Ophthalmology is entering an era where precision medicine increasingly depends on the ability to deliver drugs, genes, or nanoparticles into the eye in a safe, controlled, and localized manner. Yet, the human eye remains one of the most challenging organs for targeted therapy due to its complex anatomical barriers and the delicate transparency of its tissues.
Current treatment options—ranging from intravitreal injections to invasive surgical procedures—pose risks of infection, inflammation, and vision loss, while limiting repeated or long-term therapeutic interventions.
At the same time, laser technologies are already well integrated into ophthalmic practice, offering precise, non-contact access to intraocular structures. However, their use is traditionally limited to photocoagulation or tissue ablation, requiring relatively high energies and providing little control at the nanoscale.
The DYE-LIGHT project was conceived to bridge these two worlds: to transform ophthalmic dyes—long used only for imaging or diagnostics—into functional photonic agents capable of inducing controlled biophysical effects in the eye.
The goal of DYE-LIGHT is to redefine the use of light in ophthalmology by introducing a new class of dye-mediated photonic interventions that operate safely, non-invasively, and with high precision.
The project is structured around four main scientific objectives:
– Mechanistic understanding: Identify optimal laser parameters and photosensitizers (e.g. ICG, polydopamine nanoparticles) capable of generating vapor nanobubbles (VNBs) and inducing opto-thermophoretic effects.
– Therapeutic delivery: Demonstrate mRNA delivery to the corneal endothelium via photoporation, offering a non-viral, laser-based alternative to genetic therapies.
– Vitreolysis: Explore VNB-mediated liquefaction of the vitreous as a minimally invasive strategy for removing opacities (“floaters”), avoiding enzymatic or surgical procedures.
– Nanoparticle guidance within the vitreous: Use opto-thermophoresis to direct nanoparticles toward the retina, paving the way for light-guided drug delivery through the vitreous.
Collectively, these objectives combine laser physics, nanotechnology, and ophthalmology, establishing a truly interdisciplinary framework that brings together physicists, engineers, and clinicians.
At a broader level, DYE-LIGHT demonstrates how fundamental photonic principles can be harnessed to address concrete clinical and societal needs—preserving vision, reducing healthcare burden, and promoting innovation in ophthalmology.
