Stanford University Department of Applied Physics

Daniel Palanker

Associate Professor (Research) of Ophthalmology

Research areas:
Biophysics, Electrical Engineering, Laser Physics, Photonics, Ultrafast Science

Description

Lasers and Accelerators

Our research is focused on interactions of pulsed electric field and light with biological cells and tissues. In optical domain we study laser-tissue interactions and develop their biomedical (primarily ophthalmic) applications. The research themes include: cellular response to transient hyperthermia; explosive vaporization and dynamics of cavitation; multiphoton ionization and molecular dissociation. Photothermal interactions are applied to minimally-traumatic ocular therapy, with research including mechanisms of retinal laser therapy, selective targeting of the tissue layers, retinal plasticity in response to hyperthermia. Multiphoton ionization of transparent tissues by ultrafast lasers is applied to cataract and refractive surgery.

Biophysics

Our research is focused on interactions of pulsed electric field and light with biological cells and tissues. We study laser-tissue interactions and develop their biomedical (primarily ophthalmic) applications. The research themes include: cellular response to transient hyperthermia; explosive vaporization and dynamics of cavitation; multiphoton ionization and molecular dissociation. Photothermal interactions are applied to minimally-traumatic ocular therapy, with research including mechanisms of retinal laser therapy, selective targeting of the tissue layers, retinal plasticity in response to hyperthermia, migration of photoreceptors and their rewiring. Multiphoton ionization of transparent tissues is applied to cataract and refractive surgery. In addition, we study the mechanisms of electrical neural stimulation and develop optoelectronic retinal prosthesis for restoration of sight to patients blinded by retinal degeneration. This project involves development of photosensitive subretinal implants and the near-IR image projection system, studies of retinal response to patterned electrical stimulation, cellular migration and retinal rewiring following subretinal implantation of 3-dimensional electrode arrays. We also study the mechanisms of migration of photoreceptors after retinal injury, and associated changes in the retinal neural network.