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. 2022 May;17(5):552-559.
doi: 10.1038/s41565-022-01086-4. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Laser-induced nanobubbles safely ablate vitreous opacities in vivo

Félix Sauvage #  1 , Van Phuc Nguyen #  2   3 , Yanxiu Li  2 , Aranit Harizaj  1 , J Sebag  4   5 , Dimitri Roels  6 , Viktor Van Havere  1 , Karen Peynshaert  1 , Ranhua Xiong  7 , Juan C Fraire  1 , Marie-José Tassignon  8 , Katrien Remaut  1 , Yannis M Paulus  9   10 , Kevin Braeckmans  11 , Stefaan C De Smedt  12   13
Affiliations

Laser-induced nanobubbles safely ablate vitreous opacities in vivo

Félix Sauvage et al. Nat Nanotechnol. 2022 May.

Abstract

In myopia, diabetes and ageing, fibrous vitreous liquefaction and degeneration is associated with the formation of opacities inside the vitreous body that cast shadows on the retina, appearing as 'floaters' to the patient. Vitreous opacities degrade contrast sensitivity function and can cause notable impairment in vision-related quality of life. Here we introduce 'nanobubble ablation' for safe destruction of vitreous opacities. Following intravitreal injection, hyaluronic acid-coated gold nanoparticles and indocyanine green, which is widely used as a dye in vitreoretinal surgery, spontaneously accumulate on collagenous vitreous opacities in the eyes of rabbits. Applying nanosecond laser pulses generates vapour nanobubbles that mechanically destroy the opacities in rabbit eyes and in patient specimens. Nanobubble ablation might offer a safe and efficient treatment to millions of patients suffering from debilitating vitreous opacities and paves the way for a highly safe use of pulsed lasers in the posterior segment of the eye.

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