Biophotonics for Non-invasive Diagnostics and Treatment

Photonics for biology and medicine has deeply rooted in the research of the group starting from 2008 and gave significant outcomes in fundamental knowledge and biomedical applications. In particular, a killing effect of the 1268-nm wavelength through singlet oxygen activation in cancer cells was discovered. In continuing this research molecular biology lab has been equipped with state-of-the-art technics and devices supporting breakthrough findings in non-photosensitizers light-oxygen-based tumour phototreatment.

This work was supported through EU-FP7 projects (FAST-DOT, MEDILASE and ABLADE). The group in collaboration with SPE “LAZMA” (Moscow, Russia) has developed a non-invasive laser-based multimodal diagnostic system utilising the Doppler-shift effect, tissue oximetry and fluorescence spectroscopy (LAKK-M). This compact and affordable device can be used in diagnosis of wide range of cardiovascular diseases and complications related to heart failure and acute ischemic stroke prognosis, inherited skin diseases (scleroderma), and solid cancers, along with type 2 diabetes foot disorder evaluations. It has already been used in studying of stress adaptive changes in the cardiovascular system of healthy volunteers and for the inflammation mechanism research on the rodents. The main application areas in medical practice also include Angiology and Physiology, Transplantation, Gastroenterology, Oncology and Radiology. This research was funded by €1.7M FP7 IAPP project called MEDILASE, and is partially funded by FP7 IDP project called PHOQUS (value €3.8M).

This novel multifunctional system is also used for Advanced diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. The project is based on results which show that cancerous cells may be identified under infrared light analysis, and infrared lasers developed here may be implemented as part of the project. This research is funded by €2.4M FP7 IAPP project called ABLADE.
Amongst our research interests is also the therapeutic potential of novel and compact near-infrared diode lasers in the context of photo-medicine, particularly in new forms of photodynamic therapy.
Recently the group was advancing in developing of the non-invasive photonic approach for Dementia and stroke cerebral blood flow monitoring based on Doppler flowmetry and 3D morphologic and hemodynamic computer modelling.