Actualités

Articles scientifiques récents sur PubMed

Ces articles sélectionnés ont été publiés sur PubMed au cours des 30 derniers jours. Ils traitent soit de laser et diagnostic, soit de laser et thérapeutique, en français ou en anglais.
Vous trouverez ici le titre, la référence bibliographique, la date de publication, les auteurs, l’abstract, et un lien menant à la base de référencement où il est possible de consulter l’article entier (gratuit ou payant selon le cas).

Opt Express. 2019 Jan 21;27(2):608-620

Authors: Fan Z, Diao X, Liu M, Zhang Y, Huang Z, Yan H

Abstract
A novel method was proposed to monitor the working state (temperature and stress) of sealing glass in electrical penetration assemblies, which was used for electrical connection in containment structures or pressure vessels of nuclear power plants, based on femto-laser inscribed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. Aging tests under thermal (~200°C) and radiation (~3.5MGy) conditions were carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of FBG in harsh environment. On-line state monitoring experiments were performed under high temperature 100~400°C and high pressure 7 MPa, referring to real conditions in the nuclear reactor. During monitoring, one FBG was embedded in sealing glass and the other was set outside the glass. Experimental and numerical results showed that the femto-laser inscribed FBG sensors could achieve simultaneous temperature and stress monitoring with good accuracy (monitoring deviation less than 10%) and transient response under harsh environment. This work set a base for the long-term real-time diagnosis of electrical penetration assembly in nuclear power plant.

PMID: 30696145 [PubMed]

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ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2019 Jan 30;:

Authors: Dong L, Zhang P, Liu X, Deng R, Du K, Feng J, Zhang H

Abstract
Recent development of precise nanomedicine has aroused overwhelming interest in integration of diagnosis and treatment for cancers. To design renal clearable and targeting nanoparticles (NPs) have specific cancer theranostics implications and it remains a challenging task. In this work, the ultrasmall folic acid and bovine serum albumin modified Bi-Bi2S3 heterostructure nanoparticles (Bi-Bi2S3/BSA&FA NPs) with excellent CT and photoacoustic imaging abilities and outstanding photothermal performance were synthesized in aqueous phase via a simple method. Bi-Bi2S3/BSA&FA NPs have the following criteria: (i) Bi-Bi2S3/BSA&FA NPs with heterostructure possess better stability than Bi NPs and higher Bi content than Bi2S3 NPs, which are conducive to the enhancement of CT imaging effect; (ii) Bi-Bi2S3/BSA&FA NPs with folic acid molecules on the surface could target the tumor site effectively; (iii) Bi-Bi2S3/BSA&FA NPs could inhibit tumor growth effectively under 808-nm laser irradiation; (iv) Ultrasmall Bi-Bi2S3/BSA&FA NPs could be cleared through kidney and liver within a reasonable time, avoiding long-term retention/toxicity. Therefore, the renal clearable Bi-Bi2S3/BSA&FA NPs are promising agent for targeting cancer theranostics.

PMID: 30698406 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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J Gen Virol. 2019 Jan 30;:

Authors: Yu Q, Liu M, Wei S, Wu S, Xiao H, Qin X, Su H, Li P

Abstract
Nervous necrosis virus (NNV), is one of the most fatal viruses in marine fish aquaculture, and is capable of infecting over 50 different fish species. Trachinotus ovatus NNV (GTONNV) was isolated from diseased golden pompano. This T. ovatus strain was isolated from Guangxi, China. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) aptamers with high specificity for GTONNV-infected T. ovatus cerebellum cells (TOCC) were produced by Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX). The characterization of these aptamers was performed using flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The selected aptamers showed significant specificity for GTONNV-infected cells. Based on MFOLD prediction, aptamers formed distinct stem-loop structures that could form the basis for the aptamers’ specific binding to their cellular targets. Protease treatment results revealed that the target molecules for aptamers TNA1, TNA4 and TNA19 within GTONNV-infected cells may be membrane proteins that were trypsin-sensitive. Specific endocytosis of aptamer TNA1, TNA4 and TNA19 into GTONNV-infected cells was also shown. The selected aptamers demonstrated antiviral effects against GTONNV both in vitro and in vivo. This is the first time that aptamers targeting GTONNV-infected T. ovatus cells have been selected and characterized. These aptamers hold promise as rapid diagnostic reagents or targeted therapeutic drugs against GTONNV.

PMID: 30698517 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Sci Rep. 2019 Jan 29;9(1):890

Authors: Shields CM, Zvonok N, Zvonok A, Makriyannis A

Abstract
Human alpha/beta hydrolase domain 6 (hABHD6) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), a potent agonist at both cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors. In vivo modulation of ABHD6 expression has been shown to have potential therapeutic applications, making the enzyme a promising drug target. However, the lack of structural information on hABHD6 limits the discovery and design of selective inhibitors. We have performed E. coli expression, purification and activity profiling screening of different hABHD6 constructs and identified a truncated variant without N-terminal transmembrane (TM) domain, hΔ29-3-ABHD6, as the most promising protein for further characterization. The elimination of the TM domain did not affect 2-AG or fluorogenic arachidonoyl, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-4-methylcoumarin ester (AHMMCE) substrates hydrolysis, suggesting that the TM is not essential for enzyme catalytic activity. The hΔ29-3-ABHD6 variant was purified in a single step using Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC), in-solution trypsin digested, and proteomically characterized by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The N-terminal peptide without methionine was identified indicating on a post-translational modification of the recombinant protein. The mechanism of inhibition of hABHD6 with AM6701 and WWL70 covalent probes was elucidated based on MS analysis of trypsin digested hABHD6 following the Ligand Assisted Protein Structure (LAPS) approach. We identified the carbamylated peptides containing catalytic serine (Ser148) suggesting a selective carbamylation of the enzyme by AM6701 or WWL70 and confirming an essential role of this residue in catalysis. The ability to produce substantial quantities of functional, pure hABHD6 will aid in the downstream structural characterization, and development of potent, selective inhibitors.

PMID: 30696836 [PubMed – in process]

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Sci Rep. 2019 Jan 29;9(1):887

Authors: Nima ZA, Watanabe F, Jamshidi-Parsian A, Sarimollaoglu M, Nedosekin DA, Han M, Watts JA, Biris AS, Zharov VP, Galanzha EI

Abstract
Nanoparticles from magnetotactic bacteria have been used in conventional imaging, drug delivery, and magnetic manipulations. Here, we show that these natural nanoparticles and their bioinspired hybrids with near-infrared gold nanorods and folic acid can serve as molecular high-contrast photoacoustic probes for single-cell diagnostics and as photothermal agents for single-cell therapy using laser-induced vapor nanobubbles and magnetic field as significant signal and therapy amplifiers. These theranostics agents enable the detection and photomechanical killing of triple negative breast cancer cells that are resistant to conventional chemotherapy, with just one or a few low-energy laser pulses. In studies in vivo, we discovered that circulating tumor cells labeled with the nanohybrids generate transient ultrasharp photoacoustic resonances directly in the bloodstream as the basis for new super-resolution photoacoustic flow cytometry in vivo. These properties make natural and bioinspired magnetic nanoparticles promising biocompatible, multimodal, high-contrast, and clinically relevant cellular probes for many in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications.

PMID: 30696936 [PubMed – in process]

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Efficacy and possible mechanisms of botulinum toxin treatment of oily skin.

J Cosmet Dermatol. 2019 Jan 29;:

Authors: Shuo L, Ting Y, KeLun W, Rui Z, Rui Z, Hang W

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Oily skin is one of the most common dermatological complaints. Oily skin may be accompanied by enlarged pores, acne, and seborrheic dermatitis. Moreover, oily skin has negative effects on self-perception. Most therapeutic approaches used to treat oily skin have had varying degrees of efficacy and include topical treatments, such as photodynamic therapy and lasers. However, certain of these therapies for oily skin may lead to severe side effects. With the expanding use and high safety profile of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), its use in the treatment of oily skin has caused significant concerns; moreover, relevant reports have gradually accumulated to address the efficacy of BoNT-A and explore its mechanisms of action.
AIMS: The objective of this article was to review the efficacy and possible treatment mechanisms of BoNT-A on oily skin.
METHODS: A retrospective review of the published data was conducted.
RESULTS: Most studies have suggested that the intradermal injection of BoNT-A decreased sebum production and pore size. Furthermore, this treatment attained high patient satisfaction without significant side effects. BoNT-A effectively decreased sebum production and excretion, which was in keeping with previous studies, possibly via its blockade of cholinergic signaling and its neuromodulatory effects.
CONCLUSIONS: Intradermal BoNT-A injection may represent a promising new treatment for oily skin and other relevant dermatological problems, such as enlarged pores, acne, and seborrheic dermatitis. Further study is still needed to determine the specific mechanisms of BoNT-A and the optimal injection techniques and doses for oily skin and other relevant cosmetic concerns.

PMID: 30697928 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Actualités 2019

Présentation annuelle lors de Photonics West (San Francisco, Février 2019) de l’analyse du marché du laser par Strategic Unlimited.

Extrait pour la partie lasers médicaux. La globalité de l’analyse dans “Laser Focus World » de Janvier 2019

Medical and aesthetic

The sale of lasers for medical applications continued its upward trend in 2018, with cosmetic and dermatology applications leading the sector. In its March 2018 aesthetic laser market forecast, laser components and solutions provider Lasertel (Tucson, AZ) noted78 that growth in this segment is being driven in large part by the replacement of gas lasers by small, energy-efficient diode lasers. But Lasertel’s report also notes that growth because of technological advances and decreased treatment cost pales in comparison to that arising from consumer demand for laser skin treatment (such as tattoo, wrinkle, hair, and scar removal and skin lightening).

At 20% growth from 2016 to 2017, Asia is at the forefront of aesthetic laser treatments (facilitated by the addition of Taiwan and Korea as medical tourism destinations). In Europe, the Middle East, and portions of Africa (areas that have previously not embraced aesthetics), the laser aesthetics market grew 16%.

Such growth has attracted the interest of investors, as demonstrated by multiple acquisitions in 2018. In September, Syneron Candela (Wayland, MA) acquired Ellipse (Denmark), a privately held company (financial terms were not disclosed) known for its Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and laser-based platforms for medical and aesthetic dermatologic applications. The acquisition strengthens Syneron Candela’s position in multi-application, multi-technology devices. A key Ellipse product is an IPL-and-Nd:YAG platform targeting vascular and pigmented lesions, hair removal, and (with a fractionated 1550 nm add-on handpiece) skin resurfacing. Incidentally, the provision of systems to address multiple specific applications is a trend in product development—not only in aesthetics, but also in surgical lasers.

In November 2018, private equity firm CVC Capital Partners (Luxembourg) was nearing finalization of its acquisition79 of medical and aesthetic laser company Lumenis (Yokneam, Israel). The deal is valued at roughly $950 million, compared to the approximately $510 million paid for the company in 2015 by another private equity firm, XIO (London, England). For fiscal year 2014, Lumenis’ last as a public company, the firm reported $289 million in revenue. The company’s current annual sales are reportedly around $500 million, which represents entry into new medical markets.

Growth in the aesthetic sector was also facilitated by a number of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals that expand dermatology applications: Alma Lasers (Caesarea, Israel) was approved for its three-wavelengths-in-one compact applicator; Syneron Candela won clearance for its 595 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) cosmetic device that adds a 1064 nm wavelength to treat a broad range of skin conditions; and Lutronic (Korea) was cleared for its device offering pico- and nanosecond modes with precise control over pulsewidth, wavelength, and fluence for cases that have resisted other Nd:YAG treatments. Strata Skin Sciences (Horsham Township, PA), which reported Q3 2018 revenues of $7.9 million (an increase of 8% over 2017), received approval for an excimer laser tip able to custom-filter narrowband UVB light for a maximum non-blistering dose. And Korean developer Hironic got clearance for its hybrid acne treatment device that pairs a 1450 nm diode laser with bipolar radiofrequency and cryogenic cooling.

Hair restoration received a number of FDA approvals in 2018 as well, including the Theradome (Pleasanton, CA) LH80 PRO (now approved for men), the HairMax (Boca Raton, FL) RegrowMD for treatment of androgenetic alopecia in both men and women, and the InMode (Lake Forest, CA) Triton, the only device to provide concurrent emission from the three most-popular hair-removal lasers—alexandrite, diode, and Nd:YAG.

But the FDA’s influence on the laser aesthetics market wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine. On July 30, 2018, it issued a warning concerning systems it had approved for treatment of “serious conditions like the destruction of abnormal or precancerous cervical or vaginal tissue…” saying that the “FDA has serious concerns about the use of these devices to treat gynecological conditions beyond those for which the devices have been approved or cleared.” The agency was targeting the marketing of such products for “vaginal rejuvenation” procedures and stated that adverse event reports and published literature highlighted numerous cases of burns, scarring, and recurring or chronic pain.

The agency notified seven device manufacturers (Alma Lasers, BTL Industries, Cynosure, InMode, Sciton, Thermigen, and Venus Concept) of concerns about inappropriate marketing. The manufacturers—and providers of such services—were quick to respond, and even National Public Radio weighed in,80 saying that gynecologists have reported good results from CO2 lasers in particular.

The FDA delivered another wake-up call to manufacturers of laser-based biomedical systems. In April 2018, following Medtronic’s (Minneapolis, MN) Class 2 recall of its Visualase Cooled Laser Applicator System (VCLAS) for MRI-guided laser brain surgery, the FDA issued a Class I recall (the most serious type) for Monteris Medical’s (also in Minneapolis) NeuroBlate MRI-guided ablation system because of unexpected heating of laser delivery probes. Soon afterward, the FDA issued a general warning about the risk of tissue overheating during use of such systems, owing to inaccurate magnetic resonance thermometry. To address the problem, the manufacturers provided guidance to users, and Monteris obtained 510(k) clearance for a fiber-optic-controlled, cooling-equipped laser probe.

Additional FDA approvals in 2018 included a laser endomicroscopy system for use in neurosurgery from Mauna Kea Technologies (Paris, France); a Lensar (Orlando, FL) laser for presbyopia treatment and another from Carl Zeiss Meditec (Jena, Germany) that extends laser-based myopia treatment to patients with astigmatism; the first 355 nm laser for clearing plaques responsible for peripheral artery disease from Eximo Medical (Rehovot, Israel); and a Multi Radiance Medical (Solon, OH) system for neck and shoulder pain relief that uses advanced laser diodes to “super pulse” up to 50 W of power (more than most Class IV lasers) and aims to maximize treatment by discouraging the body from adapting to its effects.

Acquisitions were also numerous in 2018, demonstrating heightened anticipation of growth in the medical laser industry. In October 2018, Novanta (Bedford, MA) completed its purchase of Laser Quantum (Manchester, England), supplier of solid-state and ultrafast laser sources to medical OEMs. The $45.7 million deal is a follow-on to Novanta’s (formerly GSI Group) January 2017 increase in Laser Quantum’s equity stake to 76%.

In a deal valued at $28 million, optics and photonics supplier Gooch & Housego (G&H; London, England) acquired Integrated Technologies (ITL; Ashford, England), maker of medical devices including in vitro diagnostic tools. The August purchase helps fulfill some of G&H’s strategic goals: ITL business will double G&H’s existing life sciences revenues, and the company’s system-based products move G&H “up the value chain.”

Also in August, fiber and CO2 laser manufacturer OmniGuide (Cambridge, MA) acquired Lisa Laser (Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany), maker of thulium and holmium lasers for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)—an application area of growing importance, given that it was also an area of investment for Boston Scientific (Marlborough, MA), provider of the Greenlight XPS Laser Therapy system and holmium platforms.

While dental lasers are still a minor player in the field of laser medicine, their total revenues rose dramatically in 2018. Biolase (Irvine, CA), which calls itself the global leader in dental lasers, reported that U.S. laser revenue for Q3 2018 had increased 22% year-over-year. In its Southern California Model Market, laser revenue increased 127% year-over-year for the quarter and 175% over the last two quarters—growth the company attributed to “early success as we test different go-to-market approaches.” Biolase also announced a partnership with the Dallas Mavericks basketball team to raise awareness on the benefits of dental lasers.

Considering the future of the laser market, Praveen Arany, president of the World Association of Laser Therapy (WALT),81 points to the first-ever congressional briefing on “innovative medical technologies for pain management”82 and subsequent passage of the Opioid Crisis Response Act (OCRA) of 2018, mandating development and adoption of pain treatment alternatives as an indicator of what’s to come for new applications. “There is tremendous excitement about photobiomodulation for pain management and oral mucositis,” he said, referencing commercial opportunities for laser treatment of opioid addiction and painful ulcers in chemo-radiation-transplant oncology patients. Indeed, even macroeconomic softening cannot deflate the ever-expanding medical laser markets for 2019 and beyond.

Medical & aesthetic

Includes all lasers used for ophthalmology (including refractive surgery and photocoagulation), surgical, dental, therapeutic, skin, hair, and other aesthetic applications.

In 2018, sales of lasers for medical purposes had a great year after a very strong 2017. Cosmetic and dermatology lasers had the strongest showing, driven by positive economic conditions in most regions—and especially in Asia.

 

Applications include tattoo, wrinkle, hair, and scar removal, and skin lightening. Dental laser sales were also up sharply in 2018, but in terms of total revenue, remain a relatively small medical application—only 6% of the total medical laser revenue. After a great 2017, surgical laser revenue had a good showing in 2018. The most exciting part of the surgical laser business is the expansion of its use: a surgeon who uses a laser for one procedure is more likely to feel comfortable with it for other types of surgery, advancing the probability of its purchase by a surgeon for its practice. In addition, laser light, and disposable laser probes, are less likely to carry germs between patients and usually don’t require sterilization.

Actualités 2018

Optics Letters, Vol. 43,Issue 4, pp. 671-674,(2018)

Fiber Bragg gratings

 


Design could enable new types of in-body sensors for biomedical research and treatments
 

For the first time, researchers have fabricated sensing elements known as fiber Bragg gratings inside optical fibers designed to dissolve completely inside the body. The bioresorbable fiber Bragg gratings could be used for in-body monitoring of bone fracture healing and for safer exploration of sensitive organs such as the brain.

A fiber Bragg grating is an optical element inscribed in an optical fiber, which is widely used as a sensing instrument. Although fiber Bragg gratings are commonly used for applications such as real-time monitoring of the structural health of bridges or tracking the integrity of airplane wings, until now they didn’t exhibit characteristics preferred for use in the body. With a design that allows them to break down similarly to dissolvable stitches, the new glass fibers should be safe for patients even if they accidently break, according to the researchers.

“Our work paves the way toward optical fiber sensors that can be safely inserted into the human body,” said Maria Konstantaki, a member of the research team from the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) of the Foundation of Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Greece, that fabricated and characterized the new gratings. “Because they dissolve, these sensors don’t need to be removed after use and would enable new ways to perform efficient treatments and diagnoses in the body.”

The FORTH researchers collaborated with scientists from the Politecnico di Torino and Istituto Superiore Mario Boella, Italy, who developed, fabricated and characterized the special optical fiber used for the work. In The Optical Society (OSA) journal Optics Letters, the researchers show that gratings etched into the bioresorbable glass fiber dissolve under conditions simulating those of the human body.

The new bioresorbable optical fiber Bragg gratings could be used to sense pressure at joints or act as tiny probes that can safely reach and assess the heart and other delicate organs. Laser-based techniques for removing tumors might also be improved with these optical fiber gratings, which could simultaneously deliver the laser beam and provide the accurate real-time temperature sensing necessary to monitor the laser ablation process.

“This is the first time that a widely used and well-calibrated optical element such as a Bragg grating has been etched into a bioresorbable optical fiber,” said Konstantaki. “Our approach could potentially be used to create various types of interconnected structures in or on bioresorbable optical fibers, allowing a wide range of sensing and biochemical analysis techniques to be performed inside the body.”

Making glass that dissolves
To create optical fiber Bragg gratings that could be safely used in the body, the researchers developed a special type of glass made of phosphorous oxide combined with oxides of calcium, magnesium, sodium and silicon. “This glass combines excellent optical properties with biocompatibility and water solubility, thus providing a reliable platform from which to make optical fibers that dissolve in water or biological fluids,” said Daniel Milanese from Politecnico di Torino. “The properties of the optical fibers can be tuned by properly changing the glass composition.”

Optical fiber Bragg gratings are created by using a laser to inscribe an optical fiber with a pattern that causes the fiber to reflect a specific wavelength back in the direction from which it came. A type of grating known as tilted optical fiber Bragg grating allows some of the reflected light to escape from the fiber core and enter into the surrounding cladding. Tilted gratings are often used for sensing because changes on the fiber cylindrical surface modify the back-reflected light in a way that can be monitored.

The researchers created both tilted and standard optical fiber Bragg gratings to better understand how the parameters used for inscription affected the grating sensing characteristics. They found that exposing the bioresorbable fiber to ultraviolet laser light with a given spatial intensity distribution — which describes how the laser beam power is distributed — created a corresponding surface relief pattern in the optical fiber volume after dissolution.

“This finding paves the way for new applications of these types of materials, particularly in the fiber form,” said Stavros Pissadakis, who leads the FORTH group. “Complex fluidic or optical structures could be created using lasers to make a device with a host of tailored functionalities.”

After confirming that the patterns created by the inscription process operated as a fiber Bragg grating, the researchers immersed fibers with and without fiber Bragg gratings into a solution simulating the pH and temperature conditions of the human body for 56 hours. They found that the glass that had been etched with laser light dissolved faster than unexposed glass.

The researchers are now performing systematic experiments to better understand how thefiber composition and ultraviolet laser irradiation conditions affect the speed at which the fiber Bragg grating dissolves. This information could be used to create fiber Bragg gratings that dissolve within a specific time period. Before being used in people, the dissolving and sensing properties of the fiber Bragg gratings will need to be studied in animals.

Février 2018

SOURCE: Photonics21

02/08/2018
Posted by Gail Overton
Senior Editor

Instant diagnosis of major diseases, the eradication of all road accidents, and the creation of 1 million new jobs in Europe are some of the benefits that will be generated by the Photonics sector by 2030 according to a new vision paper published by Photonics21.

The vision paper, « Europe’s Age of Light, » sets out a new strategy for the future of European photonics highlighting what could be achieved if this technology is maintained by the EU as a key funding priority in FP9. The paper was created through consultation with the photonics community, including more than 1700 companies and research organizations.

RELATED ARTICLE: Photonics21 releases roadmap to photonics research and innovation priorities

The paper demonstrates how photonics or light-based technologies are critical to enabling a future where driverless vehicles can eradicate road accidents, where advanced healthcare diagnostics allow instant detection of disease, and where industrial production will be revolutionized creating 1 million new jobs by 2030.

Photonics21 President Aldo Kamper said, « The Photonics21 Vision Paper highlights what Europe could achieve if we have continued support from the EU through FP9: sustained economic growth, up to 1 million new jobs, improved healthcare, and a driverless vehicle revolution. The photon will do for the twenty first century what the electron did for the twentieth. We are already at the forefront of this technological revolution: harnessing the power of light to solve our greatest global challenges. » He continues, « As light particles, or photons, replace electrons in many of our most important technologies, innovations in the pipeline are improving healthcare, growing food, saving energy, reducing pollution, expanding connectivity, transforming manufacturing and ushering in a new era of mobility. »

The Vision Paper highlights how European leadership in photonics will deliver wide-ranging benefits by 2030 including:

Transport – In 2030, mobility will be based on multimodal transport where driving will be automated, connected and electric to maximize safety, efficiency, and comfort. Photonics provides essential components, systems and production tools for all aspects of connected mobility, from driver assistance and traffic monitoring to photonics-based IT and telecommunications.

Health – In 2030, healthcare will be fast, precise, and cost-effective. Advanced diagnostics, pervasive monitoring and innovative e-health applications will be able to detect body signals, symptoms and diseases early on. Treatment will be targeted, minimally invasive and increasingly effective, reducing disability and mortality from cancer, strokes and other major diseases. Diagnosis and treatment will be delivered instantly at the point of care, thanks to the new science of « theranostics. » With the help of these and other innovations, Europe will keep an ageing population healthy and fit.
Jobs – In 2030, European factories will be fast, green and flexible. Photonics technology, including lasers, sensors and 3D displays, will revolutionize industrial production and working environments, making manufacturing more innovative, cost-competitive and resource-efficient. A fully digital value chain from supplier to customer will give birth to new forms of collaboration and customization, new services and new business models – all of which will strengthen Europe’s industrial base and create up to 1 million new jobs.

Food – In 2030, the technology to feed the world, to push back food-borne illness, and to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture will exist. Photonics will help supply safe, nutritious and affordable food for all and establish a sustainable value chain from farm to fork. By using more precise sensors and measuring devices, farmers, food processors and ordinary consumers will be able to monitor and certify the safety, quality, content and even the origin of food – anytime and anywhere.

The paper also outlines the potential for Europe to increase its market share. The global photonics market is poised to grow to 615 billion euro by 2020. With a share of 15.5%, Europe is the world’s second-biggest supplier of photonics after China. However, with Chinese research and development currently focusing on photovoltaics, displays, lighting, and other commodity products, Europe is the center of global photonics innovation today.

« If Europe can stay at the forefront of photonics innovation and capitalize on fast-expanding global markets, a tripling of European production to more than EUR 200 billion by 2030 is realistic, » said Kamper.

With over 10% of the sector’s revenues spent on R&D and with European photonics clusters linking companies with universities, research facilities and public-sector agencies across disciplines, industrial sectors and countries, the report shows that the European photonics industry is committed to achieving its goals.

« We are taking a proactive stance » said Kamper, « but in order to achieve these goals, a number of specific measures will be needed: a European strategy for photonics leadership must be created and implemented. A coordinated strategy involving all public and private stakeholders creates the momentum and unleashes the broad spill-over effects needed to address global challenges, exploit future markets and create jobs in Europe. »

Kamper believes that the education and training of tomorrow’s specialists today cannot be over emphasized. « Measures should include a coordinated public-private plan to define skill sets and curricula for professions in photonics. The harnessing of light should be a flagship science in schools, universities and across the education system, » he says. « Boosting opportunities for entrepreneurship in the photonics sector is essential. Access to risk finance must be improved by establishing a Europe-wide fund for photonics start-up, growth and bridge capital. Europe needs to speed up the uptake of technology and its translation into new products and services, » Kamper said.

Présentation annuelle lors de Photonics West (San Francisco, Février 2018) de l’analyse du marché du laser par Strategic Unlimited. Extrait pour la partie lasers médicaux.

Medical and aesthetic

Février 2018

As has been the case for many years, aesthetic applications of lasers continue to be the primary driver for this market, which again saw record levels in 2017. Applications include tattoo, wrinkle, scar, and hair removal; fat reduction/body sculpting; and skin lightening. The U.S. and Europe are the largest markets here and both were especially strong, as were emerging areas like China and India.

The aesthetic market has become so attractive it is prompting investment from companies not usually associated with it. In early 2017, Hologic (Marlborough, MA)—best known for its presence in women’s imaging—spent $1.65 billion to acquire Cynosure,70 a market leader in aesthetic applications of lasers, with products ranging from laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation to body sculpting. Founded in 1991, Cynosure (Westford, MA) reported revenues of $434 million in 2016. According to Hologic, the medical aesthetics segment currently exceeds $2 billion globally and is expected to grow at a low-double-digit rate over the next several years.

MEDICAL & AESTHETIC

Includes all lasers used for ophthalmology (including refractive surgery and photocoagulation), surgical, dental, therapeutic, skin, hair, and other cosmetic applications.

In 2016, sales of lasers used for medical purposes hit record levels, but in 2017, medical lasers in some areas sold even better. For the most part, the actual medical application determined how great medical laser sales were.

Strongest were medical lasers used for beauty and aesthetic applications. Applications here include tattoo, wrinkle, and hair removal, skin resurfacing, and skin lightening. For the most part, these are applications not covered by insurance. The U.S. and Europe are the largest markets here and both were especially strong, as were some emerging areas like China and India.

A second strong area was surgical lasers. For certain types of surgery, like heart, oral, and prostate surgery, lasers are proving that they can produce better outcomes at less total cost. The future for this application looks better every year.

With regard to using a laser for dental and eye applications, these two areas were flat in 2017. The lasers used for eye surgery gained lots of popularity at the same time laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and similar photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) became popular. The number of these surgeries performed peaked in 2007 at about 1.5 million. Since then, the numbers have dropped to less than half as many and continue to drop. Adoption of lasers by dentists has remained slow.

« Acquiring Cynosure will accelerate our transformation into a higher-growth company by leveraging our core women’s health expertise and OB/GYN channel leadership, » said Steve MacMillan, Hologic chairman, president and CEO. « We had identified medical aesthetics as an attractive and complementary growth opportunity. »

Another pioneer in the aesthetic laser market, Syneron-Candela (Wayland, MA), was also acquired in 2017 by the private equity firm Apax Partners71 for $395 million. « We have identified the medical aesthetics market as a highly attractive investment area given its long-term growth prospects, » said Steven Dyson, partner and co-head of healthcare at Apax (London, England). Syneron purchased Candela, then a competitor, in 2009 for $65 million.

Among aesthetic applications, body sculpting—a technique that typically involves low-level laser therapy in the 532–680 nm range—led the league in 2017. In a direct challenge to Hologic’s acquisition of Cynosure, biopharmaceutical giant Allergan (Dublin, Ireland) acquired Zeltiq Aesthetics for $2.5 billion.72 While Zeltiq’s fat-reducing technique does not use lasers, Allergan clearly sees the opportunity in what is said to be a $4 billion worldwide market. Cutera (Brisbane, CA), another player in this space, saw its 2017 third-quarter revenues increase 26%73 to a record $38.2 million, primarily because of 57% growth in North America systems revenue. It was the company’s 13th consecutive quarter of year-over-year double-digit revenue growth.

Sales of surgical lasers were also positive in 2017. For certain types of surgery (notably cardiovascular, urology, and gynecological), lasers continue to prove that they can produce better outcomes at less total cost, resulting in projected global market growth of more than 9% CAGR by 2021. For example, biolitec (Wien, Germany)—a German firm known for its laser-based phlebology, proctology, and gynecology surgical systems—introduced XCAVATOR,74 a laser fiber that the company says provides the fastest tissue ablation for benign prostatic hyperplasia laser surgery. And in a sign of the anticipated continued health of this market segment, in 2017 Philips (Amsterdam, Netherlands) paid $2 billion to acquire Spectranetics,75 whose product portfolio includes the only excimer-laser based system for the treatment of peripheral and coronary heart disease.

Finally, while many dental and ophthalmic applications remain popular, sales of laser systems for these treatments were flat in 2017. Even so, ophthalmic laser manufacturer Iridex (Mountain View, CA) saw an 11% increase year-over-year76 in its Q3 revenues to $10.9 million. Meanwhile, dental-laser provider Biolase (Irvine, CA) reported revenues of $10.8 million77 for the third quarter of FY2017, down from $13.2 million in the same quarter of FY2016. Biolase said its system sales were negatively impacted by the natural disasters in Florida and Texas, in addition to short-term declines driven by a sales-force reorganization and downsizing.

Looking ahead, emerging application areas such as neurophotonics78 and optogenetics79 are benefitting from some serious investment. In October, the National Institutes of Health announced funding for 110 new awards80 totaling $169 million for the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, bringing the total 2017 funding investment for this program to $260 million. In addition, the 21st Century Cures Act, passed in December 2016, dedicates $1.6 billion to the initiative through 2026.

Launched in 2013, the BRAIN Initiative is a large-scale effort to push the boundaries of neuroscience research and equip scientists with the tools and insights needed to study and treat brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury—tools that include cellular-resolution optogenetic laser stimulation81 to relate neuronal operations to human behaviors.

La société Texinov avait présenté son futur produit au congrès de la SFLM en 2017, le développement du produit s’achève et le marquage CE est en cours.

Laser fabric cures skin diseases

20 février 2018 from Laser Focus World

Posted by Gail Overton , Senior Editor


A light-emitting cloth activates a photosensitizer to treat numerous skin conditions with nearly no pain. (Image credit: Texinov)

French scientists at Texinov (http://www.texinov.fr) have developed a knitted laser fabric that blasts the skin with light, giving treatment to enflamed skin or lesions over a 2 and a half hour appointment. Heralded as a miracle cure by users in clinical trials, the company says that the painless laser fabric will be the quickest device on the market at eradicating unwanted skin conditions, with no side effects.

Initially developed to improve the treatment of Actinic Keratosis–rough, scaly patches on the skin that develop from years of exposure to the sun–the light-emitting textile can treat and even cure a number of skin complaints such as acne, Paget’s disease, psoriasis, and other disease like baby jaundice. Going by the name FLUXMEDICARE the new laser fabric was made in collaboration with a pan-European health consortium PHOS-ISTOS.

It works by covering the affected area with a photosensitizer cream and then wrapping the skin with the light-emitting textile. Optical fibers knitted into the fabric then speed up the reaction between oxygen and the cream beneath the skin.

Dr. Nadege Boucard, R&D GM at Texinov, explains, « FLUXMEDICARE is unprecedented in the field of treating skin conditions. Since the lighting textile wraps around the unique, individual contours of a patient, the emitted light in our device is the same at every part of the body under treatment, meaning the beams are homogenous. »

Prior to FLUXMEDICARE the only technology used to treat skin ailments such as actinic keratosis came in the form of photodynamic therapy (PDT) where a patient would stand under a lamp blasted with light from a flat pane. With the intensity of the treatment, this previous technology would cause severe pain and even redness to the skin. « Previous PDT was unsatisfactory in many ways. » Boucard adds, « Not only did patients report a pain ranking of at least 7/10 as well as burns and redness persisting for several days, but also, coming from a flat source, a lot of the emitted light was ‘lost’. »

During the clinical trials with INSERM Onco Thai Lab-CHRU Lille and Klinikum Vest in Germany, patients reported an average pain ranking on the FLUXMEDICARE device of between 0 and 1 out of ten. « The fact that we had a near 90% drop in pain levels compared to the previous technology, and the same efficacy was really promising. FLUXMEDICARE is easy to use for both the patient and the clinician: since you don’t need to be protected from the laser treatment, you can put your feet up and watch TV during the treatment, » said Boucard.

For the medical team the new FLUXMEDICARE device comes relatively cheap. The old technology would cost anything from around $18,500 dollars for the lamp and protective gear and requiring a dedicated set up in a hospital room or within a dermatologist’s surgery. However, the new laser system currently costs around 1/3 of the price of its predecessor.

The PHOS-ISTOS consortium secured a grant of nearly $3 million dollars from the European Commission under the CIP funding program, and is comprised of participants from five European countries: (France) Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, Centre Hospitalier de Lille, EREO Sas, Ecole Nationale Superieure Arts Industries Textiles, Universite de Lille II – Droit et Sante, Deltaval Sarl; (Germany) Klinikum Vest Gmbh; (Finland) Fluence Theraputics OY, Modulight OY; (Italy) Consorzio per la Promozione della Cultura Plastica Proplast; (Netherlands) Reden B.V.

The team at PHOS-ISTOS expects to have their product ready for commercial uptake in April 2018.

Juin 2018

Lors du congrès SFLM de janvier 2017, MDB Texinov nous avait présenté le développement de son produit basé sur les études des équipes de Lille Serge Mordon (Inserm Lille) et Pr Mortier (CHU Lille) et du Pr. Markus Szeimies (Klinikum Vest, Recklinghausen). Le dispositif médical pour le traitement de la K.A. et autres pathologies dermatologiques est aujourd’hui commercialisé et vous pouvez voir une vidéo ici.

Juin 2018

Poietis qui nous avait fait une remarquable conférence lors du congrès 2017 vient de franchir une étape importante dans son développement :

Poietis boucle un tour de table de 5M€ afin d’accélérer les développements de sa plateforme de bio-impression de tissus biologiques pour la fabrication de lots cliniques.

Poietis, spécialiste de la bio-impression, annonce avoir bouclé un tour de table de série A de 5M€ pour financer les développements technologiques qui permettraient les premières implantations de tissus bio-imprimés chez un patient dès 2021. Cette opération est notamment réalisée par le biais d’une nouvelle collecte record sur la plate-forme de financement participatif WiSEED, l’entrée au capital du fond Nouvelle Aquitaine Co-investissement et l’aide obtenue dans le cadre du Concours Mondial d’Innovation.

Poietis se dote ainsi de moyens financiers qui vont lui permettre d’accélérer ses développements technologiques visant à rendre sa plate-forme de bio-impression 4D de tissus biologiques compatible avec les exigences réglementaires et les Bonnes Pratiques de Fabrication (BPF) de médicaments de thérapie innovante. Le but sera notamment d’assurer la reproductibilité, la standardisation et la traçabilité du procédé de fabrication tout en assurant la sécurité biologique des tissus bio-imprimés qui pourraient être implantés chez les patients dès 2021. Poietis espère conforter ainsi son leadership et prendre une part significative du marché de la bio-impression, estimé à près de 800 millions d’€ en 2022 et 2.5 milliards d’€ en 2024 (source).