[Radiation-induced retinopathy: actual knowledge and new concepts]

Radiation retinopathy is an occlusive vascular pathology following radiotherapy, generally targeted on the eye or peri-ocular structures. Despite increasingly precise techniques (stereotactic radiosurgery, proton therapy, etc.), the inclusion of the retina in the radiation field is sometimes unavoidable. This can lead to a severe pathology, which can ultimately cause blindness or even the anatomical loss of the eye when neovascular glaucoma occurs, due to the abnormal proliferation of neovessels. Radiation retinopathy have been described for more than a century, but it has recently seen great advances in both diagnosis and treatment. The advances of efficient and less invasive examinations in our clinical practice, such as OCT-angiography, allows for easier screening and diagnosis at earlier stages. Thus a new approach to the pathology is necessary, first of all through new definitions and classifications including previously undetected minimal forms. Furthermore, the recent appearance of intravitreal therapies by injection of anti-VEGF or dexamethasone implants has drastically changed the visual prognosis of these patients, who were previously treated only by retinal photocoagulation of the ischaemic areas. Recent studies have even shown the effectiveness of these new molecules in preventing the development of radiation retinopathy. This review of the literature provides an update on this disease and details how these recent diagnostic and therapeutic developments may play a role in the management of this complication.

[Shades of grays for implanting an enzymatic biofuel cell]

An implanted biofuel cell (IBFC) is a novel device that provides the means to create electricity from glucose and oxygen, using an original architecture for the IBFC that provides efficient work inside a living organism. In the future these IBFCs will be required to power implanted devices to assist failing physiological functions in humans. The active ingredients of such IBFCs are glucose oxidase at the anode and laccase at the cathode. These enzymes are entrapped in a 3D network of conductive and insulated materials. This publication solves the issue of the sterilization of such a complex device, using gamma irradiation. A 12kGy dose was sufficient to show absence of implant infection in all the implantations performed. We also prove in vitro functioning of both bioelectrodes with a high dose of 42kGy.

[Intrinsic radiosensitivity: predictive assays that will change daily practice]

The impact of curative radiotherapy depends mainly on the total dose delivered homogenously in the targeted volume. Nevertheless, the dose delivered to the surrounding healthy tissues may reduce the therapeutic ratio of many radiation treatments. In a same population treated in one center with the same technique, it appears that individual radiosensitivity clearly exists, namely in terms of late side effects that are in principle non-reversible. This review details the different radiobiological approaches that have been developed to better understand the mechanisms of radiation-induced late effects. We also present the possibilities of clinical use of predictive assays in the close future.