Laser diode coupled with optical fiber for applications in photodynamic therapy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cecchetti, Walter^{a; *} | Biolo, Roberta^b | Jori, Giulio^b

Affiliations: [a] Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica, Università di Venezia, S. Marta 2137, 30123 Venice, Italy | [b] Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, via Trieste 75, 35121 Padua, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author, Tel. 49-8286357, Fax. 49-072213.

Abstract: A diode laser with roughly 480 mW/cm2 emission at 776 nm was developed and engineered to obtain a uniform illumination of tumour cells deposited on Petri dishes having an external diameter of 5 cm. The efficacy of the apparatus in inducing photocytotoxic effects was successfully checked by irradiation of pigmented melanoma cells in the presence of a photosensitizer, Si(IV)-naphthalocyanine, having intense absorption bands at 776 nm. Our results open interesting prospects for extending photodynamic therapy to highly pigmented tumours.

Keywords: Laser diode, Optical fiber, Photodynamic therapy, Melanoma, pigmented

DOI: 10.3233/THC-1994-1305

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 219-222, 1994