Single cell laser photodynamics: Lasers as tools to modulate cell physiology

28.04.2015 | Mads Henning Jensen

Abstract

Currently laser technology offers the possibility to control light delivery, both in time and space, to unprecedented levels. Lasers with femtosecond pulses (~10-13 s) output allow for submicron spatial accuracy and very fine tuning of the delivered light dose. This accuracy is exploited in this project to induce photodynamic effects at the single cell level. The photodynamic effect relies on Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation when a photosensitizing compound is excited in the presence of molecular oxygen (O2). Low amounts of ROS are produced by human cells as physiological signalling agents, therefore low-dose photodynamic treatments activate cellular signalling pathways under the right conditions. This research project paves the way to modulate cellular physiological responses by making use of laser-produced ROS with implications spanning from basic science to clinical applications (regenerative medicine). 

Short CV

Alfonso Blázquez Castro is an AIAS-Marie Curie COFUND junior fellow. He received his PhD in Genetics and Cell Biology at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) in 2010. Previous postdoctoral research has been at the Department of Physics of Materials (UAM-Madrid), in relation with photoinduced electrical field’s effects on cell cultures, and low-dose photodynamic cellular effects both at the Institute for Biomedical Research (IIB-Madrid) and the Center for Oxygen Microscopy and Imaging (COMI-Aarhus University). His main scientific interests deal with biological responses to different energy forms and ROS as cellular metabolic modulators. 

Alfonso Blázquez Castro's project at AIAS.

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