Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Co-funded by the European Union, the Brighter project has set some recent world records for lab-based semiconductor lasers in the red, infrared as well as green spectra. One application that has come from this is photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment. Photodynamic therapy introduces an inactive chemotherapy drug into the patient’s body. The drug finds as well as attaches itself to cancer cells before it is activated by the laser. This results in highly effective cancer treatment that targets cancer cells to lower side effects as well as enhance the drug’s impact on tumors.

The Brighter project developed a range of lasers for various elements of the treatment as well as to activate dissimilar drugs. Red lasers were used to activate the drugs, while a blue laser showed that the drug reached the target site as well as an ultraviolet laser provided auto-fluorescent imaging of the tumor site. Studies are currently underway; promising results will likely lead to commercialization.

Other laser applications developed through the Brighter project include telecommunications bandwidth as well as best displays.

For the filled story, go to PhysOrg.com.