Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model
Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are sensitive to both photothermal and photochemical damage when exposed to lasers with wavelengths associated with the retinal blue light hazard. Laser power density (irradiance) and exposure duration primarily dictate the damage mechanism. Relatively high irr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ophthalmology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fopht.2025.1435692/full |
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| author | Nathaniel J. Pope Jin Ha Madeline E. Melzer Priscilla Lopez Amanda Tijerina Gary D. Noojin Michael L. Denton |
| author_facet | Nathaniel J. Pope Jin Ha Madeline E. Melzer Priscilla Lopez Amanda Tijerina Gary D. Noojin Michael L. Denton |
| author_sort | Nathaniel J. Pope |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are sensitive to both photothermal and photochemical damage when exposed to lasers with wavelengths associated with the retinal blue light hazard. Laser power density (irradiance) and exposure duration primarily dictate the damage mechanism. Relatively high irradiances and short exposure durations typically lead to melanin-dependent photothermal damage, whereas low irradiance and long duration exposures are required for photochemical pathways. However, little is known about damage mechanisms at intermediate irradiances and durations for pigmented cells. The current Z136.1–2022 laser safety standard from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) does not consider combined photothermal and photochemical damage processes. In addition, the ANSI Z136.1 standard classifies photochemical damage as nonthermal. Here, we use extended laser exposure parameters in an in vitro RPE cell model (ATCC CRL-4000) to show that elevated temperatures accelerate photochemical damage mechanisms. In addition, for 447-nm exposure conditions leading to damage considered neither purely photothermal nor photochemical, there is a reduced requirement for the thermal component for cell death. Our results suggest the need to address safety for lasers with blue wavelength emission, as in ophthalmic devices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8624e9bcac8d4ccbbf80fb8767d89a55 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2674-0826 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8624e9bcac8d4ccbbf80fb8767d89a552025-08-20T03:38:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ophthalmology2674-08262025-08-01510.3389/fopht.2025.14356921435692Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro modelNathaniel J. Pope0Jin Ha1Madeline E. Melzer2Priscilla Lopez3Amanda Tijerina4Gary D. Noojin5Michael L. Denton6Biosciences Department, Science Applications International Corporation, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, United StatesRosenberg School of Optometry, University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, United StatesDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United StatesBioResearch, Conceptual MindWorks, Inc., San Antonio, TX, United StatesBioeffects Division, Air Force Research Lab, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, United StatesBioeffects Division, Air Force Research Lab, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX, United StatesRetinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells are sensitive to both photothermal and photochemical damage when exposed to lasers with wavelengths associated with the retinal blue light hazard. Laser power density (irradiance) and exposure duration primarily dictate the damage mechanism. Relatively high irradiances and short exposure durations typically lead to melanin-dependent photothermal damage, whereas low irradiance and long duration exposures are required for photochemical pathways. However, little is known about damage mechanisms at intermediate irradiances and durations for pigmented cells. The current Z136.1–2022 laser safety standard from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) does not consider combined photothermal and photochemical damage processes. In addition, the ANSI Z136.1 standard classifies photochemical damage as nonthermal. Here, we use extended laser exposure parameters in an in vitro RPE cell model (ATCC CRL-4000) to show that elevated temperatures accelerate photochemical damage mechanisms. In addition, for 447-nm exposure conditions leading to damage considered neither purely photothermal nor photochemical, there is a reduced requirement for the thermal component for cell death. Our results suggest the need to address safety for lasers with blue wavelength emission, as in ophthalmic devices.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fopht.2025.1435692/fulllaserRPE cell damagephotothermalphotochemicalirradiance reciprocityconcurrent exposures |
| spellingShingle | Nathaniel J. Pope Jin Ha Madeline E. Melzer Priscilla Lopez Amanda Tijerina Gary D. Noojin Michael L. Denton Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model Frontiers in Ophthalmology laser RPE cell damage photothermal photochemical irradiance reciprocity concurrent exposures |
| title | Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model |
| title_full | Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model |
| title_fullStr | Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model |
| title_short | Damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model |
| title_sort | damage processes in extended laser exposures using an in vitro model |
| topic | laser RPE cell damage photothermal photochemical irradiance reciprocity concurrent exposures |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fopht.2025.1435692/full |
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