purify cell populations of interest Continue reading →

Light-based enhancement of vaccination in humans

December 20, 2021 by Modulight Content
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  Motivation Vaccines should activate all branches of immunity, including T cells and antibody responses, for generating a strong immune response. For therapeutic cancer vaccines, it is especially important to induce strong cytotoxic T-cell responses, since cytotoxic T-cells are the most potent immune cells for killing cancer cells. While cytotoxic T-cells can often be induced  with viral vector and nucleic acid-based vaccines, peptide-based vaccines often induce only weak cytotoxic T-cell responses . When peptide antigens are taken up into antigen presenting cells, they are generally Continue reading →Customer case PCI Biotech is a biopharmaceutical company located in Norway. They are developing a novel light-based technology called photochemical internalization (PCI) that has potential to enhance delivery and efficacy of many types of therapies, including certain chemotherapies, peptide vaccines, and nucleic acid therapies. It can also decrease side effects due to improved spatiotemporal control of the treatment. The technology is currently in a pivotal clinical study for the treatment of inoperable bile duct cancer where PCI with gemcitabine is combined with standard gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy. Continue reading →

Optimizing photosensitizer administration for cancer therapy

December 11, 2021 by Modulight Content
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  Motivation While Photofrin PDT is an approved oncological therapy for multiple indications, its wider use is hindered by prolonged skin photosensitivity lasting several weeks. The aim of this study is to investigate intratumoral Photofrin administration as a way to decrease skin photosensitivity compared to the standard IV injection protocol. Tumor necrosis after PDT was assessed with immunohistochemical staining and Photofrin distributions by fluorescence microscopy.       Results   Anti-tumor efficacy was similar between intratumoral and IV administration; however, smaller doses of Photofrin were Continue reading →Customer case University of Rochester belongs among the nation’s top research universities. Research at the Baran lab focuses on anti-microbial PDT and optical image processing. The aim is to develop methods for utilizing quantitative information from CT, MR and PET imaging for PDT treatment planning as well as in the search of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Modulight products: ML7710 (630 & 665 nm) Link to the study: Timothy M. Baran (Ph.D., PI) Laser use: Ongoing clinical Phase 1 safety & feasibility study for methylene Continue reading →