Published in: Nature Reviews Bioengineering Authors: Girgis Obaid, University of Texas at Dallas Jonathan P. Celli, University of Massachusetts Boston Mans Broekgaarden, Grenoble Alpes University Anne-Laure Bulin, Grenoble Alpes University Petteri Uusimaa, Modulight Corporation Brian Pogue, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine Tayyaba Hasan, Harvard Medical School Huang-Chiao Huang, University of Maryland   The review article explores the advanced applications of PDT, a photochemistry-based treatment approach that utilizes light-activated photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species for localized cellular cytotoxicity. The paper discusses the underlying mechanisms Continue reading →

Published in: eBioMedicine Authors: Hiroshi Fukushima, Aki Furusawa, Seiichiro Takao, Siddharth S. Matikonda, Makoto Kano, Shuhei Okuyama, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Peter L. Choyke, Martin J. Schnermann, Hisataka Kobayashi A new method called phototruncation-assisted cell tracking (PACT) can be used to noninvasively track migration of immune cells to understand anti-cancer immunity mechanisms. PACT is based on irreversible photo-induced truncation reaction, transforming Cy7 into Cy5 when exposed to NIR light (780 nm). PACT was used in this study to monitor spatiotemporal migration of immune cells between tumor and Continue reading →

Published in: Advanced Science Authors: John A. Quinlan, Collin T. Inglut, Payal Srivastava, Idrisa Rahman, Jillian Stabile, Brandon Gaitan, Carla Arnau Del Valle, Kaylin Baumiller, Anandita Gaur, Wen-An Chiou, Baktiar Karim, Nina Connolly, Robert W. Robey, Graeme F. Woodworth, Michael M. Gottesman, Huang-Chiao Huang University of Maryland Glioblastoma (GBM) is hard to treat due to cellular invasion into functioning brain tissues, limited drug delivery, and evolved treatment resistance. Recurrence is nearly universal even after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves photosensitizer administration followed by light activation to generate reactive oxygen species at tumor sites, thereby killing cells or Continue reading →

Published in: Cell & Bioscience Authors: Aaron Sorrin, Anika Dasgupta, Kathryn McNaughton, Carla Arnau Del Valle, Keri Zhou, Cindy Liu, Dana M. Roque & Huang Chiao Huang Within the last decade, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) have emerged in the clinic as an effective treatment for numerous malignancies. Preclinical data have demonstrated powerful combination effects of PARPi paired with photodynamic therapy (PDT), which involves light-activation of specialized dyes (photosensitizers) to stimulate cancer cell death through reactive oxygen species generation. In this study, a novel combination strategy was Continue reading →

Published in: QUANTUM WEST SPIE 2024 Authors: Kostiantyn Nechay, Luukas Kuusela, Pekko Sipilä, Kalle Palomäki, Petteri Uusimaa Quantum information processing (QIP) approach based on trapped ions is a promising technology that exploits different ion species as individual qubits and qubit gates, while featuring long coherence times, high fidelity of operations, fast readout, and ion-ion gate entanglement. The practical usefulness of trapped-ion quantum computer depends on its further scaling to a large number of qubits. Meanwhile, trapped-ion quantum computer relies on a set of single-frequency lasers, utilizing Continue reading →

Published in: QUANTUM WEST SPIE 2024 Authors: Riina Ulkuniemi, Luukas Kuusela, Mika Mähönen, Timo Aho, Jussi Hämelahti, Andreas Schramm, Soile Talmila, Pekko Sipilä, Petteri Uusimaa Laser systems are utilized in quantum for various applications. Multiple wavelengths and tailored solutions are required depending on the technology that the laser will be applied to. For instance, lasers can be used for controlling particles and molecules, including excitations of the quantum systems. Key performance requirements for lasers used in these applications include narrow linewidth, frequency stability, and single-frequency Continue reading →

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disease causing choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and consequent irreversible damage in the macula. AMD is classified into dry (atrophic) and wet (exudative) forms, with the latter causing faster vision loss and being the leading cause of blindness in people over 65. Introduction to AMD Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes for  visual impairment. AMD is charactirized by development of Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and consequent irreversible damage in the macula. CNV means abnormal Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

Customer case Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Group at University of Helsinki is specialized in top-level pharmaceutical research. Led by Professor Timo Laaksonen, the group focuses 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 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 →

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 →

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – August 2024 This month’s research highlight goes to Hirofumi Hanaoka and the team at Kansai Medical University, Japan. They developed a new laser fiber and method for illumination of narrow cavities, such as esophagus. With typical laser fibers, it is difficult to precisely illuminate target tumor in a narrow space at an oblique angle, since there is not enough space for fiber bending. The new lateral (side) emitting laser fiber was developed and evaluated for near-infrared photoimmunotherapy, which combines light, Continue reading →

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – July 2024 Exciting new findings in prostate cancer research were reported by Xinning Wang and team at Case Western University, Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and despite typically good prognosis, is a leading cause of cancer-related death. In the new study, the team combined chemotherapy with a novel light-activated, theranostic agent to enable targeted imaging and treatment of prostate cancer. Using ML7710 laser at 672 nm for activation of the drug, they were Continue reading →

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – June 2024 A promising new therapy against viruses was developed at University of Manitoba and Theralase Technologies. Infectious agents are a global problem, causing millions of deaths every year. The study evaluated antiviral effectiveness of a cancer drug (Ruvidar), which is currently in clinical development for bladder cancer. When this drug was activated with green laser using Modulight’s ML6600, it resulted in a rapid elimination of many different human viruses. Impressively, it was >99% effective at low doses in inactivating human coronavirus, influenza Continue reading →

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – May 2024 A new publication by Professor Bryan Spring and his team at Northeastern University has shown promising results for improved photoimmunotherapy protocols using patient-derived ovarian cancer cells. Using Modulight’s ML6000-series laser as part of the new protocol, they successfully minimized non-specific damage to cells that was caused by a small fraction of non-covalently bound (free) photosensitive drug, which is typically cleared in vivo by lymph and blood flow. They also showed the importance of using more biologically relevant cancer Continue reading →

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – April 2024 First-in-human, phase 1 clinical trial results with ML7710 have been published in a renowned journal Radiology by Timothy Baran and team at University of Rochester Medical Center. The trial investigated treatment of deep tissue abscesses using photodynamic therapy with methylene blue and ML7710 laser. Abscesses are painful collection of pus, usually caused by a bacterial infection. Standard treatment is abscess drainage and antibiotics, however treatment responses vary widely and are linked to prolonged hospital stay, costs, and patient discomfort, as well as increasing concerns for antibiotic-resistance. The trial in 18 Continue reading →

Modulight Spotlights: LASER-SHARP RESEARCH – March 2024 Glioblastoma is the most aggressive type of brain tumor. It is hard to treat because of its invasion into functioning brain tissues, limited drug delivery due to blood-brain-barrier, and evolved treatment resistance. To address these challenges, a light-activated nanoformulation, called nanoVP, was developed for glioblastoma in a new study co-led by John Quinlan and Collin Inglut in Dr. Huang’s team at the University of Maryland. Published in a prestigious journal Advanced Science, this novel therapy resulted in an improved tumor control and survival Continue reading →

Modulight Corp., a leader in innovative laser solutions, is proud to announce a significant contribution to the field of cancer treatment through the publication of a comprehensive review on Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in Nature Reviews Bioengineering. This review article, co-authored by Modulight’s CTO Dr. Petteri Uusimaa, alongside several other leading experts, highlights the transformative potential of PDT in cancer treatment, priming, and imaging. The review article, titled “Engineering Photodynamics for Treatment, Priming, and Imaging”, explores the advanced applications of PDT, a photochemistry-based treatment approach that Continue reading →

Modulight ML6600 Distributed Bragg Reflector laser cores are available at various wavelengths - 650 nm, 760 nm, 780 nm, 785 nm, 795 nm, and 935 nm - relevant to quantum and spectroscopy applications. The fully in-house manufactured laser diodes exhibit reliable high-power operation with down to below 500 kHz linewidth. Designed for highest-quality mechanical, optical and acoustical isolation, and integrated with ML6600 platform’s ultra-low-noise current drivers and accurate temperature controllers, these laser cores show top-notch performance. Both free-space output and single-mode polarization maintaining fiber are Continue reading →

Modulight’s in-house vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) technology integration into ML6600 laser cores paves the way for Barium trapped ion applications at wavelengths 493 nm, 532 nm and 553 nm, featuring free-running linewidth of <100 kHz with Watt-level emission. Linewidth can be further narrowed using linewidth narrowing techniques such as Pound-Drever Hall method and a stable reference. Modulight ML6600 VECSEL laser platform offers scalable and tunable high-power single-frequency emission pumped by inexpensive multimode lasers. VECSELs possess several advantages as a narrow linewidth laser platform. The external Continue reading →

Modulight achieved the international ISO 27001 information security standard certification today on February 28, 2024. The certification of the information security management system demonstrates the organization's commitment to protecting information and managing high-level of information security. "We are expanding the use of cloud services in accordance with our SaaS business model and are making strong progress in transitioning to a pay-per-treatment (PPT) payment model. Managing patient information requires very high-level information security processes, which is why we started to pursue the ISO 27001 certification in Continue reading →

Modulight is pleased to announce its participation in the GlioLighT project, aimed at developing new treatment options for gliomas. This project has received substantial funding of approximately EUR 2.2 million over three years from the European Innovation Council's Pathfinder program. The GlioLighT project partners include Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Aston University in Birmingham, the University of Barcelona, LMU Munich, and MODUS Research and Innovation Ltd. The budgetary allotment of the project for Modulight is about EUR 400,000 over the duration of the project. Gliomas, known Continue reading →

Modulight is pleased to announce a sales partnership with Laser 2000 UK Ltd, a renowned reseller of laser-based solutions in the UK and Ireland. The partnership marks a significant step in expanding Modulight's presence in the UK and Irish markets, leveraging Laser 2000 UK's established customer base, broad sales team, and technical expertise. Under this collaboration, Laser 2000 UK will integrate Modulight's cutting-edge laser technologies into their diverse range of photonics solutions. This synergy is expected to enrich Laser 2000 UK's system solutions offering, particularly Continue reading →