Near-infrared light-activated red-emitting upconverting nanoplatform for T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Tang, Xiang-Long; Wu, Jun; Lin, Ben-Lan; Cui, Sheng; Liu, Hong-Mei; Yu, Ru-Tong; Shen, Xiao-Dong; Wang, Ting-Wei; Xia, Wei

2018-05-12

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has increasingly become an efficient and attractive cancer treatment modality based on reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can induce tumor death after irradiation with ultraviolet or visible light. Herein, to overcome the limited tissue penetration in traditional PDT, a novel near-infrared (NIR) light-activated NaScF 4 : 40% Yb, 2% Er@CaF 2 upconversion nanoparticle (rUCNP) is successfully designed and synthesized. Chlorin e6, a photosensitizer and a chelating agent for Mn 2+ , is loaded into human serum albumin (HSA) that further conjugates onto rUCNPs. To increase the ability to target glioma tumor, an acyclic Arg-Gly-Asp peptide (cRGDyK) is linked to rUCNPs@HSA(Ce6-Mn). This nanoplatform enables efficient adsorption and conversion of NIR light (980 nm) into bright red emission (660 nm), which can trigger the photosensitizer Ce6-Mn complex for PDT and T 1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T 1 -weighted MRI) for glioma diagnosis. Our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that NIR light-activated and glioma tumor-targeted PDT can generate large amounts of intracellular ROS that induce U87 cell apoptosis and suppress glioma tumor growth owing to the deep tissue penetration of irradiated light and excellent tumor-targeting ability. Thus, this nanoplatform holds potential for applications in T 1 -weighted MRI diagnosis and PDT of glioma for antitumor therapy. A near-infrared (NIR) light-activated nanoplatform for photodynamic therapy (PDT) was designed and synthesized. The Red-to-Green (R/G) ratio of NaScF 4 : 40% Yb, 2% Er almost reached 9, a value that was much higher than that of a traditional Yb/Er-codoped upconversion nanoparticle (rUCNP). By depositing a CaF 2 shell, the red-emission intensities of the rUCNPs were seven times strong as that of NaScF 4 : 40% Yb, 2% Er. The enhanced red-emitting rUCNPs could be applied in many fields such as bioimaging, controlled release, and real-time diagnosis. The nanoplatform had a strong active glioma-targeting ability, and all results achieved on subcutaneous glioma demonstrated that our NIR light-activated red-emitting upconverting nanoplatform was efficient for PDT. By loading Ce6-Mn complex into rUCNPs@HSA-RGD, the nanoplatform could be used as a T 1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging agent for tumor diagnosis. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of NIR photobiomodulation therapy in a cellular wound healing model.

PubMed

König, Anke; Missalla, Svenja; Valesky, Eva M; Bernd, August; Kaufmann, Roland; Kippenberger, Stefan; Zöller, Nadja N

2018-04-26

Wound healing is a complex process which can be divided into four phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation and scar-remodelling (1). Imbalance of cell proliferation, synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins can cause e.g. chronic wounds or the development of hypertrophic scars. In recent years the application of photobiomodulatory therapies has increased. Both low level light therapy (LLLT) and near infrared (NIR) have a high tissue penetration efficiency without inducing a severe surface temperature increase or pain (2). Water-filtered near-infrared irradiation (wIRA), composed of a thermal component and NIR (780nm-1.400nm), is applied for a variety of different clinical conditions including wound healing (3). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Aqueous phase preparation of ultrasmall MoSe2 nanodots for efficient photothermal therapy of cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuwen, Lihui; Zhou, Jiajia; Zhang, Yuqian; Zhang, Qi; Shan, Jingyang; Luo, Zhimin; Weng, Lixing; Teng, Zhaogang; Wang, Lianhui

2016-01-01

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising cancer treatment with both high effectiveness and fewer side effects. However, an ideal PTT agent not only needs strong absorption of near-infrared (NIR) light and high photothermal conversion efficiency, but also needs good biocompatibility, stability, and small size, which makes the design and preparation of a novel PTT agent a great challenge. In this work, we developed an ultrasonication-assisted liquid exfoliation method for the direct preparation of ultrasmall (2-3 nm) MoSe2 nanodots (NDs) in aqueous solution and demonstrated their superior properties as a PTT agent. The as-prepared MoSe2 NDs have strong absorption of NIR light and high photothermal conversion efficiency of about 46.5%. In vitro cellular experiments demonstrate that MoSe2 NDs have negligible cytotoxicity and can efficiently kill HeLa cells (human cervical cell line) under NIR laser (785 nm) irradiation.Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising cancer treatment with both high effectiveness and fewer side effects. However, an ideal PTT agent not only needs strong absorption of near-infrared (NIR) light and high photothermal conversion efficiency, but also needs good biocompatibility, stability, and small size, which makes the design and preparation of a novel PTT agent a great challenge. In this work, we developed an ultrasonication-assisted liquid exfoliation method for the direct preparation of ultrasmall (2-3 nm) MoSe2 nanodots (NDs) in aqueous solution and demonstrated their superior properties as a PTT agent. The as-prepared MoSe2 NDs have strong absorption of NIR light and high photothermal conversion efficiency of about 46.5%. In vitro cellular experiments demonstrate that MoSe2 NDs have negligible cytotoxicity and can efficiently kill HeLa cells (human cervical cell line) under NIR laser (785 nm) irradiation. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Characterization, size distribution and EDS spectrum of MoSe2 NDs, calculation of the extinction coefficient and photothermal conversion efficiency of MoSe2 NDs. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08166a

Recent Advances of Light-Mediated Theranostics

PubMed Central

Ai, Xiangzhao; Mu, Jing; Xing, Bengang

2016-01-01

Currently, precision theranostics have been extensively demanded for the effective treatment of various human diseases. Currently, efficient therapy at the targeted disease areas still remains challenging since most available drug molecules lack of selectivity to the pathological sites. Among different approaches, light-mediated therapeutic strategy has recently emerged as a promising and powerful tool to precisely control the activation of therapeutic reagents and imaging probes in vitro and in vivo, mostly attributed to its unique properties including minimally invasive capability and highly spatiotemporal resolution. Although it has achieved initial success, the conventional strategies for light-mediated theranostics are mostly based on the light with short wavelength (e.g., UV or visible light), which may usually suffer from several undesired drawbacks, such as limited tissue penetration depth, unavoidable light absorption/scattering and potential phototoxicity to healthy tissues, etc. Therefore, a near-infrared (NIR) light-mediated approach on the basis of long-wavelength light (700-1000 nm) irradiation, which displays deep-tissue penetration, minimized photo-damage and low autofluoresence in living systems, has been proposed as an inspiring alternative for precisely phototherapeutic applications in the last decades. Despite numerous NIR light-responsive molecules have been currently proposed for clinical applications, several inherent drawbacks, such as troublesome synthetic procedures, low water solubility and limited accumulation abilities in targeted areas, heavily restrict their applications in deep-tissue therapeutic and imaging studies. Thanks to the amazing properties of several nanomaterials with large extinction coefficient in the NIR region, the construction of NIR light responsive nanoplatforms with multifunctions have become promising approaches for deep-seated diseases diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we summarized various light-triggered theranostic strategies and introduced their great advances in biomedical applications in recent years. Moreover, some other promising light-assisted techniques, such as photoacoustic and Cerenkov radiation, were also systemically discussed. Finally, the potential challenges and future perspectives for light-mediated deep-tissue diagnosis and therapeutics were proposed. PMID:27877246

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy prevents lung cancer metastases in a murine model

PubMed Central

Sato, Kazuhide; Nagaya, Tadanobu; Nakamura, Yuko; Harada, Toshiko; Choyke, Peter L.; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2015-01-01

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that combines the specificity of intravenously injected antibodies with the acute toxicity induced by photosensitizers after exposure to NIR-light. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy of NIR-PIT in preventing lung metastases in a mouse model. Lung is one of the most common sites for developing metastases, but it also has the deepest tissue light penetration. Thus, lung is the ideal site for treating early metastases by using a light-based strategy. In vitro NIR-PIT cytotoxicity was assessed with dead cell staining, luciferase activity, and a decrease in cytoplasmic GFP fluorescence in 3T3/HER2-luc-GFP cells incubated with an anti-HER2 antibody photosensitizer conjugate. Cell-specific killing was demonstrated in mixed 2D/3D cell cultures of 3T3/HER2-luc-GFP (target) and 3T3-RFP (non-target) cells. In vivo NIR-PIT was performed in the left lung in a mouse model of lung metastases, and the number of metastasis nodules, tumor fluorescence, and luciferase activity were all evaluated. All three evaluations demonstrated that the NIR-PIT-treated lung had significant reductions in metastatic disease (*p < 0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test) and that NIR-PIT did not damage non-target tumors or normal lung tissue. Thus, NIR-PIT can specifically prevent early metastases and is a promising anti-metastatic therapy. PMID:25992770

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy for lung metastases

PubMed Central

Sato, Kazuhide; Nagaya, Tadanobu; Mitsunaga, Makoto; Choyke, Peter L.; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2015-01-01

Lung metastases are a leading cause of cancer related deaths; nonetheless current treatments are limited. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that combines the specificity of intravenously injected antibodies that target tumors with the toxicity induced by photosensitizers activated by NIR-light. Herein, we demonstrate the efficacy of NIR-PIT in a mouse model of lung metastases. Experiments were conducted with a HER2, luciferase and GFP expressing cell line (3T3/HER2-luc-GFP). An antibody-photosensitizer conjugate (APC) consisting of trastuzumab and a phthalocyanine dye, IRDye-700DX, was synthesized. In vitro NIR-PIT-induced cytotoxicity was light dose dependent. With 3D culture, repeated NIR-PIT could eradicate entire spheroids. In vivo anti-tumor effects of NIR-PIT included significant reductions in both tumor volume (p = 0.0141 vs. APC) and bioluminescence image (BLI) (p = 0.0086 vs. APC) in the flank model, and prolonged survival (p < 0.0001). BLI demonstrated a significant reduction in lung metastases volume (p = 0.0117 vs. APC). Multiple NIR-PIT doses significantly prolonged survival in the lung metastases model (p < 0.0001). These results suggested that NIR-PIT is a potential new therapy for the local control of lung metastases. PMID:26021765

Multifunctional Virus-Nanoshell Assembly for Targeted Hyperthermia and Viral Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-01

thin layer of Au. The unique property of Au NS is the tunability of its plasma resonance. Au NS can accumulate heat upon irradiation with NIR light...which is very useful for biomedical applications because tissues are transparent to NIR. Using NIR irradiation , the Au NS can be induced to...and 6161.5 Dalton for the product. Figure 1. (a) UV_VIS spectrum of Au nanoshell. Insect is TEM image of Au Nanoshell, scale bar: 20 nm. (b

Mechanism of eliciting host immunity against cancer cells treated with silica-phthalocyanine-based near infrared photoimmunotherapy (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Hisataka

2016-03-01

Near infrared (NIR) photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a new type of molecularly-targeted cancer photo-therapy based on conjugating a near infrared silica-phthalocyanine dye, IR700, to a monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting cancer-specific cell-surface molecules. When exposed to NIR light, the conjugate induces a highly-selective necrotic/ immunogenic cell death (ICD) only in receptor-positive, MAb-IR700-bound cancer cells. This cell death occurs as early as 1 minute after exposure to NIR light. Meanwhile, immediately adjacent receptor-negative cells including immune cells are unharmed. Therefore, we hypothesized that NIR-PIT could efficiently elicit host immunity against treated cancer cells. Three-dimensional dynamic quantitative phase contrast microscopy and selective plane illumination microscopy of tumor cells undergoing PIT showed rapid swelling in treated cells immediately after light exposure suggesting rapid water influx into cells, followed by irreversible morphologic changes such as bleb formation, and rupture of vesicles. Furthermore, biological markers of ICD including relocation of HSP70/90 and calreticulin, and release of ATP and High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), were clearly detected immediately after NIR-PIT. When NIR-PIT was performed in a mixture of cancer cells and immature dendritic cells, maturation of immature dendritic cells was strongly induced rapidly after NIR-PIT. In summary, NIR-PIT can induce necrotic/ immunogenic cell death that promotes rapid maturation of immature dendritic cells adjacent to dying cancer cells. Therefore, NIR-PIT could efficiently initiate host immune response against NIR-PIT treated cancer cells growing in patients.

Upconverting and NIR emitting rare earth based nanostructures for NIR-bioimaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemmer, Eva; Venkatachalam, Nallusamy; Hyodo, Hiroshi; Hattori, Akito; Ebina, Yoshie; Kishimoto, Hidehiro; Soga, Kohei

2013-11-01

In recent years, significant progress was achieved in the field of nanomedicine and bioimaging, but the development of new biomarkers for reliable detection of diseases at an early stage, molecular imaging, targeting and therapy remains crucial. The disadvantages of commonly used organic dyes include photobleaching, autofluorescence, phototoxicity and scattering when UV (ultraviolet) or visible light is used for excitation. The limited penetration depth of the excitation light and the visible emission into and from the biological tissue is a further drawback with regard to in vivo bioimaging. Lanthanide containing inorganic nanostructures emitting in the near-infrared (NIR) range under NIR excitation may overcome those problems. Due to the outstanding optical and magnetic properties of lanthanide ions (Ln3+), nanoscopic host materials doped with Ln3+, e.g. Y2O3:Er3+,Yb3+, are promising candidates for NIR-NIR bioimaging. Ln3+-doped gadolinium-based inorganic nanostructures, such as Gd2O3:Er3+,Yb3+, have a high potential as opto-magnetic markers allowing the combination of time-resolved optical imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of high spatial resolution. Recent progress in our research on over-1000 nm NIR fluorescent nanoprobes for in vivo NIR-NIR bioimaging will be discussed in this review.In recent years, significant progress was achieved in the field of nanomedicine and bioimaging, but the development of new biomarkers for reliable detection of diseases at an early stage, molecular imaging, targeting and therapy remains crucial. The disadvantages of commonly used organic dyes include photobleaching, autofluorescence, phototoxicity and scattering when UV (ultraviolet) or visible light is used for excitation. The limited penetration depth of the excitation light and the visible emission into and from the biological tissue is a further drawback with regard to in vivo bioimaging. Lanthanide containing inorganic nanostructures emitting in the near-infrared (NIR) range under NIR excitation may overcome those problems. Due to the outstanding optical and magnetic properties of lanthanide ions (Ln3+), nanoscopic host materials doped with Ln3+, e.g. Y2O3:Er3+,Yb3+, are promising candidates for NIR-NIR bioimaging. Ln3+-doped gadolinium-based inorganic nanostructures, such as Gd2O3:Er3+,Yb3+, have a high potential as opto-magnetic markers allowing the combination of time-resolved optical imaging and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of high spatial resolution. Recent progress in our research on over-1000 nm NIR fluorescent nanoprobes for in vivo NIR-NIR bioimaging will be discussed in this review. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Table 1: sample overview. Movie 1: time-resolved in vivo biodistribution of Gd2O3:Er3+,Yb3+ nanorods in a mouse 5 min post-injection. Fig. 1: preliminary long-term cytotoxicity study of Y2O3:Er3+ injected into mice. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr02286b

In vivo 808 nm image-guided photodynamic therapy based on an upconversion theranostic nanoplatform.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaomin; Que, Ivo; Kong, Xianggui; Zhang, Youlin; Tu, Langping; Chang, Yulei; Wang, Tong Tong; Chan, Alan; Löwik, Clemens W G M; Zhang, Hong

2015-09-28

A new strategy for efficient in vivo image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been demonstrated utilizing a ligand-exchange constructed upconversion-C60 nanophotosensitizer. This theranostic platform is superior to the currently reported nanophotosensitizers in (i) directly bonding photosensitizer C60 to the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) by a smart ligand-exchange strategy, which greatly shortened the energy transfer distance and enhanced the (1)O2 production, resulting in the improvement of the therapeutic effect; (ii) realizing in vivo NIR 808 nm image-guided PDT with both excitation (980 nm) and emission (808 nm) light falling in the biological window of tissues, which minimized auto-fluorescence, reduced light scatting and improved the imaging contrast and depth, and thus guaranteed noninvasive diagnostic accuracy. In vivo and ex vivo tests demonstrated its favorable bio-distribution, tumor-selectivity and high therapeutic efficacy. Owing to the effective ligand exchange strategy and the excellent intrinsic photophysical properties of C60, (1)O2 production yield was improved, suggesting that a low 980 nm irradiation dosage (351 J cm(-2)) and a short treatment time (15 min) were sufficient to perform NIR (980 nm) to NIR (808 nm) image-guided PDT. Our work enriches the understanding of UCNP-based PDT nanophotosensitizers and highlights their potential use in future NIR image-guided noninvasive deep cancer therapy.

Near-infrared light-responsive nanomaterials in cancer therapeutics.

PubMed

Shanmugam, Vijayakumar; Selvakumar, S; Yeh, Chen-Sheng

2014-09-07

Noninvasive techniques, such as breath tests (urea breath test), blood pressure measurements using a sphygmomanometer and electrocardiography, were employed by a physician to perform classical diagnosis. The use of state-of-the-art noninvasive therapies at the organ level in modern medicine has gradually become possible. However, cancer treatment demands spatially and temporally controlled noninvasive therapy at the cell level because nonspecific toxicity often causes complicated side effects. To increase survival in cancer patients further, combination therapy and combination drugs are explored which demand high specificity to avoid combined-drug side effects. We believe that high specificity could be obtained by implementing near-infrared (NIR) light-assisted nanoparticles in photothermal therapy, chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. To refine this therapy and subsequently achieve high efficiency, novel nanomaterials have been designed and modified either to enhance the uptake and drug delivery to the cancer site, or control treatment to administer therapy efficiently. These modifications and developments have been demonstrated to achieve spatial and temporal control when conducting an in vivo xenograft, because the NIR light penetrated effectively the biological tissue. The nanoplatforms discussed in this review are grouped under the following subheadings: Au nanorods (NRs), Au nanoshells, other Au-related nanomaterials, graphene oxide, upconversion nanoparticles, and other related materials (including materials such as CuS, Fe3O4-related systems, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs)).

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy rapidly elicits specific host immunity against cancer cells (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Hisataka

2017-02-01

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new molecularly-targeted cancer photo-therapy based on conjugating a near infrared silica-phthalocyanine dye, IR700, to a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting cell-surface molecules. When exposed to NIR light, the conjugate induces a highly-selective necrotic/immunogenic cell death (ICD) only in target-positive, mAb-IR700-bound cancer cells. This cell death occurs as early as 1 minute after exposure to NIR light. Meanwhile, immediately adjacent target-negative cells are unharmed. Dynamic 3D-microscopy of live tumor cells undergoing NIR-PIT showed rapid swelling in treated cells immediately after light exposure, followed by irreversible morphologic changes such as bleb formation, and rupture of vesicles within several minutes. Furthermore, biological markers of ICD including relocation of HSP70/90 and calreticulin, and release of ATP and High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), were clearly detected immediately after NIR-PIT. When NIR-PIT was performed in a mixture of cancer cells and immature dendritic cells, maturation of immature dendritic cells was strongly induced rapidly after NIR-PIT. Alternatively, NIR-PIT can also target negative regulatory immune cells such as Treg only in the tumor bed. Treg targeting NIR-PIT against CD25 can deplete >80% of Treg in tumor bed within 20 min that induces activation of tumor cell-specific CD8+-T and NK cells within 1.5 hour, and then these activated cells killed cancer cells in local tumor within 1 day and also in distant tumors of the same cell origin within 2 days. In summary, cancer cell-targeting and immuno-suppressor cell-targeting NIR-PITs effectively induce innate and acquired immunity specifically against cancer cells growing in patients, respectively.

Two-Photon-Excited Silica and Organosilica Nanoparticles for Spatiotemporal Cancer Treatment.

PubMed

Croissant, Jonas G; Zink, Jeffrey I; Raehm, Laurence; Durand, Jean-Olivier

2018-04-01

Coherent two-photon-excited (TPE) therapy in the near-infrared (NIR) provides safer cancer treatments than current therapies lacking spatial and temporal selectivities because it is characterized by a 3D spatial resolution of 1 µm 3 and very low scattering. In this review, the principle of TPE and its significance in combination with organosilica nanoparticles (NPs) are introduced and then studies involving the design of pioneering TPE-NIR organosilica nanomaterials are discussed for bioimaging, drug delivery, and photodynamic therapy. Organosilica nanoparticles and their rich and well-established chemistry, tunable composition, porosity, size, and morphology provide ideal platforms for minimal side-effect therapies via TPE-NIR. Mesoporous silica and organosilica nanoparticles endowed with high surface areas can be functionalized to carry hydrophobic and biologically unstable two-photon absorbers for drug delivery and diagnosis. Currently, most light-actuated clinical therapeutic applications with NPs involve photodynamic therapy by singlet oxygen generation, but low photosensitizing efficiencies, tumor resistance, and lack of spatial resolution limit their applicability. On the contrary, higher photosensitizing yields, versatile therapies, and a unique spatial resolution are available with engineered two-photon-sensitive organosilica particles that selectively impact tumors while healthy tissues remain untouched. Patients suffering pathologies such as retinoblastoma, breast, and skin cancers will greatly benefit from TPE-NIR ultrasensitive diagnosis and therapy. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

NIR-triggered high-efficient photodynamic and chemo-cascade therapy using caspase-3 responsive functionalized upconversion nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhao, Na; Wu, Baoyan; Hu, Xianglong; Xing, Da

2017-10-01

Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles with multiple therapeutic/diagnostic functions are highly desirable for effective tumor treatment. Herein novel caspase-3 responsive functionalized upconversion nanoparticles (CFUNs) were fabricated with three-in-one functional integration: near-infrared (NIR) triggered photodynamic damage along with caspase-3 activation, subsequent caspase-3 responsive drug release, and cascade chemotherapeutic activation. CFUNs were formulated from the self-assembly of caspase-3 responsive doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug tethered with DEVD peptide (DEVD-DOX), upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP), a photosensitizer (pyropheophorbide-a methyl ester, MPPa), and tumor-targeting cRGD-PEG-DSPE to afford multifunctional CFUNs, MPPa/UCNP-DEVD-DOX/cRGD. Upon cellular uptake and NIR irradiation, the visible light emission of UCNP could excite MPPa to produce reactive oxygen species for photodynamic therapy (PDT) along with the activation of caspase-3, which further cleaved DEVD peptide to release DOX within tumor cells, thus accomplishing NIR-triggered PDT and cascade chemotherapy. CFUNs presented silent therapeutic potency and negligible cytotoxicity in the dark, whereas in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the NIR-triggered cascade therapeutic activation and tumor inhibition due to consecutive PDT and chemotherapy. Current NIR-activated cascade tumor therapy with two distinct mechanisms is significantly favorable to overcome multidrug resistance and tumor heterogeneity for persistent tumor treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Near-infrared (NIR) optogenetics using up-conversion system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hososhima, Shoko; Yuasa, Hideya; Ishizuka, Toru; Yawo, Hiromu

2015-03-01

Non-invasive remote control technologies designed to manipulate neural functions for a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of the neuronal network in the brain as well as for the therapy of neurological disorders have long been awaited. Recently, it has become possible to optically manipulate the neuronal activity using biological photo-reactive molecules such as channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2). However, ChR2 and its relatives are mostly reactive to visible light which does not effectively penetrate through biological tissues. In contrast, near-infrared (NIR) light penetrates deep into the tissues because biological systems are almost transparent to light within this so-called `imaging window'. Here we used lanthanide nanoparticles (LNPs), which are composed of rare-earth elements, as luminous bodies to activate channelrhodopsins (ChRs) since they absorb low-energy NIR light to emit high-energy visible light (up-conversion). Neuron-glioma-hybrid ND-7/23 cells were cultured with LNP(NaYF4:Sc/Yb/Er) particles (peak emission, 543 nm) and transfected to express C1V1 (peak absorbance, 539 nm), a chimera of ChR1 and VChR1. The photocurrents were generated in response to NIR laser light (976 nm) to a level comparable to that evoked by a filtered Hg lamp (530-550 nm). NIR light pulses also evoked action potentials in the cultured neurons that expressed C1V1. It is suggested that the green luminescent light emitted from LNPs effectively activated C1V1 to generate the photocurrent. With the optimization of LNPs, acceptor photo-reactive biomolecules and optics, this system could be applied to non-invasively actuate neurons deep in the brain.

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy targeting bladder cancer with a canine anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody.

PubMed

Nagaya, Tadanobu; Okuyama, Shuhei; Ogata, Fusa; Maruoka, Yasuhiro; Knapp, Deborah W; Karagiannis, Sophia N; Fazekas-Singer, Judit; Choyke, Peter L; LeBlanc, Amy K; Jensen-Jarolim, Erika; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2018-04-10

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody therapy is used in EGFR expressing cancers including lung, colon, head and neck, and bladder cancers, however results have been modest. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly selective tumor treatment that employs an antibody-photo-absorber conjugate which is activated by NIR light. NIR-PIT is in clinical trials in patients with recurrent head and neck cancers using cetuximab-IR700 as the conjugate. However, its use has otherwise been restricted to mouse models. This is an effort to explore larger animal models with NIR-PIT. We describe the use of a recombinant canine anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (mAb), can225IgG, conjugated to the photo-absorber, IR700DX, in three EGFR expressing canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines as a prelude to possible canine clinical studies. Can225-IR700 conjugate showed specific binding and cell-specific killing after NIR-PIT on EGFR expressing cells in vitro . In the in vivo study, can225-IR700 conjugate demonstrated accumulation of the fluorescent conjugate with high tumor-to-background ratio. Tumor-bearing mice were separated into 4 groups: (1) no treatment; (2) 100 µg of can225-IR700 i.v. only; (3) NIR light exposure only; (4) 100 µg of can225-IR700 i.v., NIR light exposure. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited by NIR-PIT treatment compared with the other groups ( p < 0.001), and significantly prolonged survival was achieved ( p < 0.001 vs. other groups) in the treatment groups. In conclusion, NIR-PIT with can225-IR700 is a promising treatment for canine EGFR-expressing cancers, including invasive transitional cell carcinoma in pet dogs, that could provide a pathway to translation to humans.

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy targeting bladder cancer with a canine anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody

PubMed Central

Nagaya, Tadanobu; Okuyama, Shuhei; Ogata, Fusa; Maruoka, Yasuhiro; Knapp, Deborah W.; Karagiannis, Sophia N.; Fazekas-Singer, Judit; Choyke, Peter L.; LeBlanc, Amy K.; Jensen-Jarolim, Erika; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2018-01-01

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody therapy is used in EGFR expressing cancers including lung, colon, head and neck, and bladder cancers, however results have been modest. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly selective tumor treatment that employs an antibody-photo-absorber conjugate which is activated by NIR light. NIR-PIT is in clinical trials in patients with recurrent head and neck cancers using cetuximab-IR700 as the conjugate. However, its use has otherwise been restricted to mouse models. This is an effort to explore larger animal models with NIR-PIT. We describe the use of a recombinant canine anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (mAb), can225IgG, conjugated to the photo-absorber, IR700DX, in three EGFR expressing canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines as a prelude to possible canine clinical studies. Can225-IR700 conjugate showed specific binding and cell-specific killing after NIR-PIT on EGFR expressing cells in vitro. In the in vivo study, can225-IR700 conjugate demonstrated accumulation of the fluorescent conjugate with high tumor-to-background ratio. Tumor-bearing mice were separated into 4 groups: (1) no treatment; (2) 100 µg of can225-IR700 i.v. only; (3) NIR light exposure only; (4) 100 µg of can225-IR700 i.v., NIR light exposure. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited by NIR-PIT treatment compared with the other groups (p < 0.001), and significantly prolonged survival was achieved (p < 0.001 vs. other groups) in the treatment groups. In conclusion, NIR-PIT with can225-IR700 is a promising treatment for canine EGFR-expressing cancers, including invasive transitional cell carcinoma in pet dogs, that could provide a pathway to translation to humans. PMID:29721181

Upconverting fluorescent nanoparticles for biodetection and photoactivation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Kai; Li, WenKai; Jayakumar, Muthu Kumara Gnanasammandhan; Zhang, Yong

2013-03-01

Fluorophores including fluorescent dyes/proteins and quantum dots (QDs) are used for fluorescence-based imaging and detection. These are based on `downconversion fluorescence' and have several drawbacks: photobleaching, autofluorescence, short tissue penetration depth and tissue photo-damage. Upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles (UCNs) emit detectable photons of higher energy in the short wavelength range upon irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light based on a process termed `upconversion'. UCNs show absolute photostability, negligible autofluorescence, high penetration depth and minimum photodamage to biological tissues. Lanthanide doped nanocrystals with nearinfrared NIR-to-NIR and/or NIR-to-VIS and/or NIR-to-UV upconversion fluorescence emission have been synthesized. The nanocrystals with small size and tunable multi-color emission have been developed. The emission can be tuned by doping different upconverting lanthanide ions into the nanocrystals. The nanocrystals with core-shell structure have also been prepared to tune the emission color. The surfaces of these nanocrystals have been modified to render them water dispersible and biocompatible. They can be used for ultrasensitive interference-free biodetection because most biomolecules do not have upconversion properties. UCNs are also useful for light based therapy with enhanced efficiency, for example, photoactivation.

Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy in the Treatment of Pleural Disseminated NSCLC: Preclinical Experience

PubMed Central

Sato, Kazuhide; Nagaya, Tadanobu; Choyke, Peter L.; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2015-01-01

Pleural metastases are common in patients with advanced thoracic cancers and are a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality yet is difficult to treat. Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a cancer treatment that combines the specificity of intravenously injected antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity induced by photosensitizers after exposure to NIR-light. Herein, we evaluate the efficacy of NIR-PIT in a mouse model of pleural disseminated non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted with a HER2, luciferase and GFP expressing NSCLC cell line (Calu3-luc-GFP). An antibody-photosensitizer conjugate (APC) consisting of trastuzumab and a phthalocyanine dye, IRDye-700DX, was synthesized. In vitro NIR-PIT cytotoxicity was assessed with dead staining, luciferase activity, and GFP fluorescence intensity. In vivo NIR-PIT was performed in mice with tumors implanted intrathoracic cavity or in the flank, and assessed by tumor volume and/or bioluminescence and fluorescence thoracoscopy. In vitro NIR-PIT-induced cytotoxicity was light dose dependent. In vivo NIR-PIT led significant reductions in both tumor volume (p = 0.002 vs. APC) and luciferase activity (p = 0.0004 vs. APC) in a flank model, and prolonged survival (p < 0.0001). Bioluminescence indicated that NIR-PIT lead to significant reduction in pleural dissemination (1 day after PIT; p = 0.0180). Fluorescence thoracoscopy confirmed the NIR-PIT effect on disseminated pleural disease. In conclusion, NIR-PIT has the ability to effectively treat pleural metastases caused by NSCLC in mice. Thus, NIR-PIT is a promising therapy for pleural disseminated tumors. PMID:25897335

Prussian blue/serum albumin/indocyanine green as a multifunctional nanotheranostic agent for bimodal imaging guided laser mediated combinatorial phototherapy.

PubMed

Sahu, Abhishek; Lee, Jong Hyun; Lee, Hye Gyeong; Jeong, Yong Yeon; Tae, Giyoong

2016-08-28

Developing novel nanotheranostic agent using only clinically approved materials is highly desirable and challenging. In this study, we combined three clinically approved materials, Prussian blue (PB), serum albumin (BSA), and indocyanine green (ICG), by a simple and biocompatible method to prepare a multifunctional theranostic PB-BSA-ICG nanoparticle. The multifunctional nanoparticle system could provide dual mode magnetic resonance (MR) and near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging as well as combined photothermal and photodynamic (PTT-PDT) therapy in response to a single NIR laser. This nanoparticle showed an excellent stability in physiological solutions and could suppress the photo-instability of ICG. In the absence of light, the nanoparticles showed no cytotoxicity, but significant cell death was induced through combined PTT-PDT effect after irradiation with NIR laser light. A high tumor accumulation and minimal nonspecific uptake by other major organs of PB-BSA-ICG nanoparticle were observed in vivo, analyzed by T1-weighted MR and NIR fluorescence bimodal imaging in tumor xenograft mice after intravenous injection. The nanoparticles efficiently suppressed the tumor growth through combinatorial phototherapy with no tumor recurrence upon a single NIR laser irradiation. These results demonstrated that PB-BSA-ICG is potentially an interesting nanotheranostic agent for imaging guided cancer therapy by overcoming the limitations of each technology and enhancing the therapeutic efficiency as well as reducing side effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Near-infrared light-triggered theranostics for tumor-specific enhanced multimodal imaging and photothermal therapy

PubMed Central

Wu, Bo; Wan, Bing; Lu, Shu-Ting; Deng, Kai; Li, Xiao-Qi; Wu, Bao-Lin; Li, Yu-Shuang; Liao, Ru-Fang; Huang, Shi-Wen; Xu, Hai-Bo

2017-01-01

The major challenge in current clinic contrast agents (CAs) and chemotherapy is the poor tumor selectivity and response. Based on the self-quench property of IR820 at high concentrations, and different contrast effect ability of Gd-DOTA between inner and outer of liposome, we developed “bomb-like” light-triggered CAs (LTCAs) for enhanced CT/MRI/FI multimodal imaging, which can improve the signal-to-noise ratio of tumor tissue specifically. IR820, Iohexol and Gd-chelates were firstly encapsulated into the thermal-sensitive nanocarrier with a high concentration. This will result in protection and fluorescence quenching. Then, the release of CAs was triggered by near-infrared (NIR) light laser irradiation, which will lead to fluorescence and MRI activation and enable imaging of inflammation. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that LTCAs with 808 nm laser irradiation have shorter T1 relaxation time in MRI and stronger intensity in FI compared to those without irradiation. Additionally, due to the high photothermal conversion efficiency of IR820, the injection of LTCAs was demonstrated to completely inhibit C6 tumor growth in nude mice up to 17 days after NIR laser irradiation. The results indicate that the LTCAs can serve as a promising platform for NIR-activated multimodal imaging and photothermal therapy. PMID:28670120

A Chelator-Free Multifunctional [64Cu]-CuS Nanoparticle Platform for Simultaneous Micro-PET/CT Imaging and Photothermal Ablation Therapy

PubMed Central

Zhou, Min; Zhang, Rui; Huang, Miao; Lu, Wei; Song, Shaoli; Melancon, Marites P.; Tian, Mei; Liang, Dong; Li, Chun

2010-01-01

We synthesized and evaluated a novel class of chelator-free [64Cu]-CuS nanoparticles (NPs) suitable for both PET imaging and as photothermal coupling agents for photothermal ablation. [64Cu]-CuS NPs were simple to make, possessed excellent stability, and allowed robust noninvasive micro-PET imaging. Furthermore, CuS NPs displayed strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region (peak 930 nm), passive targeting prefers the tumor site, and mediated ablation of U87 tumor cells upon exposure to NIR light both in vitro and in vivo after either intratumoral or intravenous injection. The combination of small diameter (~11 nm diameter), strong NIR absorption, and integration of 64Cu as a structural component makes [64Cu]-CuS NPs ideally suited for multifunctional molecular imaging and therapy. PMID:20942456

Inorganic photosensitizer coupled Gd-based upconversion luminescent nanocomposites for in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and near-infrared-responsive photodynamic therapy in cancers.

PubMed

Zhang, Ling'e; Zeng, Leyong; Pan, Yuanwei; Luo, Song; Ren, Wenzhi; Gong, An; Ma, Xuehua; Liang, Hongze; Lu, Guangming; Wu, Aiguo

2015-03-01

Inorganic photosensitizer coupled Gd-based upconversion luminescent (UCL) nanocomposites have potential application for both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancers using the light stability and biocompatibility of TiO2 inorganic photosensitizer. However, TiO2 inorganic photosensitizer could only be excited by ultraviolet (UV) light, which was harmful and weakly penetrable in tissues. In this work, folic acid (FA)-targeted NaGdF4:Yb/Tm@SiO2@TiO2 nanocomposites (FA-Gd-Si-Ti NPs) were constructed and synthesized for both in vivo MRI and near infrared (NIR)-responsive inorganic PDT, in which TiO2 component could be excited by NIR light due to the UCL performance of NaGdF4:Yb/Tm component converting NIR to UV light. The results showed the as-prepared FA-Gd-Si-Ti NPs had good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, MR study indicated that FA-Gd-Si-Ti NPs were good T1-weighted MRI contrast agents with high longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of 4.53 mm(-1) s(-1), also in vivo MRI of nude mice showed "bright" signal in MCF-7 tumor. Under the irradiation of 980 nm laser at the power density of 0.6 W/cm(2) for 20 min, the viability of HeLa and MCF-7 cells incubated with FA-Gd-Si-Ti NPs could decrease from about 90 % to 35 % and 31%, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo PDT of MCF-7 tumor-bearing nude mice model showed that the inhibition ratio of tumors injected with FA-Gd-Si-Ti NPs reached up to 88.6% after 2-week treatment, compared with that of nude mice in control group. Based on the deep penetration of NIR light and the good biocompatibility of TiO2 inorganic photosensitizer, the as-prepared FA-Gd-Si-Ti NPs could have potential applications in both MRI and NIR-responsive PDT of cancers in deep tissues. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transcranial near-infrared photobiomodulation attenuates memory impairment and hippocampal oxidative stress in sleep-deprived mice.

PubMed

Salehpour, Farzad; Farajdokht, Fereshteh; Erfani, Marjan; Sadigh-Eteghad, Saeed; Shotorbani, Siamak Sandoghchian; Hamblin, Michael R; Karimi, Pouran; Rasta, Seyed Hossein; Mahmoudi, Javad

2018-03-01

Sleep deprivation (SD) causes oxidative stress in the hippocampus and subsequent memory impairment. In this study, the effect of near-infrared (NIR) photobiomodulation (PBM) on learning and memory impairment induced by acute SD was investigated. The mice were subjected to an acute SD protocol for 72 h. Simultaneously, NIR PBM using a laser at 810 nm was delivered (once a day for 3 days) transcranially to the head to affect the entire brain of mice. The Barnes maze and the What-Where-Which task were used to assess spatial and episodic-like memories. The hippocampal levels of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated. The results showed that NIR PBM prevented cognitive impairment induced by SD. Moreover, NIR PBM therapy enhanced the antioxidant status and increased mitochondrial activity in the hippocampus of SD mice. Our findings revealed that hippocampus-related mitochondrial damage and extensive oxidative stress contribute to the occurrence of memory impairment. In contrast, NIR PBM reduced hippocampal oxidative damage, supporting the ability of 810 nm laser light to improve the antioxidant defense system and maintain mitochondrial survival. This confirms that non-invasive transcranial NIR PBM therapy ameliorates hippocampal dysfunction, which is reflected in enhanced memory function. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Theranostic Gold Nanoshells And Nanomatryoshkas for Cancer Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayala-Orozco, Ciceron

This dissertation describes the synthesis of multifunctional gold nanoparticles designed for therapy and diagnosis of cancer (theranostics), and the evaluation of their therapeutic efficacy and bioimaging of tumors in mice. The design of these metallic nanoparticles is aimed to incorporate imaging agents (MRI contrasts and fluorophores) in compact structures with dimensions below 100 nm while keeping their NIR-light-absorbing properties and optimum surface chemistry to enhance accumulation in tumor. The therapeutic response of these metallic nanoparticles is derived from the photoexcitation of their plasmon resonance, the collective oscillation of the conduction band electrons, which was advantageously utilized to enhance the quantum yield of fluorophores resonant in the NIR where the penetration of light is maximal in biological tissue and minimally destructive. Gold nanoshells as absorbers of NIR light can convert the absorbed light into heat consequently causing hyperthermia in the surrounding medium which leads to tumor cell death. To extent the application of previously developed theranostic nanoshells to the highly lethal pancreatic cancer, chapter 2 describes a magneto-fluorescent theranostic nanocomplex targeted to neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) receptor in pancreatic cancer. Gold nanoshells (SiO2-Au core-shell nanoshell) resonant at 810 nm were encapsulated in silica epilayers doped with iron oxide and the NIR dye ICG, resulting in a theranostic gold nanoshells, which provided contrast for both T2 weighted MRI and NIR fluorescence optical imaging. The large size of this complex (200 nm) potentially can hinder the accumulation in tumor. Seeking to reduce the size of the theranostic nanoparticles, chapter 3 presents the sub-100 nm Au nanomatryoshkas (Au/SiO2/Au). Au nanomatryoshkas are strong light absorbers with 77% absorption efficiency while the nanoshells are weaker absorbers with only 15% absorption efficiency. After an intravenous injection of Au nanomatryoshkas followed by a single NIR laser dose of 2 W/cm2 for 5 min, 83% of the tumor-bearing mice appeared healthy and tumor free >60 days later, while only 40% of mice treated with nanoshells survived the same period. The smaller size and larger absorption cross section of Au nanomatryoshkas combine to make this nanoparticle more effective than Au nanoshells for photothermal cancer therapy. Chapter 4 presents the therapeutic efficacy in mice bearing large (>1000 mm3) and highly aggressive triple negative breast tumors. To equip the Au nanomatryoshkas with imaging contrast agents, fluorophores were encapsulated in the internal SiO2 layer of the Au/SiO 2/Au matryoshkas as described in chapter 5. We observed strong fluorescence enhancements of the NIR dyes Cy7 and IR800. This behavior can be understood by taking into account the near field enhancement induced by the Fano resonance of the nanomatryoshka, which is responsible for enhanced absorption of the fluorophores incorporated into the nanocomplex. The combination of compact size and enhanced light emission with internal encapsulation of the fluorophores for increased biocompatibility suggests outstanding potential for this type of nanoparticle complex in biomedical applications as it is investigated and presented in chapter 6.

pH/NIR Light-Controlled Multidrug Release via a Mussel-Inspired Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Chemo-Photothermal Cancer Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghavaminejad, Amin; Samarikhalaj, Melisa; Aguilar, Ludwig Erik; Park, Chan Hee; Kim, Cheol Sang

2016-09-01

This study reports on an intelligent composite hydrogel with both pH-dependent drug release in a cancer environment and heat generation based on NIR laser exposure, for the combined application of photothermal therapy (PTT) and multidrug chemotherapy. For the first time in the literature, Dopamine nanoparticle (DP) was incorporated as a highly effective photothermal agent as well as anticancer drug, bortezomib (BTZ) carrier inside a stimuli responsive pNIPAAm-co-pAAm hydrogel. When light is applied to the composite hydrogel, DP nanoparticle absorbs the light, which is dissipated locally as heat to impact cancer cells via hyperthermia. On the other hand, facile release of the anticancer drug BTZ from the surface of DP encapsulated hydrogel could be achieved due to the dissociation between catechol groups of DP and the boronic acid functionality of BTZ in typical acidic cancer environment. In order to increase the synergistic effect by dual drug delivery, Doxorubicin (DOXO) were also loaded to pNIPAAm-co-pAAm/DP-BTZ hydrogel and the effect of monotherapy as well as combined therapy were detailed by a complete characterization. Our results suggest that these mussel inspired nanocomposite with excellent heating property and controllable multidrug release can be considered as a potential material for cancer therapy.

Study the effects of varying interference upon the optical properties of turbid samples using NIR spatial light modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaul, Oren; Fanrazi-Kahana, Michal; Meitav, Omri; Pinhasi, Gad A.; Abookasis, David

2018-03-01

Optical properties of biological tissues are valuable diagnostic parameters which can provide necessary information regarding tissue state during disease pathogenesis and therapy. However, different sources of interference, such as temperature changes may modify these properties, introducing confounding factors and artifacts to data, consequently skewing their interpretation and misinforming clinical decision-making. In the current study, we apply spatial light modulation, a type of diffuse reflectance hyperspectral imaging technique, to monitor the variation in optical properties of highly scattering turbid media in the presence varying levels of the following sources of interference: scattering concentration, temperature, and pressure. Spatial near-infrared (NIR) light modulation is a wide-field, non-contact emerging optical imaging platform capable of separating the effects of tissue scattering from those of absorption, thereby accurately estimating both parameters. With this technique, periodic NIR illumination patterns at alternately low and high spatial frequencies, at six discrete wavelengths between 690 to 970 nm, were sequentially projected upon the medium while a CCD camera collects the diffusely reflected light. Data analysis based assumptions is then performed off-line to recover the medium's optical properties. We conducted a series of experiments demonstrating the changes in absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of commercially available fresh milk and chicken breast tissue under different interference conditions. In addition, information on the refractive index was study under increased pressure. This work demonstrates the utility of NIR spatial light modulation to detect varying sources of interference upon the optical properties of biological samples.

Biomimetic HDL nanoparticle mediated tumor targeted delivery of indocyanine green for enhanced photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Wang, Yazhe; Wang, Cheng; Ding, Yang; Li, Jing; Li, Min; Liang, Xiao; Zhou, Jianping; Wang, Wei

2016-12-01

Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. To ensure the efficient delivery of a photosensitizer to tumor for anticancer effect, a safe and tumor-specific delivery system is highly desirable. Herein, we introduce a novel biomimetic nanoparticle named rHDL/ICG (rHDL/I), by loading amphiphilic near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye indocyanine green (ICG) into reconstituted high density lipoproteins (rHDL). In this system, rHDL can mediate photoprotection effect and receptor-guided tumor-targeting transportation of cargos into cells. Upon NIR irradiation, ICG can generate fluorescent imaging signals for diagnosis and monitoring therapeutic activity, and produce singlet oxygen to trigger photodynamic therapy (PDT). Our studies demonstrated that rHDL/I exhibited excellent size and fluorescence stability, light-triggered controlled release feature, and neglectable hemolytic activity. It also showed equivalent NIR response compared to free ICG under laser irradiation. Importantly, the fluorescent signal of ICG loaded in rHDL/I could be visualized subcellularly in vitro and exhibited metabolic distribution in vivo, presenting superior tumor targeting and internalization. This NIR-triggered image-guided nanoparticle produced outstanding therapeutic outcomes against cancer cells, demonstrating great potential of biomimetic delivery vehicles in future clinical practice. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Neuroendocrine Tumor-Targeted Upconversion Nanoparticle-Based Micelles for Simultaneous NIR-Controlled Combination Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy, and Fluorescence Imaging.

PubMed

Chen, Guojun; Jaskula-Sztul, Renata; Esquibel, Corinne R; Lou, Irene; Zheng, Qifeng; Dammalapati, Ajitha; Harrison, April; Eliceiri, Kevin W; Tang, Weiping; Chen, Herbert; Gong, Shaoqin

2017-02-23

Although neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are slow growing, they are frequently metastatic at the time of discovery and no longer amenable to curative surgery, emphasizing the need for the development of other treatments. In this study, multifunctional upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based theranostic micelles are developed for NET-targeted and near-infrared (NIR)-controlled combination chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT), and bioimaging. The theranostic micelle is formed by individual UCNP functionalized with light-sensitive amphiphilic block copolymers poly(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl methacrylate)-polyethylene glycol (PNBMA-PEG) and Rose Bengal (RB) photosensitizers. A hydrophobic anticancer drug, AB3, is loaded into the micelles. The NIR-activated UCNPs emit multiple luminescence bands, including UV, 540 nm, and 650 nm. The UV peaks overlap with the absorption peak of photocleavable hydrophobic PNBMA segments, triggering a rapid drug release due to the NIR-induced hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic transition of the micelle core and thus enabling NIR-controlled chemotherapy. RB molecules are activated via luminescence resonance energy transfer to generate 1 O 2 for NIR-induced PDT. Meanwhile, the 650 nm emission allows for efficient fluorescence imaging. KE108, a true pansomatostatin nonapeptide, as an NET-targeting ligand, drastically increases the tumoral uptake of the micelles. Intravenously injected AB3-loaded UCNP-based micelles conjugated with RB and KE108-enabling NET-targeted combination chemotherapy and PDT-induce the best antitumor efficacy.

Photothermal therapy of Lewis lung carcinoma in mice using gold nanoshells on carboxylated polystyrene spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Huiyu; Chen, Dong; Tang, Fangqiong; Du, Gangjun; Li, Linlin; Meng, Xianwei; Liang, Wei; Zhang, Yangde; Teng, Xu; Li, Yi

2008-11-01

A new approach towards the design of gold nanoshells on carboxylated polystyrene spheres (GNCPSs) is reported here. Gold nanoshells were self-assembled on the surface of carboxylated polystyrene spheres by a seed growth method. Chitosan (CHI) was used as a functional agent of carboxylated polystyrene spheres for attaching gold seeds. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of GNCPSs can be tuned, greatly redshifted, over a broad spectral range including the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region, which provides maximal penetration of light through tissue. Irradiation of GNCPSs at their peak extinction coefficient results in the conversion of light to heat energy that produces a local rise in temperature. Our study revealed that the Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) in mice treated with GNCPSs exposed to a low dose of NIR light (808 nm, 4 W cm-2) induced irreversible tissue damage. The tumor volumes of the treatment group by GNCPSs were significantly lower than those of control groups, with an average inhibition rate over 55% (P<0.005). This study proves that GNCPSs are promising in plasmonic photothermal tumor therapy.

Low efficiency upconversion nanoparticles for high-resolution coalignment of near-infrared and visible light paths on a light microscope

PubMed Central

Sundaramoorthy, Sriramkumar; Badaracco, Adrian Garcia; Hirsch, Sophia M.; Park, Jun Hong; Davies, Tim; Dumont, Julien; Shirasu-Hiza, Mimi; Kummel, Andrew C.; Canman, Julie C.

2017-01-01

The combination of near infrared (NIR) and visible wavelengths in light microscopy for biological studies is increasingly common. For example, many fields of biology are developing the use of NIR for optogenetics, in which an NIR laser induces a change in gene expression and/or protein function. One major technical barrier in working with both NIR and visible light on an optical microscope is obtaining their precise coalignment at the imaging plane position. Photon upconverting particles (UCPs) can bridge this gap as they are excited by NIR light but emit in the visible range via an anti-Stokes luminescence mechanism. Here, two different UCPs have been identified, high-efficiency micro540-UCPs and lower efficiency nano545-UCPs, that respond to NIR light and emit visible light with high photostability even at very high NIR power densities (>25,000 Suns). Both of these UCPs can be rapidly and reversibly excited by visible and NIR light and emit light at visible wavelengths detectable with standard emission settings used for Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), a commonly used genetically-encoded fluorophore. However, the high efficiency micro540-UCPs were suboptimal for NIR and visible light coalignment, due to their larger size and spatial broadening from particle-to-particle energy transfer consistent with a long lived excited state and saturated power dependence. In contrast, the lower efficiency nano-UCPs were superior for precise coalignment of the NIR beam with the visible light path (~2 µm versus ~8 µm beam broadening respectively) consistent with limited particle-to-particle energy transfer, superlinear power dependence for emission, and much smaller particle size. Furthermore, the nano-UCPs were superior to a traditional two-camera method for NIR and visible light path alignment in an in vivo Infrared-Laser-Evoked Gene Operator (IR-LEGO) optogenetics assay in the budding yeast S. cerevisiae. In summary, nano-UCPs are powerful new tools for coaligning NIR and visible light paths on a light microscope. PMID:28221018

Disintegrable NIR Light Triggered Gold Nanorods Supported Liposomal Nanohybrids for Cancer Theranostics.

PubMed

Chauhan, Deepak S; Prasad, Rajendra; Devrukhkar, Janhavi; Selvaraj, Kaliaperumal; Srivastava, Rohit

2018-05-16

In this work, facile synthesis and application of targeted, dual therapeutic gold nanorods-liposome (GNR-Lipos) nanohybrid for imaging guided photothermal therapy and chemotherapy is investigated. The dual therapeutic GNR-Lipos nanohybrid consists of GNR supported, and doxorubicin (DOX) loaded liposome. GNRs not only serve as a photothermal agent and increase the drug release in intracellular environment of cancer cells, but also provide mechanical strength to liposomes by being decorated both inside and outside of bilayer surfaces. The designed nanohybrid shows a remarkable response for synergistic chemophotothermal therapy compared to only chemotherapy or photothermal therapy. The NIR response, efficient uptake by the cells, disintegration of GNR-Lipos nanohybrid, and synergistic therapeutic effect of photothermal and chemotherapy over breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 are studied for the better development of a biocompatible nanomaterial based multifunctional cancer theranostic agent.

IR780 based nanomaterials for cancer imaging and photothermal, photodynamic and combinatorial therapies.

PubMed

Alves, Cátia G; Lima-Sousa, Rita; de Melo-Diogo, Duarte; Louro, Ricardo O; Correia, Ilídio J

2018-05-05

IR780, a molecule with a strong optical absorption and emission in the near infrared (NIR) region, is receiving an increasing attention from researchers working in the area of cancer treatment and imaging. Upon irradiation with NIR light, IR780 can produce reactive oxygen species as well as increase the body temperature, thus being a promising agent for application in cancer photodynamic and photothermal therapy. However, IR780's poor water solubility, fast clearance, acute toxicity and low tumor uptake may limit its use. To overcome such issues, several types of nanomaterials have been used to encapsulate and deliver IR780 to tumor cells. This mini-review is focused on the application of IR780 based nanostructures for cancer imaging, and photothermal, photodynamic and combinatorial therapies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implantable wireless powered light emitting diode (LED) for near-infrared photoimmunotherapy: device development and experimental assessment in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Nakajima, Kohei; Kimura, Toshihiro; Takakura, Hideo; Yoshikawa, Yasuo; Kameda, Atsushi; Shindo, Takayuki; Sato, Kazuhide; Kobayashi, Hisataka; Ogawa, Mikako

2018-04-13

The aim of this study was to develop and assess a novel implantable, wireless-powered, light-emitting diode (LED) for near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT). NIR-PIT is a recently developed cancer therapy that uses NIR light and antibody-photosensitizer conjugates and is able to induce cancer-specific cell death. Due to limited light penetration depth it is currently unable to treat tumors in deep tissues. Use of implanted LED might potentially overcome this limitation. The wireless LED system was able to emit NIR light up to a distance of 20 cm from the transmitter coil by using low magnetic fields as compliant with limits for use in humans. Results indicated that the LED system was able to kill tumor cells in vitro and to suppress tumor growth in implanted tumor-bearing mice. Results indicated that the proposed implantable wireless LED system was able to suppress tumor growth in vivo . These results are encouraging as wireless LED systems such as the one here developed might be a possible solution to treat tumors in deep regions in humans. Further research in this area would be important. An implantable LED system was developed. It consisted of a LED capsule including two LED sources and a receiver coil coupled with an external coil and power source. Wireless power transmission was guaranteed by using electromagnetic induction. The system was tested in vitro by using EGFR-expressing cells and HER2-expressing cells. The system was also tested in vivo in tumor-bearing mice.

Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Targeting EGFR Positive Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Optimizing the Conjugate-Light Regimen

PubMed Central

Nagaya, Tadanobu; Sato, Kazuhide; Harada, Toshiko; Nakamura, Yuko; Choyke, Peter L.; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2015-01-01

Aim Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a cancer treatment that employs an antibody-photosensitizer conjugate (APC) followed by exposure of NIR light for activating selective cytotoxicity on targeted cancer cells and may have application to TNBC. In order to minimize the dose of APC while maximizing the therapeutic effects, dosing of the APC and NIR light need to be optimized. In this study, we investigate in vitro and in vivo efficacy of cetuximab (cet)-IR700 NIR-PIT on two breast cancer models MDAMB231 (TNBC, EGFR moderate) and MDAMB468 (TNBC, EGFR high) cell lines, and demonstrate a method to optimize the dosing APC and NIR light. Method After validating in vitro cell-specific cytotoxicity, NIR-PIT therapeutic effects were investigated in mouse models using cell lines derived from TNBC tumors. Tumor-bearing mice were separated into 4 groups for the following treatments: (1) no treatment (control); (2) 300 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., (APC i.v. only); (3) NIR light exposure only, NIR light was administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 and 100 J/cm2 on day 2 (NIR light only); (4) 300 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., NIR light was administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 after injection and 100 J/cm2 of light on day 2 after injection (one shot NIR-PIT). To compare different treatment regimens with a fixed dose of APC, we added the following treatments (5) 100 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., NIR light administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 and 50 μg of cet-IR700 i.v. immediately after NIR-PIT, then NIR light was administered at 100 J/cm2 on day 2, which were performed two times every week (“two split” NIR-PIT) and (6) 100 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., NIR light was administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 and 100 J/cm2 on day 2, which were performed three times per week (“three split” NIR-PIT). Result Both specific binding and NIR-PIT effects were greater with MDAMB468 than MDAMB231 cells in vitro. Tumor accumulation of cet-IR700 in MDAMB468 tumors was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in MDAMB231 tumors in vivo. Tumor growth and survival of MDAMB231 tumor bearing mice was significantly lower in the NIR-PIT treatment group (p < 0.05). In MDAMB468 bearing mice, tumor growth and survival was significantly improved in the NIR-PIT treatment groups in all treatment regimens (one shot NIR-PIT; p < 0.05, “two split” NIR-PIT; p < 0.01, “three split” NIR-PIT; p < 0.001) compared with control groups. Conclusion NIR-PIT for TNBC was effective regardless of expression of EGFR, however, greater cell killing was shown with higher EGFR expression tumor in vitro. In all treatment regimens, NIR-PIT suppressed tumor growth, resulting in significantly prolonged survival that further improved by splitting the APC dose and using repeated light exposures. PMID:26313651

Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Targeting EGFR Positive Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Optimizing the Conjugate-Light Regimen.

PubMed

Nagaya, Tadanobu; Sato, Kazuhide; Harada, Toshiko; Nakamura, Yuko; Choyke, Peter L; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2015-01-01

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a cancer treatment that employs an antibody-photosensitizer conjugate (APC) followed by exposure of NIR light for activating selective cytotoxicity on targeted cancer cells and may have application to TNBC. In order to minimize the dose of APC while maximizing the therapeutic effects, dosing of the APC and NIR light need to be optimized. In this study, we investigate in vitro and in vivo efficacy of cetuximab (cet)-IR700 NIR-PIT on two breast cancer models MDAMB231 (TNBC, EGFR moderate) and MDAMB468 (TNBC, EGFR high) cell lines, and demonstrate a method to optimize the dosing APC and NIR light. After validating in vitro cell-specific cytotoxicity, NIR-PIT therapeutic effects were investigated in mouse models using cell lines derived from TNBC tumors. Tumor-bearing mice were separated into 4 groups for the following treatments: (1) no treatment (control); (2) 300 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., (APC i.v. only); (3) NIR light exposure only, NIR light was administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 and 100 J/cm2 on day 2 (NIR light only); (4) 300 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., NIR light was administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 after injection and 100 J/cm2 of light on day 2 after injection (one shot NIR-PIT). To compare different treatment regimens with a fixed dose of APC, we added the following treatments (5) 100 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., NIR light administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 and 50 μg of cet-IR700 i.v. immediately after NIR-PIT, then NIR light was administered at 100 J/cm2 on day 2, which were performed two times every week ("two split" NIR-PIT) and (6) 100 μg of cet-IR700 i.v., NIR light was administered at 50 J/cm2 on day 1 and 100 J/cm2 on day 2, which were performed three times per week ("three split" NIR-PIT). Both specific binding and NIR-PIT effects were greater with MDAMB468 than MDAMB231 cells in vitro. Tumor accumulation of cet-IR700 in MDAMB468 tumors was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in MDAMB231 tumors in vivo. Tumor growth and survival of MDAMB231 tumor bearing mice was significantly lower in the NIR-PIT treatment group (p < 0.05). In MDAMB468 bearing mice, tumor growth and survival was significantly improved in the NIR-PIT treatment groups in all treatment regimens (one shot NIR-PIT; p < 0.05, "two split" NIR-PIT; p < 0.01, "three split" NIR-PIT; p < 0.001) compared with control groups. NIR-PIT for TNBC was effective regardless of expression of EGFR, however, greater cell killing was shown with higher EGFR expression tumor in vitro. In all treatment regimens, NIR-PIT suppressed tumor growth, resulting in significantly prolonged survival that further improved by splitting the APC dose and using repeated light exposures.

Magnetic field enhanced photothermal effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Pengfei; Lin, Yawen; Gan, Zhixing; Luo, Xiaobin; Zhou, Weiping; Zhang, Ning

2018-03-01

Photothermal and magnetothermal effects are promising in hyperthermia for cancer therapy. However, the development of safe treatments with limited side-effects requires a relatively-high thermal efficiency triggered by mild near-infrared (NIR) light and alternating magnetic field (HAC), which remains a formidable challenge. In this work, a magnetic field enhanced photothermal effect (MFEP) of Fe3O4 nanoparticles is proposed and investigated systematically. The results suggest remarkable temperature increments of 9.59 to 36.90 °C under irradiation of NIR with different light power densities (808 nm, 0-6.98 W/cm2) combined with a certain magnetic field (HAC = 1.5 kA/m at 90 kHz). The rise of temperature induced by MFEP is substantially larger than the sum of isolated photothermal and magnetothermal effects, which is attributed to the hot-phonon bottleneck effect. The MFEP of Fe3O4 nanoparticles could serve as an effective treatment for cancer therapy in the future.

Light shift from ultraviolet to near infrared light: Cerenkov luminescence with gold nanocluster - near infrared (AuNc-NIR) conjugates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Su Woong; Mun, Hyoyoung; Oh, Gyungseok; Ryu, Youngjae; Kim, Min-Gon; Chung, Euiheon

2015-03-01

Cerenkov luminescence (CL) is generated when a charged particle moves faster than the speed of light in dielectric media. Recently CL imaging becomes an emerging technique with the use of radioisotopes. However, due to relatively weak blue light production and massive tissue attenuation, CL has not been applied widely. Therefore, we attempted to shift the CL emission to more near infrared (NIR) spectrum for better tissue penetration by using Cerenkov Radiation Energy Transfer (CRET). Gold nanoclusters were conjugated with NIR dye molecules (AuNc-IR820 and AuNc-ICG) to be activated with ultraviolet light. We found optimal conjugate concentrations of AuNc-NIR conjugates by spectroscopy system to generate maximal photon emission. When exposed by ultraviolet light, the emission of NIR light from the conjugates were verified. In quantitative analysis, AuNc-NIR conjugates emit brighter light signal than pure AuNc. This result implies that NIR fluorescent dyes (both IR820 and ICG) can be excited by the emission from AuNc. Following the above baseline experiment, we mixed F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) radioisotope to the AuNc- NIR conjugates, to confirm NIR emission induced from Cerenkov radiation. Long pass filter was used to block Cerenkov luminescence and to collect the emission from AuNc-NIR conjugates. Instead of one long exposure imaging with CCD, we used multiple frame scheme to eliminate gamma radiation strike in each frame prior to combination. In summary, we obtained NIR emission light from AuNc-NIR conjugated dyes that is induced from CL. We plan to perform in vivo small animal imaging with these conjugates to assess better tissue penetration.

Improving NIR snow pit stratigraphy observations by introducing a controlled NIR light source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dean, J.; Marshall, H.; Rutter, N.; Karlson, A.

2013-12-01

Near-infrared (NIR) photography in a prepared snow pit measures mm-/grain-scale variations in snow structure, as reflectivity is strongly dependent on microstructure and grain size at the NIR wavelengths. We explore using a controlled NIR light source to maximize signal to noise ratio and provide uniform incident, diffuse light on the snow pit wall. NIR light fired from the flash is diffused across and reflected by an umbrella onto the snow pit; the lens filter transmits NIR light onto the spectrum-modified sensor of the DSLR camera. Lenses are designed to refract visible light properly, not NIR light, so there must be a correction applied for the subsequent NIR bright spot. To avoid interpolation and debayering algorithms automatically performed by programs like Adobe's Photoshop on the images, the raw data are analyzed directly in MATLAB. NIR image data show a doubling of the amount of light collected in the same time for flash over ambient lighting. Transitions across layer boundaries in the flash-lit image are detailed by higher camera intensity values than ambient-lit images. Curves plotted using median intensity at each depth, normalized to the average profile intensity, show a separation between flash- and ambient-lit images in the upper 10-15 cm; the ambient-lit image curve asymptotically approaches the level of the flash-lit image curve below 15cm. We hypothesize that the difference is caused by additional ambient light penetrating the upper 10-15 cm of the snowpack from above and transmitting through the wall of the snow pit. This indicates that combining NIR ambient and flash photography could be a powerful technique for studying penetration depth of radiation as a function of microstructure and grain size. The NIR flash images do not increase the relative contrast at layer boundaries; however, the flash more than doubles the amount of recorded light and controls layer noise as well as layer boundary transition noise.

Comparative effectiveness of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and Lasers in near infrared photoimmunotherapy

PubMed Central

Sato, Kazuhide; Watanabe, Rira; Hanaoka, Hirofumi; Nakajima, Takahito; Choyke, Peter L.; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2016-01-01

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that combines the specificity of antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity induced by photosensitizers after exposure to near infrared (NIR) light. Herein we compare two NIR-light sources; light emitting diodes (LEDs) and Lasers, for their effectiveness in NIR-PIT. A photosensitizer, IRDye-700DX, conjugated to panitumumab (pan-IR700), was incubated with EGFR-expressing A431 and MDA-MB-468-luc cells. NIR-light was provided by LEDs or Lasers at the same light dose. Laser-light produced more cytotoxicity and greater reductions in IR700-fluorescence intensity than LED-light. Laser-light also produced more cytotoxicity in vivo in both cell lines. Assessment of super-enhanced permeability and retention (SUPR) effects were stronger with Laser than LED. These results suggest that Laser-light produced significantly more cytotoxic effects compared to LEDs. Although LED is less expensive, Laser-light produces superior results in NIR-PIT. PMID:26885688

Comparative effectiveness of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and Lasers in near infrared photoimmunotherapy.

PubMed

Sato, Kazuhide; Watanabe, Rira; Hanaoka, Hirofumi; Nakajima, Takahito; Choyke, Peter L; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2016-03-22

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that combines the specificity of antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity induced by photosensitizers after exposure to near infrared (NIR) light. Herein we compare two NIR-light sources; light emitting diodes (LEDs) and Lasers, for their effectiveness in NIR-PIT. A photosensitizer, IRDye-700DX, conjugated to panitumumab (pan-IR700), was incubated with EGFR-expressing A431 and MDA-MB-468-luc cells. NIR-light was provided by LEDs or Lasers at the same light dose. Laser-light produced more cytotoxicity and greater reductions in IR700-fluorescence intensity than LED-light. Laser-light also produced more cytotoxicity in vivo in both cell lines. Assessment of super-enhanced permeability and retention (SUPR) effects were stronger with Laser than LED. These results suggest that Laser-light produced significantly more cytotoxic effects compared to LEDs. Although LED is less expensive, Laser-light produces superior results in NIR-PIT.

Neuroendocrine Tumor-Targeted Upconversion Nanoparticle-Based Micelles for Simultaneous NIR-Controlled Combination Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy, and Fluorescence Imaging

PubMed Central

Chen, Guojun; Jaskula-Sztul, Renata; Esquibel, Corinne R.; Lou, Irene; Zheng, Qifeng; Dammalapati, Ajitha; Harrison, April; Eliceiri, Kevin W.; Tang, Weiping

2017-01-01

Although neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are slow growing, they are frequently metastatic at the time of discovery and no longer amenable to curative surgery, emphasizing the need for the development of other treatments. In this study, multifunctional upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based theranostic micelles are developed for NET-targeted and near-infrared (NIR)-controlled combination chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT), and bioimaging. The theranostic micelle is formed by individual UCNP functionalized with light-sensitive amphiphilic block copolymers poly(4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl methacrylate)-polyethylene glycol (PNBMA-PEG) and Rose Bengal (RB) photosensitizers. A hydrophobic anticancer drug, AB3, is loaded into the micelles. The NIR-activated UCNPs emit multiple luminescence bands, including UV, 540 nm, and 650 nm. The UV peaks overlap with the absorption peak of photocleavable hydrophobic PNBMA segments, triggering a rapid drug release due to the NIR-induced hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic transition of the micelle core and thus enabling NIR-controlled chemotherapy. RB molecules are activated via luminescence resonance energy transfer to generate 1O2 for NIR-induced PDT. Meanwhile, the 650 nm emission allows for efficient fluorescence imaging. KE108, a true pansomatostatin nonapeptide, as an NET-targeting ligand, drastically increases the tumoral uptake of the micelles. Intravenously injected AB3-loaded UCNP-based micelles conjugated with RB and KE108—enabling NET-targeted combination chemotherapy and PDT—induce the best antitumor efficacy. PMID:28989337

Immunogenic cancer cell death selectively induced by near infrared photoimmunotherapy initiates host tumor immunity.

PubMed

Ogawa, Mikako; Tomita, Yusuke; Nakamura, Yuko; Lee, Min-Jung; Lee, Sunmin; Tomita, Saori; Nagaya, Tadanobu; Sato, Kazuhide; Yamauchi, Toyohiko; Iwai, Hidenao; Kumar, Abhishek; Haystead, Timothy; Shroff, Hari; Choyke, Peter L; Trepel, Jane B; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2017-02-07

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a form of cell death that activates an adaptive immune response against dead-cell-associated antigens. Cancer cells killed via ICD can elicit antitumor immunity. ICD is efficiently induced by near-infrared photo-immunotherapy (NIR-PIT) that selectively kills target-cells on which antibody-photoabsorber conjugates bind and are activated by NIR light exposure. Advanced live cell microscopies showed that NIR-PIT caused rapid and irreversible damage to the cell membrane function leading to swelling and bursting, releasing intracellular components due to the influx of water into the cell. The process also induces relocation of ICD bio markers including calreticulin, Hsp70 and Hsp90 to the cell surface and the rapid release of immunogenic signals including ATP and HMGB1 followed by maturation of immature dendritic cells. Thus, NIR-PIT is a therapy that kills tumor cells by ICD, eliciting a host immune response against tumor.

A Highly Efficient and Photostable Photosensitizer with Near-Infrared Aggregation-Induced Emission for Image-Guided Photodynamic Anticancer Therapy.

PubMed

Wu, Wenbo; Mao, Duo; Hu, Fang; Xu, Shidang; Chen, Chao; Zhang, Chong-Jing; Cheng, Xiamin; Yuan, Youyong; Ding, Dan; Kong, Deling; Liu, Bin

2017-09-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which relies on photosensitizers (PS) and light to generate reactive oxygen species to kill cancer cells or bacteria, has attracted much attention in recent years. PSs with both bright emission and efficient singlet oxygen generation have also been used for image-guided PDT. However, simultaneously achieving effective 1 O 2 generation, long wavelength absorption, and stable near-infrared (NIR) emission with low dark toxicity in a single PS remains challenging. In addition, it is well known that when traditional PSs are made into nanoparticles, they encounter quenched fluorescence and reduced 1 O 2 production. In this contribution, these challenging issues have been successfully addressed through designing the first photostable photosensitizer with aggregation-induced NIR emission and very effective 1 O 2 generation in aggregate state. The yielded nanoparticles show very effective 1 O 2 generation, bright NIR fluorescence centered at 820 nm, excellent photostability, good biocompatibility, and negligible dark in vivo toxicity. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments prove that the nanoparticles are excellent candidates for image-guided photodynamic anticancer therapy. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Theranostic reduction-sensitive gemcitabine prodrug micelles for near-infrared imaging and pancreatic cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Haijie; Wang, Haibo; Chen, Yangjun; Li, Zuhong; Wang, Yin; Jin, Qiao; Ji, Jian

2015-12-01

A biodegradable and reduction-cleavable gemcitabine (GEM) polymeric prodrug with in vivo near-infrared (NIR) imaging ability was reported. This theranostic GEM prodrug PEG-b-[PLA-co-PMAC-graft-(IR820-co-GEM)] was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization and ``click'' reaction. The as-prepared reduction-sensitive prodrug could self-assemble into prodrug micelles in aqueous solution confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro drug release studies showed that these prodrug micelles were able to release GEM in an intracellular-mimicking reductive environment. These prodrug micelles could be effectively internalized by BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells, which were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Meanwhile, a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay demonstrated that this prodrug exhibited high cytotoxicity against BxPC-3 cells. The in vivo whole-animal near-infrared (NIR) imaging results showed that these prodrug micelles could be effectively accumulated in tumor tissue and had a longer blood circulation time than IR820-COOH. The endogenous reduction-sensitive gemcitabine prodrug micelles with the in vivo NIR imaging ability might have great potential in image-guided pancreatic cancer therapy.A biodegradable and reduction-cleavable gemcitabine (GEM) polymeric prodrug with in vivo near-infrared (NIR) imaging ability was reported. This theranostic GEM prodrug PEG-b-[PLA-co-PMAC-graft-(IR820-co-GEM)] was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization and ``click'' reaction. The as-prepared reduction-sensitive prodrug could self-assemble into prodrug micelles in aqueous solution confirmed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro drug release studies showed that these prodrug micelles were able to release GEM in an intracellular-mimicking reductive environment. These prodrug micelles could be effectively internalized by BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells, which were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Meanwhile, a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay demonstrated that this prodrug exhibited high cytotoxicity against BxPC-3 cells. The in vivo whole-animal near-infrared (NIR) imaging results showed that these prodrug micelles could be effectively accumulated in tumor tissue and had a longer blood circulation time than IR820-COOH. The endogenous reduction-sensitive gemcitabine prodrug micelles with the in vivo NIR imaging ability might have great potential in image-guided pancreatic cancer therapy. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06734k

Magnetic/NIR-responsive drug carrier, multicolor cell imaging, and enhanced photothermal therapy of gold capped magnetite-fluorescent carbon hybrid nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Hui; Cao, Guixin; Gai, Zheng

In our paper reports a type of multifunctional hybrid nanoparticle (NP) composed of gold nanocrystals coated on and/or embedded in a magnetite-fluorescent porous carbon core-shell NP template (Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au) for biomedical applications, including magnetic/NIR-responsive drug release, multicolor cell imaging, and enhanced photothermal therapy. The synthesis of the Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au NPs firstly involves the preparation of core-shell template NPs with magnetite nanocrystals clustered in the cores and fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) embedded in a porous carbon shell, followed by an in situ reduction of silver ions (Ag +) loaded in the porous carbon shell and a subsequent replacement ofmore » Ag NPs with Au NPs through a galvanic replacement reaction using HAuCl 4 as a precursor. Moreover, the Fe 3O 4@PC-CDsAu NPs can enter the intracellular region and light up mouse melanoma B16F10 cells in multicolor mode. The porous carbon shell, anchored with hydrophilic hydroxyl/carboxyl groups, endows the Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au NPs with excellent stability in the aqueous phase and a high loading capacity (719 mg g -1) for the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The superparamagnetic Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au NPs with a saturation magnetization of 23.26 emu g -1 produce localized heat under an alternating magnetic field, which triggers the release of the loaded drug. The combined photothermal effects of the Au nanocrystals and the CDs on/in the carbon shell can not only regulate the release rate of the loaded drug, but also efficiently kill tumor cells under NIR irradiation. Finally, in benefitting from their excellent optical properties, their magnetic field and NIR light-responsive drug release capabilities and their enhanced photothermal effect, such nanostructured Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au hybrid NPs are very promising for simultaneous imaging diagnostics and high efficacy therapy.« less

Magnetic/NIR-responsive drug carrier, multicolor cell imaging, and enhanced photothermal therapy of gold capped magnetite-fluorescent carbon hybrid nanoparticles

DOE PAGES

Wang, Hui; Cao, Guixin; Gai, Zheng; ...

2015-03-25

In our paper reports a type of multifunctional hybrid nanoparticle (NP) composed of gold nanocrystals coated on and/or embedded in a magnetite-fluorescent porous carbon core-shell NP template (Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au) for biomedical applications, including magnetic/NIR-responsive drug release, multicolor cell imaging, and enhanced photothermal therapy. The synthesis of the Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au NPs firstly involves the preparation of core-shell template NPs with magnetite nanocrystals clustered in the cores and fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) embedded in a porous carbon shell, followed by an in situ reduction of silver ions (Ag +) loaded in the porous carbon shell and a subsequent replacement ofmore » Ag NPs with Au NPs through a galvanic replacement reaction using HAuCl 4 as a precursor. Moreover, the Fe 3O 4@PC-CDsAu NPs can enter the intracellular region and light up mouse melanoma B16F10 cells in multicolor mode. The porous carbon shell, anchored with hydrophilic hydroxyl/carboxyl groups, endows the Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au NPs with excellent stability in the aqueous phase and a high loading capacity (719 mg g -1) for the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The superparamagnetic Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au NPs with a saturation magnetization of 23.26 emu g -1 produce localized heat under an alternating magnetic field, which triggers the release of the loaded drug. The combined photothermal effects of the Au nanocrystals and the CDs on/in the carbon shell can not only regulate the release rate of the loaded drug, but also efficiently kill tumor cells under NIR irradiation. Finally, in benefitting from their excellent optical properties, their magnetic field and NIR light-responsive drug release capabilities and their enhanced photothermal effect, such nanostructured Fe 3O 4@PC-CDs-Au hybrid NPs are very promising for simultaneous imaging diagnostics and high efficacy therapy.« less

A "win-win" nanoplatform: TiO2:Yb,Ho,F for NIR light-induced synergistic therapy and imaging.

PubMed

Zhou, Jie; Luo, Pei; Sun, Chong; Meng, Lingchang; Ye, Weiran; Chen, Shanshan; Du, Bin

2017-03-23

To avoid the defect of low energy transfer efficiency in core-shell UCNP-TiO 2 NPs, doping rare earth into TiO 2 and improving the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 itself under Vis-NIR light might be a more direct and efficient strategy for high 1 O 2 production. Here, we designed a TiO 2 :Yb,Ho,F-β-CD@DTX/HA nanoplatform using TiO 2 :Yb,Ho,F as the core, β-CD as the drug carrier, hyaluronic acid (HA) as the capping agent and target, and then applied it for 808 nm induced photodynamic-chemotherapy and 980 nm upconversion fluorescence/MR imaging. The results were as follows: (i) for TiO 2 as a photosensitizer, after doping Yb, Ho, F into TiO 2 , it could directly generate reactive oxygen species under an 808 nm laser; the dopants enhanced the absorption under the UV-Vis-NIR region and increased the electron-hole pair separation. (ii) For TiO 2 as the upconversion host, F and Ho also endowed TiO 2 :Yb,Ho,F with enhanced upconversion fluorescence under a 980 nm laser and T 2 -MRI contrast performance (r 2 = 30.71 mM -1 s -1 ), respectively, thus, facilitating imaging for deep tissues. (iii) The HA shell outside of β-CD prevented the unexpected leaking of DTX, which improved the target abilities and achieved the enzyme-responsive drug release. The in vitro and in vivo studies also demonstrated the nanosystem could efficiently suppress tumor growth by combination therapy and had excellent imaging (UCL/MR) ability. Particularly, our work was the first example that utilized TiO 2 simultaneously as a photosensitizer and upconversion host, which simplified the core-shell UCNP-TiO 2 nanocomposites and reached a "win-win" cooperation in NIR-induced photodynamic therapy and UCL imaging.

Doxorubicin-loaded NaYF4:Yb/Tm-TiO2 inorganic photosensitizers for NIR-triggered photodynamic therapy and enhanced chemotherapy in drug-resistant breast cancers.

PubMed

Zeng, Leyong; Pan, Yuanwei; Tian, Ying; Wang, Xin; Ren, Wenzhi; Wang, Shouju; Lu, Guangming; Wu, Aiguo

2015-07-01

The combination therapy has exhibited important potential for the treatment of cancers, especially for drug-resistant cancers. In this report, bi-functional nanoprobes based on doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded NaYF4:Yb/Tm-TiO2 inorganic photosensitizers (FA-NPs-DOX) were synthesized for in vivo near infrared (NIR)-triggered inorganic photodynamic therapy (PDT) and enhanced chemotherapy to overcome the multidrug resistance (MDR) in breast cancers. Using the up-conversion luminescence (UCL) performance of NaYF4:Yb/Tm converting near-infrared (NIR) into ultraviolent (UV) lights, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were triggered from TiO2 inorganic photosensitizers for PDT under the irradiation of a 980 nm laser, by which the deep-penetration and low photo-damage could be reached. Moreover, nanocarrier delivery and folic acid (FA) targeting promoted the cellular uptake, and accelerated the release of DOX in drug-sensitive MCF-7 and resistant MCF-7/ADR cells. The toxicity assessment in vitro and in vivo revealed the good biocompatibility of the as-prepared FA-NPs-DOX nanocomposites. By the combination of enhanced chemotherapy and NIR-triggered inorganic PDT, the viability of MCF-7/ADR cells could decrease by 53.5%, and the inhibition rate of MCF-7/ADR tumors could increase up to 90.33%, compared with free DOX. Therefore, the MDR of breast cancers could be obviously overcome by enhanced chemotherapy and NIR-triggered inorganic PDT of FA-NPs-DOX nanocomposites under the excitation of a 980 nm laser. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new near infrared photosensitizing nanoplatform containing blue-emitting up-conversion nanoparticles and hypocrellin A for photodynamic therapy of cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Shan; Zhou, Liangjun; Gu, Zhanjun; Tian, Gan; Yan, Liang; Ren, Wenlu; Yin, Wenyan; Liu, Xiaodong; Zhang, Xiao; Hu, Zhongbo; Zhao, Yuliang

2013-11-01

The utilization of up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has gained significant interest due to their unique ability to convert near infrared light to UV/visible light. Previous work mainly focused on the fabrication of green and red emitting UCNPs to load photosensitizers (PSs) for PDT. In this work, we firstly developed a new multifunctional nanoplatform combining blue-emitting UCNPs with blue-light excited PS (hypocrellin A, HA) as a NIR photosensitizing nanoplatform for PDT of cancer cells. Tween 20 coated NaYbF4:Tm, Gd@NaGdF4 UCNPs (Tween 20-UCNPs) with strong blue up-conversion luminescence and good water dispersibility were prepared for use as PS carriers. The blue emission band matched well with the efficient absorption band of HA, thereby facilitating the resonance energy transfer from UCNPs to HA and then activating HA to produce singlet oxygen (1O2). The in vitro study showed that these Tween 20-UCNPs@HA complexes could efficiently produce 1O2 to kill cancer cells under 980 nm NIR excitation. Moreover, these Gd3+ and Yb3+ containing nanoparticles also exhibited positive contrast effects in both T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging, making them become a multifunctional platform for simultaneous PDT and bio-imaging.The utilization of up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has gained significant interest due to their unique ability to convert near infrared light to UV/visible light. Previous work mainly focused on the fabrication of green and red emitting UCNPs to load photosensitizers (PSs) for PDT. In this work, we firstly developed a new multifunctional nanoplatform combining blue-emitting UCNPs with blue-light excited PS (hypocrellin A, HA) as a NIR photosensitizing nanoplatform for PDT of cancer cells. Tween 20 coated NaYbF4:Tm, Gd@NaGdF4 UCNPs (Tween 20-UCNPs) with strong blue up-conversion luminescence and good water dispersibility were prepared for use as PS carriers. The blue emission band matched well with the efficient absorption band of HA, thereby facilitating the resonance energy transfer from UCNPs to HA and then activating HA to produce singlet oxygen (1O2). The in vitro study showed that these Tween 20-UCNPs@HA complexes could efficiently produce 1O2 to kill cancer cells under 980 nm NIR excitation. Moreover, these Gd3+ and Yb3+ containing nanoparticles also exhibited positive contrast effects in both T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging, making them become a multifunctional platform for simultaneous PDT and bio-imaging. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr03515h

Treatments for traumatic brain injury with emphasis on transcranial near-infrared laser phototherapy

PubMed Central

Morries, Larry D; Cassano, Paolo; Henderson, Theodore A

2015-01-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a growing health concern affecting civilians and military personnel. In this review, treatments for the chronic TBI patient are discussed, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cognitive therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. All available literature suggests a marginal benefit with prolonged treatment courses. An emerging modality of treatment is near-infrared (NIR) light, which has benefit in animal models of stroke, spinal cord injury, optic nerve injury, and TBI, and in human trials for stroke and TBI. The extant literature is confounded by variable degrees of efficacy and a bewildering array of treatment parameters. Some data indicate that diodes emitting low-level NIR energy often have failed to demonstrate therapeutic efficacy, perhaps due to failing to deliver sufficient radiant energy to the necessary depth. As part of this review, we present a retrospective case series using high-power NIR laser phototherapy with a Class IV laser to treat TBI. We demonstrate greater clinical efficacy with higher fluence, in contrast to the bimodal model of efficacy previously proposed. In ten patients with chronic TBI (average time since injury 9.3 years) given ten treatments over the course of 2 months using a high-power NIR laser (13.2 W/0.89 cm2 at 810 nm or 9 W/0.89 cm2 at 810 nm and 980 nm), symptoms of headache, sleep disturbance, cognition, mood dysregulation, anxiety, and irritability improved. Symptoms were monitored by depression scales and a novel patient diary system specifically designed for this study. NIR light in the power range of 10–15 W at 810 nm and 980 nm can safely and effectively treat chronic symptoms of TBI. The clinical benefit and effects of infrared phototherapy on mitochondrial function and secondary molecular events are discussed in the context of adequate radiant energy penetration. PMID:26347062

Combined chemo- and photo-thermal therapy delivered by multifunctional theranostic gold nanorod-loaded microcapsules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Haiyan; di, Yingfeng; Chen, Dan; Madrid, Kyle; Zhang, Min; Tian, Caiping; Tang, Liping; Gu, Yueqing

2015-05-01

A polyelectrolyte microcapsule-based, cancer-targeting, and controlled drug delivery system has been developed as a multifunctional theranostic agent for synergistic cancer treatment. This new system, called FA-MC@GNR, is composed of folic acid (FA)-modified, multi-layered, hollow microcapsules loaded with gold nanorods (GNRs), and undergoes thermal degradation under near infrared (NIR) light. Either an NIR dye (MPA) or anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin, DOX) was loaded into the microcapsules via physical adsorption, yielding FA-MC@GNRs/MPA or FA-MC@GNRs/DOX, both of which exhibit no obvious toxicity, high stability, and remarkably improved tumor-targeting capabilities in vivo. Utilizing the strong NIR absorption of FA-MC@GNRs/DOX, we demonstrate the system's ability to simultaneously elicit photothermal therapy and controlled chemotherapy, achieving synergistic cancer treatment both in vitro cellular and in vivo animal experiments. Our study presents a new type of multifunctional micro-carrier for the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and photothermal agents, which has been shown to be an effective therapeutic approach for combined cancer treatment.

Magnetically targeted delivery of DOX loaded Cu9S5@mSiO2@Fe3O4-PEG nanocomposites for combined MR imaging and chemo/photothermal synergistic therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Bei; Zhang, Xinyang; Li, Chunxia; He, Fei; Chen, Yinyin; Huang, Shanshan; Jin, Dayong; Yang, Piaoping; Cheng, Ziyong; Lin, Jun

2016-06-01

The combination of multi-theranostic modes in a controlled fashion has received tremendous attention for the construction of cooperative therapeutic systems in nanomedicine. Herein, we have synthesized a smart magnetically targeted nanocarrier system, Cu9S5@mSiO2@Fe3O4-PEG (labelled as CMF), which integrates NIR triggered photothermal therapy, pH/NIR-responsive chemotherapy and MR imaging into one nanoplatform to enhance the therapeutic efficacy. This new multifunctional paradigm has a uniform and monodisperse sesame ball-like structure by decorating tiny Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the surface of Cu9S5@mSiO2 before a further PEG modification to improve its hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. With doxorubicin (DOX) payload, the as-obtained CMF-DOX composites can simultaneously provide an intense heating effect and enhanced DOX release upon 980 nm NIR light exposure, achieving a combined chemo/photothermal therapy. Under the influence of an external magnetic field, the magnetically targeted synergistic therapeutic effect of CMF-DOX can lead to highly superior inhibition of animal H22 tumor in vivo when compared to any of the single approaches alone. The results revealed that this Cu9S5 based magnetically targeted chemo/photothermal synergistic nanocarrier system has great promise in future MR imaging assisted tumor targeted therapy of cancer.

Estimation of crosstalk in LED fNIRS by photon propagation Monte Carlo simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwano, Takayuki; Umeyama, Shinji

2015-12-01

fNIRS (functional near-Infrared spectroscopy) can measure brain activity non-invasively and has advantages such as low cost and portability. While the conventional fNIRS has used laser light, LED light fNIRS is recently becoming common in use. Using LED for fNIRS, equipment can be more inexpensive and more portable. LED light, however, has a wider illumination spectrum than laser light, which may change crosstalk between the calculated concentration change of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobins. The crosstalk is caused by difference in light path length in the head tissues depending on wavelengths used. We conducted Monte Carlo simulations of photon propagation in the tissue layers of head (scalp, skull, CSF, gray matter, and white matter) to estimate the light path length in each layers. Based on the estimated path lengths, the crosstalk in fNIRS using LED light was calculated. Our results showed that LED light more increases the crosstalk than laser light does when certain combinations of wavelengths were adopted. Even in such cases, the crosstalk increased by using LED light can be effectively suppressed by replacing the value of extinction coefficients used in the hemoglobin calculation to their weighted average over illumination spectrum.

Plasmonic enhancement of cyanine dyes for near-infrared light-triggered photodynamic/photothermal therapy and fluorescent imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Mindan; Kang, Ning; Chen, Chuan; Yang, Liuqing; Li, Yang; Hong, Minghui; Luo, Xiangang; Ren, Lei; Wang, Xiumin

2017-11-01

Near-infrared (NIR) triggered cyanine dyes have attracted considerable attention in multimodal tumor theranostics. However, NIR cyanine dyes used in tumor treatment often suffer from low fluorescence intensity and weak singlet oxygen generation efficiency, resulting in inadequate diagnostic and therapy efficacy for tumors. It is still a great challenge to improve both the photodynamic therapy (PDT) and fluorescent imaging (FLI) efficacy of cyanine dyes in tumor applications. Herein, a novel multifunctional nanoagent AuNRs@SiO2-IR795 was developed to realize the integrated photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) and FLI at a very low dosage of IR795 (0.4 μM) based on metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) effects. In our design, both the fluorescence intensity and reactive oxygen species of AuNRs@SiO2-IR795 nanocomposites were significantly enhanced up to 51.7 and 6.3 folds compared with free IR795, owing to the localized surface plasmon resonance band of AuNRs overlapping with the absorption or fluorescence emission band of the IR795 dye. Under NIR laser irradiation, the cancer cell inhibition efficiency in vitro with synergetic PDT/PTT was up to 82.3%, compared with 10.3% for free IR795. Moreover, the enhanced fluorescence intensity of our designed nanocomposites was helpful to track their behavior in tumor cells. Therefore, our designed nanoagents highlight the applications of multimodal diagnostics and therapy in tumors based on MEF.

Macrophage-mediated delivery of light activated nitric oxide prodrugs with spatial, temporal and concentration control† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Includes detailed experimental details plus 10 additional figures. See DOI: 10.1039/c8sc00015h

PubMed Central

Evans, Michael A.; Huang, Po-Ju; Iwamoto, Yuji; Ibsen, Kelly N.; Chan, Emory M.; Hitomi, Yutaka

2018-01-01

Nitric oxide (NO) holds great promise as a treatment for cancer hypoxia, if its concentration and localization can be precisely controlled. Here, we report a “Trojan Horse” strategy to provide the necessary spatial, temporal, and dosage control of such drug-delivery therapies at targeted tissues. Described is a unique package consisting of (1) a manganese–nitrosyl complex, which is a photoactivated NO-releasing moiety (photoNORM), plus Nd3+-doped upconverting nanoparticles (Nd-UCNPs) incorporated into (2) biodegradable polymer microparticles that are taken up by (3) bone-marrow derived murine macrophages. Both the photoNORM [Mn(NO)dpaqNO2]BPh4(dpaqNO2 = 2-[N,N-bis(pyridin-2-yl-methyl)]-amino-N′-5-nitro-quinolin-8-yl-acetamido) and the Nd-UCNPs are activated by tissue-penetrating near-infrared (NIR) light at ∼800 nm. Thus, simultaneous therapeutic NO delivery and photoluminescence (PL) imaging can be achieved with a NIR diode laser source. The loaded microparticles are non-toxic to their macrophage hosts in the absence of light. The microparticle-carrying macrophages deeply penetrate into NIH-3T3/4T1 tumor spheroid models, and when the infiltrated spheroids are irradiated with NIR light, NO is released in quantifiable amounts while emission from the Nd-UCNPs provides images of microparticle location. Furthermore, varying the intensity of the NIR excitation allows photochemical control over NO release. Low doses reduce levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) in the tumor cells, while high doses are cytotoxic. The use of macrophages to carry microparticles with a NIR photo-activated theranostic payload into a tumor overcomes challenges often faced with therapeutic administration of NO and offers the potential of multiple treatment strategies with a single system. PMID:29780505

Mini Review of TiO2 -Based Multifunctional Nanocomposites for Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Phototherapy.

PubMed

Wang, Meifang; Hou, Zhiyao; Al Kheraif, Abdulaziz A; Xing, Bengang; Lin, Jun

2018-06-25

Phototherapy with the properties of specific spatial/temporal selectivity and minimal invasiveness has been acknowledged as one of the most promising cancer therapy types. Among all the photoactive substance for phototherapy, titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanomaterials are paid more and more attention due to their outstanding photocatalytic properties, prominent biocompatibility, and excellent chemical stability. However, the wide bandgap (3.0-3.2 eV) of TiO 2 limits its absorption only to the ultraviolet (UV) light region. For a long time, UV light-stimulated TiO 2 was applied in the phototherapy researches of tumors located in the skin layer, while it is unsatisfactory for most deep-tissue tumors. Due to the maximum penetration into tissue existing in the near-infrared (NIR) region, how to use NIR light to trigger photochemical reaction of TiO 2 remains a big challenge. In this review, two strategies to develop and construct NIR-triggered TiO 2 -based nanocomposites (NCs) for phototherapy are summarized, and the relevant mechanism and background knowledge of TiO 2 -based phototherapy are also given in order to better understand the application value and current situation of TiO 2 in phototherapy. Finally, the challenges and research directions of TiO 2 in the future clinic phototherapy application are also discussed. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Spatially selective depleting tumor-associated negative regulatory T-(Treg) cells with near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT): A new cancer immunotherapy (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Hisataka

2017-02-01

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new type of molecularly-targeted photo-therapy based on conjugating a near infrared silica-phthalocyanine dye, IR700, to a monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting target-specific cell-surface molecules. When exposed to NIR light, the conjugate rapidly induces a highly-selective cell death only in receptor-positive, MAb-IR700-bound cells. Current immunotherapies for cancer seek to modulate the balance among different immune cell populations, thereby promoting anti-tumor immune responses. However, because these are systemic therapies, they often cause treatment-limiting autoimmune adverse effects. It would be ideal to manipulate the balance between suppressor and effector cells within the tumor without disturbing homeostasis elsewhere in the body. CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are well-known immune-suppressor cells that play a key role in tumor immuno-evasion and have been the target of systemic immunotherapies. We used CD25-targeted NIR-PIT to selectively deplete Tregs, thus activating CD8+ T and NK cells and restoring local anti-tumor immunity. This not only resulted in regression of the treated tumor but also induced responses in separate untreated tumors of the same cell-line derivation. We conclude that CD25-targeted NIR-PIT causes spatially selective depletion of Tregs, thereby providing an alternative approach to cancer immunotherapy that can treat not only local tumors but also distant metastatic tumors.

Gold nanoflowers with mesoporous silica as "nanocarriers" for drug release and photothermal therapy in the treatment of oral cancer using near-infrared (NIR) laser light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Wenzhi; Gong, Junxia; Wang, Yuqian; Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Hongmei; Zhang, Weihang; Zhang, Hu; Liu, Xin; Zhang, Tianfu; Yin, Wanzhong; Yang, Wensheng

2016-04-01

In this experiment, we successfully developed nanocarriers in the form of gold nanoflowers coated with two layers of silica for the purposes of drug loading and NIR (near-infrared) photothermal therapy for the treatment of oral cancer. The gold nanoflowers converted NIR laser energy into heat energy. The cores were coated with a thin silica layer (AuNFs@SiO2) to protect the gold nanoflowers from intraparticle ripening. The second layer was mesoporous silica (AuNFs@SiO2@mSiO2), which acted as a nanocarrier for anticancer drug (DOX) loads. The mean effective diameter of the nanoparticles was approximately 150-200 nm, whereas the peak absorption of the AuNFs was 684 nm. After the AuNFs were encapsulated by the silica shells, the plasmonic absorption peak of AuNFs@SiO2 and AuNFs@SiO2@mSiO2 exhibited a red shift to 718 nm. When exposed to an 808 nm NIR laser, these crystals showed an obvious photothermal conversion in the NIR region and a highly efficient release of DOX. Biocompatibility was assessed in vitro using Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, and the results showed that the nanocarriers induced no obvious cytotoxicity. This nanomaterial could be considered a new type of material that shows promising potential for photothermal-chemotherapy against malignant tumours, including those of oral cancers.

Two-photon excitation of porphyrin-functionalized porous silicon nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Secret, Emilie; Maynadier, Marie; Gallud, Audrey; Chaix, Arnaud; Bouffard, Elise; Gary-Bobo, Magali; Marcotte, Nathalie; Mongin, Olivier; El Cheikh, Khaled; Hugues, Vincent; Auffan, Mélanie; Frochot, Céline; Morère, Alain; Maillard, Philippe; Blanchard-Desce, Mireille; Sailor, Michael J; Garcia, Marcel; Durand, Jean-Olivier; Cunin, Frédérique

2014-12-03

Porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) act as a sensitizer for the 2-photon excitation of a pendant porphyrin using NIR laser light, for imaging and photodynamic therapy. Mannose-functionalized pSiNPs can be vectorized to MCF-7 human breast cancer cells through a mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis mechanism to provide a 3-fold enhancement of the 2-photon PDT effect. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Near-infrared light-triggered thermochemotherapy of cancer using a polymer-gold nanorod conjugate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ko, Hyewon; Son, Soyoung; Bae, Seonghwan; Kim, Joo-Hyung; Yi, Gi-Ra; Park, Jae Hyung

2016-04-01

A biocompatible polymer-gold nanorod (P-AuNR) conjugate was developed as a thermo-chemotherapeutic nano-sized drug carrier for cancer therapy using near-infrared (NIR) light as an external trigger. The amphiphilic polymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) bearing a disulfide bond, was prepared using a facile synthetic route via copper(I)-free click chemistry and covalently linked to AuNR. The chemical structures and successful conjugation of PEG-b-PCL were analyzed using 1H NMR and FT-IR. Doxorubicin (DOX), a hydrophobic anticancer drug, was effectively loaded into the hydrophobic PCL domain of P-AuNR through a simple dialysis method. P-AuNR showed longitudinal plasmon resonance absorption at the NIR region, thus generating heat under irradiation at 808 nm. Interestingly, exposure of P-AuNRs to NIR induced a structural change in the PCL block from a crystalline to an amorphous state, leading to the temporally controlled release of DOX. No significant release of DOX was observed from P-AuNRs under physiological conditions (pH 7.4), whereas the release rate of DOX was remarkably enhanced in response to NIR irradiation. In vitro cellular experiments to assess cytotoxicity and intracellular drug release behavior of DOX-P-AuNRs demonstrated that the release of DOX could be selectively regulated by NIR irradiation. Overall, DOX-P-AuNRs might have the potential to overcome the indiscriminate toxicity of free DOX.

Therapeutic effects of 10-HzPulsed wave lasers in rat depression model: A comparison between near-infrared and red wavelengths.

PubMed

Salehpour, Farzad; Rasta, Seyed Hossein; Mohaddes, Gisou; Sadigh-Eteghad, Saeed; Salarirad, Sima

2016-09-01

The application of transcranial low-level light/laser therapy (tLLLT) in the range of red to near-infrared (NIR) spectrum for psychological disorders is a new area that is attracting growing interest in recent years. The photomodulation effects of NIR and red coherent lights on the activity of cytochrome c oxidase in neuronal cells of brain have been recently introduced. This study, therefore, sought to compare the therapeutic effects of 10-Hz pulsed wave NIR (810 nm) laser with red (630 nm) laser using the same delivered energy density and Citalopram in rat chronic mild stress (CMS) model of depression and anxiety. CMS procedures (for 4 weeks) were used to induce stress. GaAlAs diode laser with red and NIR wavelengths on 10-Hz pulsed wave (50% duty cycle) were used to perform tLLLT treatment for three weeks. An energy density of about 1.2 J/cm-(2) per each session was delivered through a light spot with a diameter of 3-mm to the prefrontal cortex for both wavelengths. Citalopram (10 mg/kg, Intraperitoneal) was administered for twenty-one consecutive days to the drug group. The findings of the present study showed an increase in swimming and decrease in immobility time, for both NIR laser and Citalopram groups compared to the stress group in forced swimming test. Anxiety-like behaviors showed insignificant decrease in all treatment groups in elevated plus maze test. The induction of stress significantly increased serum cortisol levels and treatments with both red laser and Citalopram decreased it. Hyperglycemia induced by CMS returned to normal levels in all treatment groups. The assessment of body weight also showed a significant increase in NIR laser group compared to the stress group by the end of the experiment. This study showed that non-invasive tLLLT using 10-Hz pulsed NIR laser light was as effective as Citalopram and more effective than red laser in the treatment of depressive-like behaviors and may help improve tLLLT as an alternative non-pharmacological treatments of psychological disorders such as depression. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:695-705, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Regional Cerebral Abnormalities Measured by Frequency-Domain Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Pediatric Patients During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

PubMed

Tian, Fenghua; Jenks, Christopher; Potter, Donald; Miles, Darryl; Raman, Lakshmi

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of advanced cardiorespiratory support provided to critically ill patients with severe respiratory or cardiovascular failure. While children undergoing ECMO therapy have significant risk for neurological morbidity, currently there is a lack of reliable bedside tool to detect the neurologic events for patients on ECMO. This study assessed the feasibility of frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for detection of intracranial complications during ECMO therapy. The frequency-domain NIRS device measured the absorption coefficient (µa) and reduced scattering coefficient (µs') at six cranial positions from seven pediatric patients (0-16 years) during ECMO support and five healthy controls (2-14 years). Regional abnormalities in both absorption and scattering were identified among ECMO patients. A main finding in this study is that the abnormalities in scattering appear to be associated with lower-than-normal µs' values in regional areas of the brain. Because light scattering originates from the intracellular structures (such as nuclei and mitochondria), a reduction in scattering primarily reflects loss or decreased density of the brain matter. The results from this study indicate a potential to use the frequency-domain NIRS as a safe and complementary technology for detection of intracranial complications during ECMO therapy.

Highly Selective Photothermal Therapy by a Phenoxylated-Dextran-Functionalized Smart Carbon Nanotube Platform.

PubMed

Han, Seungmin; Kwon, Taeyun; Um, Jo-Eun; Haam, Seungjoo; Kim, Woo-Jae

2016-05-01

Near-infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy using biocompatible single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is advantageous because as-produced SWNTs, without additional size control, both efficiently absorb NIR light and demonstrate high photothermal conversion efficiency. In addition, covalent attachment of receptor molecules to SWNTs can be used to specifically target infected cells. However, this technique interrupts SWNT optical properties and inevitably lowers photothermal conversion efficiency and thus remains major hurdle for SWNT applications. This paper presents a smart-targeting photothermal therapy platform for inflammatory disease using newly developed phenoxylated-dextran-functionalized SWNTs. Phenoxylated dextran is biocompatible and efficiently suspends SWNTs by noncovalent π-π stacking, thereby minimizing SWNT bundle formations and maintaining original SWNT optical properties. Furthermore, it selectively targets inflammatory macrophages by scavenger-receptor binding without any additional receptor molecules; therefore, its preparation is a simple one-step process. Herein, it is experimentally demonstrated that phenoxylated dextran-SWNTs (pD-SWNTs) are also biocompatible, selectively penetrate inflammatory macrophages over normal cells, and exhibit high photothermal conversion efficiency. Consequently, NIR laser-triggered macrophage treatment can be achieved with high accuracy by pD-SWNT without damaging receptor-free cells. These smart targeting materials can be a novel photothermal agent candidate for inflammatory disease. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The polyvinylpyrrolidone functionalized rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite as a near-infrared light-responsive nanovehicle for chemo-photothermal therapy of cancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dou, Ruixia; Du, Zhen; Bao, Tao; Dong, Xinghua; Zheng, Xiaopeng; Yu, Miao; Yin, Wenyan; Dong, Binbin; Yan, Liang; Gu, Zhanjun

2016-06-01

Recently, a combination of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy (PTT) has received great attention for the construction of a near infrared (NIR)-controlled drug-delivery system for synergistic treatment of cancer, ultimately resulting in the enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs. Here, we developed a novel system for synergistic cancer therapy based on bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanoparticle-decorated graphene functionalized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (named PVP-rGO/Bi2S3). The as-prepared PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite has a high storage capacity for anticancer drugs (~500% for doxorubicin (DOX)) and simultaneously has perfect photothermal conversion efficiency in the NIR region. The results of the in vitro accumulative drug release test manifests that the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite could be applied as a dual pH- and NIR-responsive nanotherapeutic carrier for the controlled release of DOX from DOX-loaded PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 (PVP-rGO/Bi2S3@DOX). Moreover, the treatment of both cancer cells (including Hela, MCF-7, HepG2 and BEL-7402 cells) and BEL-7402 tumor-bearing mice with the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3@DOX complex followed by NIR laser irradiation produces significantly greater inhibition of cancer cell growth than the treatment with NIR irradiation alone or DOX alone, exhibiting a synergistic antitumor effect. Furthermore, due to the obvious NIR and X-ray absorption ability, the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite could be employed as a dual-modal contrast agent for both photoacoustic tomography and X-ray computed tomography imaging. In addition to the good biocompatibility, the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite paves a potential way for the fabrication of theranostic agents for dual-modal imaging-guided chemo-photothermal combined cancer therapy.Recently, a combination of chemotherapy with photothermal therapy (PTT) has received great attention for the construction of a near infrared (NIR)-controlled drug-delivery system for synergistic treatment of cancer, ultimately resulting in the enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs. Here, we developed a novel system for synergistic cancer therapy based on bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanoparticle-decorated graphene functionalized with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (named PVP-rGO/Bi2S3). The as-prepared PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite has a high storage capacity for anticancer drugs (~500% for doxorubicin (DOX)) and simultaneously has perfect photothermal conversion efficiency in the NIR region. The results of the in vitro accumulative drug release test manifests that the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite could be applied as a dual pH- and NIR-responsive nanotherapeutic carrier for the controlled release of DOX from DOX-loaded PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 (PVP-rGO/Bi2S3@DOX). Moreover, the treatment of both cancer cells (including Hela, MCF-7, HepG2 and BEL-7402 cells) and BEL-7402 tumor-bearing mice with the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3@DOX complex followed by NIR laser irradiation produces significantly greater inhibition of cancer cell growth than the treatment with NIR irradiation alone or DOX alone, exhibiting a synergistic antitumor effect. Furthermore, due to the obvious NIR and X-ray absorption ability, the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite could be employed as a dual-modal contrast agent for both photoacoustic tomography and X-ray computed tomography imaging. In addition to the good biocompatibility, the PVP-rGO/Bi2S3 nanocomposite paves a potential way for the fabrication of theranostic agents for dual-modal imaging-guided chemo-photothermal combined cancer therapy. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Figures. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01543c

Design and validation of a near-infrared fluorescence endoscope for detection of early esophageal malignancy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waterhouse, Dale J.; Joseph, James; Neves, André A.; di Pietro, Massimiliano; Brindle, Kevin M.; Fitzgerald, Rebecca C.; Bohndiek, Sarah E.

2016-08-01

Barrett's esophagus is a known precursor lesion to esophageal adenocarcinoma. In these patients, early detection of premalignant disease, known as dysplasia, allows curative minimally invasive endoscopic therapy, but is confounded by a lack of contrast in white light endoscopy. Imaging fluorescently labeled lectins applied topically to the tissue has the potential to more accurately delineate dysplasia, but tissue autofluorescence limits both sensitivity and contrast when operating in the visible region. To overcome this challenge, we synthesized near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent wheat germ agglutinin (WGA-IR800CW) and constructed a clinically translatable bimodal NIR and white light endoscope. Images of NIR and white light with a field of view of 63 deg and an image resolution of 182 μm are coregistered and the honeycomb artifact arising from the fiber bundle is removed. A minimum detectable concentration of 110 nM was determined using a dilution series of WGA-IR800CW. We demonstrated ex vivo that this system can distinguish between gastric and squamous tissue types in mouse stomachs (p=0.0005) and accurately detect WGA-IR800CW fluorescence in human esophageal resections (compared with a gold standard imaging system, rs>0.90). Based on these findings, future work will optimize the bimodal endoscopic system for clinical trials in Barrett's surveillance.

Au Nanoclusters Sensitized Black TiO2-x Nanotubes for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy Driven by Near-Infrared Light.

PubMed

Yang, Dan; Gulzar, Arif; Yang, Guixin; Gai, Shili; He, Fei; Dai, Yunlu; Zhong, Chongna; Yang, Piaoping

2017-12-01

The low reactive oxygen species production capability and the shallow tissue penetration of excited light (UV) are still two barriers in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Here, Au cluster anchored black anatase TiO 2- x nanotubes (abbreviated as Au 25 /B-TiO 2- x NTs) are synthesized by gaseous reduction of anatase TiO 2 NTs and subsequent deposition of noble metal. The Au 25 /B-TiO 2- x NTs with thickness of about 2 nm exhibit excellent PDT performance. The reduction process increased the density of Ti 3+ on the surface of TiO 2 , which effectively depresses the recombination of electron and hole. Furthermore, after modification of Au 25 nanoclusters, the PDT efficiency is further enhanced owing to the changed electrical distribution in the composite, which forms a shallow potential well on the metal-TiO 2 interface to further hamper the recombination of electron and hole. Especially, the reduction of anatase TiO 2 can expend the light response range (UV) of TiO 2 to the visible and even near infrared (NIR) light region with high tissue penetration depth. When excited by NIR light, the nanoplatform shows markedly improved therapeutic efficacy attributed to the photocatalytic synergistic effect, and promotes separation or restrained recombination of electron and hole, which is verified by experimental results in vitro and in vivo. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Red/near-infrared light-emitting diode therapy for traumatic brain injury

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naeser, Margaret A.; Martin, Paula I.; Ho, Michael D.; Krengel, Maxine H.; Bogdanova, Yelena; Knight, Jeffrey A.; Yee, Megan K.; Zafonte, Ross; Frazier, Judith; Hamblin, Michael R.; Koo, Bang-Bon

2015-05-01

This invited paper reviews our research with scalp application of red/near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diodes (LED) to improve cognition in chronic, traumatic brain injury 1. Application of red/NIR light improves mitochondrial function (especially hypoxic/compromised cells) promoting increased ATP, important for cellular metabolism. Nitric oxide is released locally, increasing regional cerebral blood flow. Eleven chronic, mTBI participants with closed-head injury and cognitive dysfunction received 18 outpatient treatments (MWF, 6 Wks) starting at 10 Mo. to 8 Yr. post-mTBI (MVA, sports-related, IED blast injury). LED therapy is non-invasive, painless, non-thermal (FDA-cleared, non-significant risk device). Each LED cluster head (2.1" diameter, 500mW, 22.2mW/cm2) was applied 10 min (13J/cm2) to 11 scalp placements: midline, from front-to-back hairline; and bilaterally on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, temporal, and parietal areas. Testing performed pre- and post-LED (+1 Wk, 1 and 2 Mo post- 18th treatment) showed significant linear trend for LED effect over time, on improved executive function and verbal memory. Fewer PTSD symptoms were reported. New studies at VA Boston include TBI patients treated with transcranial LED (26J/cm2); or treated with only intranasal red, 633nm and NIR, 810nm diodes placed into the nostrils (25 min, 6.5mW, 11.4J/cm2). Intranasal LEDs are hypothesized to deliver photons to hippocampus. Results are similar to Naeser et al. (2014). Actigraphy sleep data show increased sleep time (average, +1 Hr/night) post-18th transcranial or intranasal LED treatment. LED treatments may be self-administered at home (Naeser et al., 2011). A shamcontrolled study with Gulf War Illness Veterans is underway.

Near-infrared mediated tumor destruction by photothermal effect of PANI-Np in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibarra, L. E.; Yslas, E. I.; Molina, M. A.; Rivarola, C. R.; Romanini, S.; Barbero, C. A.; Rivarola, V. A.; Bertuzzi, M. L.

2013-06-01

Photothermal therapy is a therapy in which photon energy is converted into heat to kill cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of photothermal therapy, toxicity and hepatic and renal function of polyaniline nanoparticles (PANI-Np) in a tumor-bearing mice model. The in vivo efficacy of nanoparticles, following NIR light exposure, was assessed by examining tumor growth over time compared to the untreated control. Signs of drug toxicity and the histopathology and morphology of tumor and tissues, after intratumoral injection treatment, were examined or monitored. Excellent photothermal therapy efficacy is achieved upon intratumoral injection of PANI-Np followed by near-infrared light exposure. These results suggest that PANI-Np could be considered as an effective photothermal agent and pave the way to future cancer therapeutics.

Near-infrared transillumination of the maxillary sinuses: overview of methods and preliminary clinical results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahmood, Usama; Dehdari, Reza; Cerussi, Albert; Nguyen, Quoc; Kelley, Timothy; Tromberg, Bruce J.; Wong, Brian J.

2005-04-01

Though sinusitis is a significant health problem, it remains a challenging diagnosis for many physicians mainly because of its vague, non-specific symptomology. As such, physicians must often rely on x-rays and CT, which are not only costly but also expose the patient to ionizing radiation. As an alternative to these methods of diagnosis, our laboratory constructed a near infrared (NIR) transillumination system to image the paranasal maxillary sinuses. In contrast to the more conventional form of transillumination, which uses visible light, NIR transillumination uses light with a longer wavelength which is less attenuated by soft tissues, allowing increased signal intensity and tissue penetration. Our NIR transillumination system is low-cost, consisting of a light source containing two series of light emitting diodes, which give off light at wavelengths of 810 nm and 850 nm, and a charge coupled device (CCD) camera sensitive to NIR light. The light source is simply placed in the patient"s mouth and the resultant image created by the transmittance of NIR light is captured with the CCD camera via notebook PC. Using this NIR transillumination system, we imaged the paranasal maxillary sinuses of both healthy patients (n=5) and patients with sinus disease (n=12) and compared the resultant findings with conventional CT scans. We found that air and fluid/tissue-filled spaces can be reasonably distinguished by their differing NIR opacities. Based on these findings, we believe NIR transillumination of the paranasal sinuses may provide a simple, safe, and cost effective modality in the diagnosis and management of sinus disease.

Non-mammalian Hosts and Photobiomodulation: Do All Life-forms Respond to Light?

PubMed

Hamblin, Michael R; Huang, Ying-Ying; Heiskanen, Vladimir

2018-06-08

Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low-level laser (light) therapy, was discovered over 50 years ago, but only recently has it been making progress towards wide acceptance. PBM originally used red and near-infrared (NIR) lasers, but now other wavelengths and non-coherent light emitting diodes (LEDs) are being explored. The almost complete lack of side-effects makes the conduction of controlled clinical trials relatively easy. Laboratory research has mainly concentrated on mammalian cells (normal or cancer) in culture, and small rodents (mice and rats) as models of different diseases. A sizeable body of work was carried out in the 1970s and 1980s in Russia looking at various bacterial and fungal cells. The present review will cover some of these studies and a recent number of papers that have applied PBM to so-called "model organisms". These models include flies (Drosophila), worms (C. elegans), fish (zebrafish), and caterpillars (Galleria). Much knowledge about the genomics and proteomics, and many reagents for these organisms already exist. They are inexpensive to work with and have lower regulatory barriers compared to vertebrate animals. Other researchers have studied different models (snails, sea urchins, Paramecium, toads, frogs and chickens). Plants may respond to NIR light differently from visible light (photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis) but PBM in plants has not been much studied. Veterinarians routinely use PBM to treat non-mammalian patients. The conclusion is that red or NIR light does indeed have significant biological effects conserved over many different kingdoms, and perhaps it is true that "all life-forms respond to light". This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Near-infrared light activation of quenched liposomal Ce6 for synergistic cancer phototherapy with effective skin protection.

PubMed

Feng, Liangzhu; Tao, Danlei; Dong, Ziliang; Chen, Qian; Chao, Yu; Liu, Zhuang; Chen, Meiwan

2017-05-01

Current photodynamic therapy (PDT) is suffering from limited efficacy towards hypoxia tumors and severe post-treatment photo-toxicity such as light-induced skin damages. To make PDT more effective in cancer treatment while being patient-comfortable, herein, a hexylamine conjugated chlorin e6 (hCe6) as the photosensitizer together with a lipophilic near-infrared (NIR) dye 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindotricarbocyanine iodide (DiR) are co-encapsulated into polyethylene glycol (PEG) shelled liposomes. In the obtained DiR-hCe6-liposome, the photosensitizing effect of hCe6 is quenched by DiR via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Interestingly, upon irradiation with a 785-nm NIR laser to photobleach DiR, both fluorescence and photodynamic effect of hCe6 in DiR-hCe6-liposome would be activated. Meanwhile, such NIR irradiation applied on tumors of mice with intravenous injection of DiR-hCe6-liposome could result in mild photothermal heating, which in turn would promote intra-tumor blood flow and relieve tumor hypoxia, contributing to the enhanced photodynamic tumor treatment. Importantly, compared to hCe6-loaded liposomes, DiR-hCe6-liposome without being activated by the 785-nm laser shows much lower skin photo-toxicity, demonstrating its great skin protection effect. This work demonstrates a promising yet simple strategy to prepare NIR-light-activatable photodynamic theranostics for synergistic cancer phototherapy, which is featured high specificity/efficacy in tumor treatment with minimal photo-toxicity towards the skin. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Doxorubicin-loaded magnetic nanoparticle clusters for chemo-photothermal treatment of the prostate cancer cell line PC3

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Weibing; Zheng, Xinmin; Shen, Shun

2015-10-16

In addition to the conventional cancer treatment such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical management, nanomedicine-based approaches have attracted widespread attention in recent years. In this paper, a promising nanocarrier, magnetic nanoparticle clusters (MNCs) as porous materials which provided enough room on the surface, was developed for loading chemotherapeutic agent of doxorubicin (DOX). Moreover, MNCs are a good near-infrared (NIR) photothermal mediator. Thus, MNCs have great potential both in photothermal therapy (PTT) and drug delivery for chemo-photothermal therapy of cancer. We firstly explored the destruction of prostate cancer in vitro by the combination of PTT and chemotherapy using DOX@MNCs. Upon NIR irradiationmore » at 808 nm, more cancer cells were killed when PC3 cells incubated with DOX@MNCs, owing to both MNCs-mediated photothermal ablation and cytotoxicity of light-triggered DOX release. Compared with PTT or chemotherapy alone, the chemo-photothermal therapy by DOX@MNCs showed a synergistically higher therapeutic efficacy. - Highlights: • MNCs have great potential both in photothermal therapy and drug delivery. • DOX@MNCs were used for chemo-photothermal therapy of prostate cancer cells. • DOX@MNCs showed a synergistically higher therapeutic efficacy.« less

Thermohydrogel Containing Melanin for Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

PubMed

Kim, Miri; Kim, Hyun Soo; Kim, Min Ah; Ryu, Hyanghwa; Jeong, Hwan-Jeong; Lee, Chang-Moon

2017-05-01

Melanin is an effective absorber of light and can extend to near infrared (NIR) regions. In this study, a natural melanin is presented as a photothermal therapeutic agent (PTA) because it provides a good photothermal conversion efficiency, shows biodegradability, and does not induce long-term toxicity during retention in vivo. Poloxamer solution containing melanin (Pol-Mel) does not show any precipitation and shows sol-gel transition at body temperature. After irradiation from 808 nm NIR laser at 1.5 W cm -2 for 3 min, the photothermal conversion efficiency of Pol-Mel is enough to kill cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The tumor growth of mice bearing CT26 tumors treated with Pol-Mel injection and laser irradiation is suppressed completely without recurrence postirradiation. All these results indicate that Pol-Mel can become an attractive PTA for photothermal cancer therapy. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Noncontinuous Super-Diffusive Dynamics of a Light-Activated Nanobottle Motor.

PubMed

Xuan, Mingjun; Mestre, Rafael; Gao, Changyong; Zhou, Chang; He, Qiang; Sánchez, Samuel

2018-06-04

We report a carbonaceous nanobottle (CNB) motor for near infrared (NIR) light-driven jet propulsion. The bottle structure of the CNB motor is fabricated by soft-template-based polymerization. Upon illumination with NIR light, the photothermal effect of the CNB motor carbon shell causes a rapid increase in the temperature of the water inside the nanobottle and thus the ejection of the heated fluid from the open neck, which propels the CNB motor. The occurrence of an explosion, the on/off motion, and the swing behavior of the CNB motor can be modulated by adjusting the NIR light source. Moreover, we simulated the physical field distribution (temperature, fluid velocity, and pressure) of the CNB motor to demonstrate the mechanism of NIR light-driven jet propulsion. This NIR light-powered CNB motor exhibits fuel-free propulsion and control of the swimming velocity by external light and has great potential for future biomedical applications. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Phosphatidylserine targeted single-walled carbon nanotubes for photothermal ablation of bladder cancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virani, Needa A.; Davis, Carole; McKernan, Patrick; Hauser, Paul; Hurst, Robert E.; Slaton, Joel; Silvy, Ricardo P.; Resasco, Daniel E.; Harrison, Roger G.

2018-01-01

Bladder cancer has a 60%-70% recurrence rate most likely due to any residual tumour left behind after a transurethral resection (TUR). Failure to completely resect the cancer can lead to recurrence and progression into higher grade tumours with metastatic potential. We present here a novel therapy to treat superficial tumours with the potential to decrease recurrence. The therapy is a heat-based approach in which bladder tumour specific single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are delivered intravesically at a very low dose (0.1 mg SWCNT per kg body weight) followed 24 h later by a short 30 s treatment with a 360° near-infrared light that heats only the bound nanotubes. The energy density of the treatment was 50 J cm-2, and the power density that this treatment corresponds to is 1.7 W cm-2, which is relatively low. Nanotubes are specifically targeted to the tumour via the interaction of annexin V (AV) and phosphatidylserine, which is normally internalised on healthy tissue but externalised on tumours and the tumour vasculature. SWCNTs are conjugated to AV, which binds specifically to bladder cancer cells as confirmed in vitro and in vivo. Due to this specific localisation, NIR light can be used to heat the tumour while conserving the healthy bladder wall. In a short-term efficacy study in mice with orthotopic MB49 murine bladder tumours treated with the SWCNT-AV conjugate and NIR light, no tumours were visible on the bladder wall 24 h after NIR light treatment, and there was no damage to the bladder. In a separate survival study in mice with the same type of orthotopic tumours, there was a 50% cure rate at 116 days when the study was ended. At 116 days, no treatment toxicity was observed, and no nanotubes were detected in the clearance organs or bladder.

Enhanced Optical Head Tracking for Cranial Radiation Therapy: Supporting Surface Registration by Cutaneous Structures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wissel, Tobias, E-mail: wissel@rob.uni-luebeck.de; Graduate School for Computing in Medicine and Life Science, University of Lübeck, Lübeck; Stüber, Patrick

2016-06-01

Purpose: To support surface registration in cranial radiation therapy by structural information. The risk for spatial ambiguities is minimized by using tissue thickness variations predicted from backscattered near-infrared (NIR) light from the forehead. Methods and Materials: In a pilot study we recorded NIR surface scans by laser triangulation from 30 volunteers of different skin type. A ground truth for the soft-tissue thickness was segmented from MR scans. After initially matching the NIR scans to the MR reference, Gaussian processes were trained to predict tissue thicknesses from NIR backscatter. Moreover, motion starting from this initial registration was simulated by 5000 randommore » transformations of the NIR scan away from the MR reference. Re-registration to the MR scan was compared with and without tissue thickness support. Results: By adding prior knowledge to the backscatter features, such as incident angle and neighborhood information in the scanning grid, we showed that tissue thickness can be predicted with mean errors of <0.2 mm, irrespective of the skin type. With this additional information, the average registration error improved from 3.4 mm to 0.48 mm by a factor of 7. Misalignments of more than 1 mm were almost thoroughly (98.9%) pushed below 1 mm. Conclusions: For almost all cases tissue-enhanced matching achieved better results than purely spatial registration. Ambiguities can be minimized if the cutaneous structures do not agree. This valuable support for surface registration increases tracking robustness and avoids misalignment of tumor targets far from the registration site.« less

Superfast Near-Infrared Light-Driven Polymer Multilayer Rockets.

PubMed

Wu, Zhiguang; Si, Tieyan; Gao, Wei; Lin, Xiankun; Wang, Joseph; He, Qiang

2016-02-03

A gold nanoshell-functionalized polymer multilayer nanorocket performs self-propulsion upon the irradiation with NIR light in the absence of chemical fuel. Theoretical simulations reveal that the NIR light-triggered self-thermophoresis drives the propulsion of the nanorocket. The nanorocket also displays -efficient NIR light-triggered propulsion in -biofluids and thus holds considerable promise for various potential biomedical applications. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

NIR-to-NIR Deep Penetrating Nanoplatforms Y2O3:Nd3+/Yb3+@SiO2@Cu2S toward Highly Efficient Photothermal Ablation.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhiyu; Suo, Hao; Zhao, Xiaoqi; Sun, Dan; Fan, Li; Guo, Chongfeng

2018-05-02

A difunctional nano-photothermal therapy (PTT) platform with near-infrared excitation to near-infrared emission (NIR-to-NIR) was constructed through core-shell structures Y 2 O 3 :Nd 3+ /Yb 3+ @SiO 2 @Cu 2 S (YRSC), in which the core Y 2 O 3 :Nd 3+ /Yb 3+ and shell Cu 2 S play the role of bioimaging and photothermal conversion function, respectively. The structure and composition of the present PTT agents (PTAs) were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectra. The NIR emissions of samples in the biological window area were measured by photoluminescence spectra under the excitation of 808 nm laser; further, the penetration depth of NIR emission at different wavelengths in biological tissue was also demonstrated by comparing with visible (vis) emission from Y 2 O 3 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 @Cu 2 S and NIR emission from YRSC through different injection depths in pork muscle tissues. The photo-thermal conversion effects were achieved through the outer ultrasmall Cu 2 S nanoparticles simultaneously absorb NIR light emission from the core Y 2 O 3 :Nd 3+/ Yb 3+ and the 808 nm excitation source to generate heat. Further, the heating effect of YRSC nanoparticles was confirmed by thermal imaging and ablation of YRSC to Escherichia coli and human hepatoma (HepG-2) cells. Results indicate that the YRSC has potential applications in PTT and NIR imaging in biological tissue.

Overcoming photodynamic resistance and tumor targeting dual-therapy mediated by indocyanine green conjugated gold nanospheres.

PubMed

Li, Wei; Guo, Xiaomeng; Kong, Fenfen; Zhang, Hanbo; Luo, Lihua; Li, Qingpo; Zhu, Chunqi; Yang, Jie; Du, Yongzhong; You, Jian

2017-07-28

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have captured much attention due to the great potential to cure malignant tumor. Nevertheless, photodynamic resistance of cancer cells has limited the further efficacy of PDT. Unfortunately, the resistance mechanism and efforts to overcome the resistance still have been rarely reported so far. Here, we report a nanosystem with specific tumor targeting for combined PDT and PTT mediated by near-infrared (NIR) light, which was established by covalently conjugating indocyanine green (ICG) and TNYL peptide onto the surface of hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS). Our nanosystem (TNYL-ICG-HAuNS) was proved to possess significantly increased light stability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and photothermal effect under NIR light irradiation, thus presenting a remarkably enhanced antitumor efficacy. The up-regulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2, Nrf2) in cancer cells during PDT induced a significant increase of ABCG2, NQO-1 and HIF-1α expression, causing PDT resistance of the cells. Interestingly, ABCG2 expression could almost keep a normal level in the whole PDT process mediated by TNYL-ICG-HAuNS. After repeated irradiations, TNYL-ICG-HAuNS could still produce almost constant ROS in cells while the Nrf2 expression reduced significantly. Furthermore, PDT resistance induced an obvious decrease of the internalization of free ICG, but didn't influence the cell uptake of TNYL-ICG-HAuNS. Our data explained that TNYL-ICG-HAuNS could overcome the photodynamic resistance of cancer cells, acting as a promising modality for simultaneous photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Photothermal ablation cancer therapy using homogeneous CsxWO3 nanorods with broad near-infra-red absorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Chongshen; Yin, Shu; Yu, Haijun; Liu, Shaoqin; Dong, Qiang; Goto, Takehiro; Zhang, Zhiwen; Li, Yaping; Sato, Tsugio

2013-06-01

Recently, photothermal ablation therapy (PTA) employing near-infrared radiation (NIR) has been extensively investigated as an emerging modality for cancer management. However, the clinical translation of this promising approach is limited by the lack of PTA agents with broad NIR absorption, low cost and high photothermal conversion efficiency. Herein, we have developed PEGylated homogeneous CsxWO3 nanorods (a mean size ~69.3 nm × 12.8 nm) with broad photo-absorption (780-2500 nm) as a novel NIR absorbent for PTA treatment of human cancer. The prepared CsxWO3 nanocrystals displayed strong near-infrared optical absorption with a high molar extinction coefficient (e.g. 4.8 × 1010 M-1 cm-1 at 980 nm), thus generated significant amounts of heat upon excitation with near-infrared light. The PTA study in two human carcinoma cell lines (i.e. A549 lung cancer cells and HeLa ovarian cancer cells) demonstrated that CsxWO3 nanorods can efficiently cause cell death via hyperthermia induced lysosome destruction, cytoskeleton protein degradation, DNA damage and thereafter cellular necrosis or apoptosis. Our study also confirmed the migration of healthy cells migrated from unirradiated areas to dead cell cycle, which is essential for tissue reconstruction and wound healing after photodestruction of tumor tissue. The prompted results reported in the current study imply the promising potential of CsxWO3 nanorods for application in PTA cancer therapy.Recently, photothermal ablation therapy (PTA) employing near-infrared radiation (NIR) has been extensively investigated as an emerging modality for cancer management. However, the clinical translation of this promising approach is limited by the lack of PTA agents with broad NIR absorption, low cost and high photothermal conversion efficiency. Herein, we have developed PEGylated homogeneous CsxWO3 nanorods (a mean size ~69.3 nm × 12.8 nm) with broad photo-absorption (780-2500 nm) as a novel NIR absorbent for PTA treatment of human cancer. The prepared CsxWO3 nanocrystals displayed strong near-infrared optical absorption with a high molar extinction coefficient (e.g. 4.8 × 1010 M-1 cm-1 at 980 nm), thus generated significant amounts of heat upon excitation with near-infrared light. The PTA study in two human carcinoma cell lines (i.e. A549 lung cancer cells and HeLa ovarian cancer cells) demonstrated that CsxWO3 nanorods can efficiently cause cell death via hyperthermia induced lysosome destruction, cytoskeleton protein degradation, DNA damage and thereafter cellular necrosis or apoptosis. Our study also confirmed the migration of healthy cells migrated from unirradiated areas to dead cell cycle, which is essential for tissue reconstruction and wound healing after photodestruction of tumor tissue. The prompted results reported in the current study imply the promising potential of CsxWO3 nanorods for application in PTA cancer therapy. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: EDS spectra, XRD patterns, TG plot of CsxWO3 nanorod are provided in the ESI. Additionally, linear correlations between NIR absorbance and CsxWO3-PEGS nanorod concentrations, cytotoxicity results, TEM image of intracellular distribution of CsxWO3-PEGS nanorods and fluorescence images can be found in the ESI. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr01025b

Near-infrared light-controlled systems for gene transcription regulation, protein targeting and spectral multiplexing.

PubMed

Redchuk, Taras A; Kaberniuk, Andrii A; Verkhusha, Vladislav V

2018-05-01

Near-infrared (NIR, 740-780 nm) optogenetic systems are well-suited to spectral multiplexing with blue-light-controlled tools. Here, we present two protocols, one for regulation of gene transcription and another for control of protein localization, that use a NIR-responsive bacterial phytochrome BphP1-QPAS1 optogenetic pair. In the first protocol, cells are transfected with the optogenetic constructs for independently controlling gene transcription by NIR (BphP1-QPAS1) and blue (LightOn) light. The NIR and blue-light-controlled gene transcription systems show minimal spectral crosstalk and induce a 35- to 40-fold increase in reporter gene expression. In the second protocol, the BphP1-QPAS1 pair is combined with a light-oxygen-voltage-sensing (LOV) domain-based construct into a single optogenetic tool, termed iRIS. This dual-light-controllable protein localization tool allows tridirectional protein translocation among the cytoplasm, nucleus and plasma membrane. Both procedures can be performed within 3-5 d. Use of NIR light-controlled optogenetic systems should advance basic and biomedical research.

Transcranial light-emitting diode therapy for neuropsychological improvement after traumatic brain injury: a new perspective for diffuse axonal lesion management

PubMed Central

dos Santos, João Gustavo Rocha Peixoto; Paiva, Wellingson Silva; Teixeira, Manoel Jacobsen

2018-01-01

The cost of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for public health policies is undeniable today. Even patients who suffer from mild TBI may persist with cognitive symptoms weeks after the accident. Most of them show no lesion in computed tomography or conventional magnetic resonance imaging, but microstructural white matter abnormalities (diffuse axonal lesion) can be found in diffusion tensor imaging. Different brain networks work together to form an important part of the cognition process, and they can be affected by TBI. The default mode network (DMN) plays an important central role in normal brain activities, presenting greater relative deactivation during more cognitively demanding tasks. After deactivation, it allows a distinct network to activate. This network (the central executive network) acts mainly during tasks involving executive functions. The salience network is another network necessary for normal executive function, and its activation leads to deactivation of the DMN. The use of red or near-infrared (NIR) light to stimulate or regenerate tissue is known as photobiomodulation. It was discovered that NIR (wavelength 800–900 nm) and red (wavelength 600 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are able to penetrate through scalp and skull and have the potential to improve the subnormal, cellular activity of compromised brain tissue. Based on this, different experimental and clinical studies were done to test LED therapy for TBI, and promising results were found. It leads us to consider developing different approaches to maximize the positive effects of this therapy and improve the quality of life of TBI patients. PMID:29731669

Transcranial light-emitting diode therapy for neuropsychological improvement after traumatic brain injury: a new perspective for diffuse axonal lesion management.

PubMed

Dos Santos, João Gustavo Rocha Peixoto; Paiva, Wellingson Silva; Teixeira, Manoel Jacobsen

2018-01-01

The cost of traumatic brain injury (TBI) for public health policies is undeniable today. Even patients who suffer from mild TBI may persist with cognitive symptoms weeks after the accident. Most of them show no lesion in computed tomography or conventional magnetic resonance imaging, but microstructural white matter abnormalities (diffuse axonal lesion) can be found in diffusion tensor imaging. Different brain networks work together to form an important part of the cognition process, and they can be affected by TBI. The default mode network (DMN) plays an important central role in normal brain activities, presenting greater relative deactivation during more cognitively demanding tasks. After deactivation, it allows a distinct network to activate. This network (the central executive network) acts mainly during tasks involving executive functions. The salience network is another network necessary for normal executive function, and its activation leads to deactivation of the DMN. The use of red or near-infrared (NIR) light to stimulate or regenerate tissue is known as photobiomodulation. It was discovered that NIR (wavelength 800-900 nm) and red (wavelength 600 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are able to penetrate through scalp and skull and have the potential to improve the subnormal, cellular activity of compromised brain tissue. Based on this, different experimental and clinical studies were done to test LED therapy for TBI, and promising results were found. It leads us to consider developing different approaches to maximize the positive effects of this therapy and improve the quality of life of TBI patients.

ICG laser therapy of acne vulgaris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuchin, Valery V.; Altshuler, Gregory B.; Genina, Elina A.; Bashkatov, Alexey N.; Simonenko, Georgy V.; Odoevskaya, Olga D.; Yaroslavsky, Ilya V.

2004-07-01

The near-infrared (NIR) laser radiation due to its high penetration depth is widely used in phototherapy. In application to skin appendages a high selectivity of laser treatment is needed to prevent light action on surrounding tissues. Indocyanine Green (ICG) dye may provide a high selectivity of treatment due to effective ICG uploading by a target and its narrow band of considerable absorption just at the wavelength of the NIR diode laser. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of the NIR diode laser phototherapy in combination with topical application of ICG suggested for soft and thermal treatment of acne vulgaris. 28 volunteers with facile or back-located acne were enrolled. Skin sites of subjects were stained by ICG and irradiated by NIR laser-diode light (803 or 809 nm). Untreated, only stained and only light irradiated skin areas served as controls. For soft acne treatment, the low-intensity (803 nm, 10 - 50 mW/cm2, 5-10 min) or the medium-intensity (809 nm, 150 - 190 mW/cm2, 15 min) protocols were used. The single and multiple (up to 8-9) treatments were provided. The individual acne lesions were photothermally treated at 18 W/cm2 (803 nm, 0.5 sec) without skin surface cooling or at 200 W/cm2 (809 nm, 0.5 sec) with cooling. The results of the observations during 1-2 months after the completion of the treatment have shown that only in the case of the multiple-wise treatment a combined action of ICG and NIR irradiation reduces inflammation and improves skin state during a month without any side effects. At high power densities (up to 200 W/cm2) ICG stained acne inflammatory elements were destructed for light exposures of 0.5 sec. Based on the concept that hair follicle, especially sebaceous gland, can be intensively and selectively stained by ICG due to dye diffusion through pilosebaceous canal and its fast uptake by living microorganisms, by vital keratinocytes of epithelium of the canal and sebaceous duct, and by rapidly proliferating sebocytes, new technologies of soft and thermal acne lesions treatment that could be used in clinical treatment of acne were proposed.

Reversible near-infrared light directed reflection in a self-organized helical superstructure loaded with upconversion nanoparticles.

PubMed

Wang, Ling; Dong, Hao; Li, Yannian; Xue, Chenming; Sun, Ling-Dong; Yan, Chun-Hua; Li, Quan

2014-03-26

Adding external, dynamic control to self-organized superstructures with desired functionalities is an important leap necessary in leveraging the fascinating molecular systems for applications. Here, the new light-driven chiral molecular switch and upconversion nanoparticles, doped in a liquid crystal media, were able to self-organize into an optically tunable helical superstructure. The resulting nanoparticle impregnated helical superstructure was found to exhibit unprecedented reversible near-infrared (NIR) light-guided tunable behavior only by modulating the excitation power density of a continuous-wave NIR laser (980 nm). Upon irradiation by the NIR laser at the high power density, the reflection wavelength of the photonic superstructure red-shifted, whereas its reverse process occurred upon irradiation by the same laser but with the lower power density. Furthermore, reversible dynamic NIR-light-driven red, green, and blue reflections in a single thin film, achieved only by varying the power density of the NIR light, were for the first time demonstrated.

Gold nanorod embedded reduction responsive block copolymer micelle-triggered drug delivery combined with photothermal ablation for targeted cancer therapy.

PubMed

Parida, Sheetal; Maiti, Chiranjit; Rajesh, Y; Dey, Kaushik K; Pal, Ipsita; Parekh, Aditya; Patra, Rusha; Dhara, Dibakar; Dutta, Pranab Kumar; Mandal, Mahitosh

2017-01-01

Gold nanorods, by virtue of surface plasmon resonance, convert incident light energy (NIR) into heat energy which induces hyperthermia. We designed unique, multifunctional, gold nanorod embedded block copolymer micelle loaded with GW627368X for targeted drug delivery and photothermal therapy. Glutathione responsive diblock co-polymer was synthesized by RAFT process forming self-assembled micelle on gold nanorods prepared by seed mediated method and GW627368X was loaded on to the reduction responsive gold nanorod embedded micelle. Photothermal therapy was administered using cwNIR laser (808nm; 4W/cm 2 ). Efficacy of nanoformulated GW627368X, photothermal therapy and combination of both were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In response to photothermal treatment, cells undergo regulated, patterned cell death by necroptosis. Combining GW627368X with photothermal treatment using single nanoparticle enhanced therapeutic outcome. In addition, these nanoparticles are effective X-ray CT contrast agents, thus, can help in monitoring treatment. Reduction responsive nanorod embedded micelle containing folic acid and lipoic acid when treated on cervical cancer cells or tumour bearing mice, aggregate in and around cancer cells. Due to high glutathione concentration, micelles degrade releasing drug which binds surface receptors inducing apoptosis. When incident with 808nm cwNIR lasers, gold nanorods bring about photothermal effect leading to hyperthermic cell death by necroptosis. Combination of the two modalities enhances therapeutic efficacy by inducing both forms of cell death. Our proposed treatment strategy achieves photothermal therapy and targeted drug delivery simultaneously. It can prove useful in overcoming general toxicities associated with chemotherapeutics and intrinsic/acquired resistance to chemo and radiotherapy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Formation of oligonucleotide-gated silica shell-coated Fe₃O₄-Au core-shell nanotrisoctahedra for magnetically targeted and near-infrared light-responsive theranostic platform.

PubMed

Li, Wei-Peng; Liao, Pei-Yi; Su, Chia-Hao; Yeh, Chen-Sheng

2014-07-16

A new multifunctional nanoparticle to perform a near-infrared (NIR)-responsive remote control drug release behavior was designed for applications in the biomedical field. Different from the previous studies in formation of Fe3O4-Au core-shell nanoparticles resulting in a spherical morphology, the heterostructure with polyhedral core and shell was presented with the truncated octahedral Fe3O4 nanoparticle as the core over a layer of trisoctahedral Au shell. The strategy of Fe3O4@polymer@Au was adopted using poly-l-lysine as the mediate layer, followed by the subsequent seeded growth of Au nanoparticles to form a Au trisoctahedral shell. Fe3O4@Au trisoctahedra possess high-index facets of {441}. To combine photothermal and chemotherapy in a remote-control manner, the trisoctahedral core-shell Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles were further covered with a mesoporous silica shell, yielding Fe3O4@Au@mSiO2. The bondable oligonucleotides (referred as dsDNA) were used as pore blockers of the mesoporous silica shell that allowed the controlled release, resulting in a NIR-responsive DNA-gated Fe3O4@Au@mSiO2 nanocarrier. Taking advantage of the magnetism, remotely triggered drug release was facilitated by magnetic attraction accompanied by the introduction of NIR radiation. DNA-gated Fe3O4@Au@mSiO2 serves as a drug control and release carrier that features functions of magnetic target, MRI diagnosis, and combination therapy through the manipulation of a magnet and a NIR laser. The results verified the significant therapeutic effects on tumors with the assistance of combination therapy consisting of magnetic guidance and remote NIR control.

Simultaneous multiple wavelength upconversion in a core-shell nanoparticle for enhanced near infrared light harvesting in a dye-sensitized solar cell.

PubMed

Yuan, Chunze; Chen, Guanying; Li, Lin; Damasco, Jossana A; Ning, Zhijun; Xing, Hui; Zhang, Tianmu; Sun, Licheng; Zeng, Hao; Cartwright, Alexander N; Prasad, Paras N; Ågren, Hans

2014-10-22

The efficiency of most photovoltaic devices is severely limited by near-infrared (NIR) transmission losses. To alleviate this limitation, a new type of colloidal upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), hexagonal core-shell-structured β-NaYbF4:Er(3+)(2%)/NaYF4:Nd(3+)(30%), is developed and explored in this work as an NIR energy relay material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). These UCNPs are able to harvest light energy in multiple NIR regions, and subsequently convert the absorbed energy into visible light where the DSSCs strongly absorb. The NIR-insensitive DSSCs show compelling photocurrent increases through binary upconversion under NIR light illumination either at 785 or 980 nm, substantiating efficient energy relay by these UCNPs. The overall conversion efficiency of the DSSCs was improved with the introduction of UCNPs under simulated AM 1.5 solar irradiation.

Tumor-triggered drug release from calcium carbonate-encapsulated gold nanostars for near-infrared photodynamic/photothermal combination antitumor therapy.

PubMed

Liu, Yanlei; Zhi, Xiao; Yang, Meng; Zhang, Jingpu; Lin, Lingnan; Zhao, Xin; Hou, Wenxiu; Zhang, Chunlei; Zhang, Qian; Pan, Fei; Alfranca, Gabriel; Yang, Yuming; de la Fuente, Jesús M; Ni, Jian; Cui, Daxiang

2017-01-01

Different stimulus including pH, light and temperature have been used for controlled drug release to prevent drug inactivation and minimize side-effects. Herein a novel nano-platform (GNS@CaCO 3 /ICG) consisting of calcium carbonate-encapsulated gold nanostars loaded with ICG was established to couple the photothermal properties of gold nanostars (GNSs) and the photodynamic properties of indocyanine green (ICG) in the photodynamic/photothermal combination therapy (PDT/PTT). In this study, the calcium carbonate worked not only a drug keeper to entrap ICG on the surface of GNSs in the form of a stable aggregate which was protected from blood clearance, but also as the a pH-responder to achieve highly effective tumor-triggered drug release locally. The application of GNS@CaCO 3 /ICG for in vitro and in vivo therapy achieved the combined antitumor effects upon the NIR irradiation, which was superior to the single PDT or PTT. Meanwhile, the distinct pH-triggered drug release performance of GNS@CaCO 3 /ICG implemented the tumor-targeted NIR fluorescence imaging. In addition, we monitored the bio-distribution and excretion pathway of GNS@CaCO 3 /ICG based on the NIR fluorescence from ICG and two-photon fluorescence and photoacoustic signal from GNSs, and the results proved that GNS@CaCO 3 /ICG had a great ability for tumor-specific and tumor-triggered drug release. We therefore conclude that the GNS@CaCO 3 /ICG holds great promise for clinical applications in anti-tumor therapy with tumor imaging or drug tracing.

Near infrared light induces post-translational modifications of human red blood cell proteins.

PubMed

Walski, Tomasz; Dyrda, Agnieszka; Dzik, Małgorzata; Chludzińska, Ludmiła; Tomków, Tomasz; Mehl, Joanna; Detyna, Jerzy; Gałecka, Katarzyna; Witkiewicz, Wojciech; Komorowska, Małgorzata

2015-11-01

There is a growing body of evidence that near infrared (NIR) light exerts beneficial effects on cells. Its usefulness in the treatment of cancer, acute brain injuries, strokes and neurodegenerative disorders has been proposed. The mechanism of the NIR action is probably of photochemical nature, however it is not fully understood. Here, using a relatively simple biological model, human red blood cells (RBCs), and a polychromatic non-polarized light source, we investigate the impact of NIR radiation on the oxygen carrier, hemoglobin (Hb), and anion exchanger (AE1, Band 3). The exposure of intact RBCs to NIR light causes quaternary transitions in Hb, dehydration of proteins and decreases the amount of physiologically inactive methemoglobin, as detected by Raman spectroscopy. These effects are accompanied by a lowering of the intracellular pH (pHi) and changes in the cell membrane topography, as documented by atomic force microscopy (AFM). All those changes are in line with our previous studies where alterations of the membrane fluidity and membrane potential were attributed to NIR action on RBCs. The rate of the above listed changes depends strictly on the dose of NIR light that the cells receive, nonetheless it should not be considered as a thermal effect.

Fabrication of thin-film thermoelectric generators with ball lenses for conversion of near-infrared solar light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ito, Yoshitaka; Mizoshiri, Mizue; Mikami, Masashi; Kondo, Tasuku; Sakurai, Junpei; Hata, Seiichi

2017-06-01

We designed and fabricated thin-film thermoelectric generators (TEGs) with ball lenses, which separated visible light and near-infrared (NIR) solar light using a chromatic aberration. The transmitted visible light was used as daylight and the NIR light was used for thermoelectric generation. Solar light was estimated to be separated into the visible light and NIR light by a ray tracing method. 92.7% of the visible light was used as daylight and 9.9% of the NIR light was used for thermoelectric generation. Then, the temperature difference of the pn junctions of the TEG surface was 0.71 K, determined by heat conduction analysis using a finite element method. The thin-film TEGs were fabricated using lithography and deposition processes. When the solar light (A.M. 1.5) was irradiated to the TEGs, the open-circuit voltage and maximum power were 4.5 V/m2 and 51 µW/m2, respectively. These TEGs are expected to be used as an energy supply for Internet of Things sensors.

Polarimetric imaging of retinal disease by polarization sensitive SLO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miura, Masahiro; Elsner, Ann E.; Iwasaki, Takuya; Goto, Hiroshi

2015-03-01

Polarimetry imaging is used to evaluate different features of the macular disease. Polarimetry images were recorded using a commercially- available polarization-sensitive scanning laser opthalmoscope at 780 nm (PS-SLO, GDx-N). From data sets of PS-SLO, we computed average reflectance image, depolarized light images, and ratio-depolarized light images. The average reflectance image is the grand mean of all input polarization states. The depolarized light image is the minimum of crossed channel. The ratio-depolarized light image is a ratio between the average reflectance image and depolarized light image, and was used to compensate for variation of brightness. Each polarimetry image is compared with the autofluorescence image at 800 nm (NIR-AF) and autofluorescence image at 500 nm (SW-AF). We evaluated four eyes with geographic atrophy in age related macular degeneration, one eye with retinal pigment epithelium hyperplasia, and two eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy. Polarization analysis could selectively emphasize different features of the retina. Findings in ratio depolarized light image had similarities and differences with NIR-AF images. Area of hyper-AF in NIR-AF images showed high intensity areas in the ratio depolarized light image, representing melanin accumulation. Areas of hypo-AF in NIR-AF images showed low intensity areas in the ratio depolarized light images, representing melanin loss. Drusen were high-intensity areas in the ratio depolarized light image, but NIR-AF images was insensitive to the presence of drusen. Unlike NIR-AF images, SW-AF images showed completely different features from the ratio depolarized images. Polarization sensitive imaging is an effective tool as a non-invasive assessment of macular disease.

Theranostic nanoplatform based on polypyrrole nanoparticles for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Hui; Li, Wenchao; Cao, Yang; Guo, Yuan; Kang, Yuejun

2018-03-01

Development of effective theranostic nanoplatforms against malignant tumor is still a challenge. With desirable near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive properties, polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy NPs) are one of the promising theranostic candidates for cancer photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. Here, PPy NPs with distinct sizes were prepared using a facile aqueous dispersion polymerization method. The formed PPy NPs are uniform in size with narrow size distribution. Characterization data show that PPy NPs with a diameter around 50 nm (P50) display stronger absorption in the NIR range compared to 40 and 60 nm PPy NPs, which further influences their photo-responsive properties. Due to their higher NIR absorption, P50 NPs have better photoacoustic imaging property and photothermal conversion ability than the other two kinds of PPy NPs. The photothermal stability of P50 NPs was proved to be excellent. The CCK-8 assays show that PPy NPs have obvious acute cytotoxicity within 6 h and desirable cytocompatibility for longer incubation time (12 and 24 h). After 6-h incubation, P50 NPs could be internalized by HeLa cells. Their photothermal tumor ablation effect was demonstrated under 808-nm laser irradiation. These findings may provide in-depth understanding of the PPy-based multifunctional nanomaterials for the development of theranostic systems against cancer.

Super enhanced permeability and retention (SUPR) effects in tumors following near infrared photoimmunotherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, Hisataka; Choyke, Peter L.

2016-06-01

To date, the delivery of nano-sized therapeutic agents to cancers largely relies on enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects that are caused by the leaky nature of cancer vasculature. However, nano-sized agents delivered in this way have demonstrated limited success in oncology due to the relatively small magnitude of the EPR effect. For achieving superior delivery of nano-sized agents, super-enhanced permeability and retention (SUPR) effects are needed. Near infrared photo-immunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a recently reported therapy that treats tumors with light therapy and subsequently causes an increase in nano-drug delivery up to 24-fold compared with untreated tumors in which only the EPR effect is present. SUPR effects could enhance delivery into tumor beds of a wide variety of nano-sized agents including particles, antibodies, and protein binding small molecular agents. Therefore, taking advantage of the SUPR effects after NIR-PIT may be a promising avenue to utilize a wide variety of nano-drugs in a highly effective manner.

Topological insulator bismuth selenide as a theranostic platform for simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy.

PubMed

Li, Juan; Jiang, Fei; Yang, Bo; Song, Xiao-Rong; Liu, Yan; Yang, Huang-Hao; Cao, Dai-Rong; Shi, Wen-Rong; Chen, Guo-Nan

2013-01-01

Employing theranostic nanoparticles, which combine both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities in one dose, has promise to propel the biomedical field toward personalized medicine. Here we investigate the theranostic properties of topological insulator bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) in in vivo and in vitro system for the first time. We show that Bi2Se3 nanoplates can absorb near-infrared (NIR) laser light and effectively convert laser energy into heat. Such photothermal conversion property may be due to the unique physical properties of topological insulators. Furthermore, localized and irreversible photothermal ablation of tumors in the mouse model is successfully achieved by using Bi2Se3 nanoplates and NIR laser irradiation. In addition, we also demonstrate that Bi2Se3 nanoplates exhibit strong X-ray attenuation and can be utilized for enhanced X-ray computed tomography imaging of tumor tissue in vivo. This study highlights Bi2Se3 nanoplates could serve as a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

NIR light propagation in a digital head model for traumatic brain injury (TBI)

PubMed Central

Francis, Robert; Khan, Bilal; Alexandrakis, George; Florence, James; MacFarlane, Duncan

2015-01-01

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is capable of detecting and monitoring acute changes in cerebral blood volume and oxygenation associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Wavelength selection, source-detector separation, optode density, and detector sensitivity are key design parameters that determine the imaging depth, chromophore separability, and, ultimately, clinical usefulness of a NIRS instrument. We present simulation results of NIR light propagation in a digital head model as it relates to the ability to detect intracranial hematomas and monitor the peri-hematomal tissue viability. These results inform NIRS instrument design specific to TBI diagnosis and monitoring. PMID:26417498

Rhenium-188 Labeled Tungsten Disulfide Nanoflakes for Self-Sensitized, Near-Infrared Enhanced Radioisotope Therapy.

PubMed

Chao, Yu; Wang, Guanglin; Liang, Chao; Yi, Xuan; Zhong, Xiaoyan; Liu, Jingjing; Gao, Min; Yang, Kai; Cheng, Liang; Liu, Zhuang

2016-08-01

Radioisotope therapy (RIT), in which radioactive agents are administered or implanted into the body to irradiate tumors from the inside, is a clinically adopted cancer treatment method but still needs improvement to enhance its performances. Herein, it is found that polyethylene glycol (PEG) modified tungsten disulfide (WS2 ) nanoflakes can be easily labeled by (188) Re, a widely used radioisotope for RIT, upon simple mixing. Like other high-Z elements acting as radiosensitizers, tungsten in the obtained (188) Re-WS2 -PEG would be able to absorb ionization radiation generated from (188) Re, enabling ''self-sensitization'' to enhance the efficacy of RIT as demonstrated in carefully designed in vitro experiments of this study. In the meanwhile, the strong NIR absorbance of WS2 -PEG could be utilized for NIR light-induced photothermal therapy (PTT), which if applied on tumors would be able to greatly relieve their hypoxia state and help to overcome hypoxia-associated radioresistance of tumors. Therefore, with (188) Re-WS2 -PEG as a multifunctional agent, which shows efficient passive tumor homing after intravenous injection, in vivo self-sensitized, NIR-enhanced RIT cancer treatment is realized, achieving excellent tumor killing efficacy in a mouse tumor model. This work presents a new concept of applying nanotechnology in RIT, by delivering radioisotopes into tumors, self-sensitizing the irradiation-induced cell damage, and modulating the tumor hypoxia state to further enhance the therapeutic outcomes. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Controlled release of bupivacaine using hybrid thermoresponsive nanoparticles activated via photothermal heating.

PubMed

Alejo, Teresa; Andreu, Vanesa; Mendoza, Gracia; Sebastian, Victor; Arruebo, Manuel

2018-08-01

Near-infrared (NIR) responsive nanoparticles are of great interest in the biomedical field as antennas for photothermal therapy and also as triggers for on-demand drug delivery. The present work reports the preparation of hollow gold nanoparticles (HGNPs) with plasmonic absorption in the NIR region covalently bound to a thermoresponsive polymeric shell that can be used as an on-demand drug delivery system for the release of analgesic drugs. The photothermal heating induced by the nanoparticles is able to produce the collapse of the polymeric shell thus generating the release of the local anesthetic bupivacaine in a spatiotemporally controlled way. Those HGNPs contain a 10 wt.% of polymer and present excellent reversible heating under NIR light excitation. Bupivacaine released at physiological temperature (37 °C) showed a pseudo-zero order release that could be spatiotemporally modified on-demand after applying several pulses of light/temperature above and below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the polymeric shell. Furthermore, the nanomaterials obtained did not displayed detrimental effects on four mammalian cell lines at doses up to 0.2 mg/mL. From the results obtained it can be concluded than this type of hybrid thermoresponsive nanoparticle can be used as an externally activated on-demand drug delivery system. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of Silica-Coated Hollow Carbon Nanospheres Encapsulating Fe3O4 Cluster for Magnetical and MR Imaging Guided NIR Light Triggering Hyperthermia and Ultrasound Imaging.

PubMed

Huang, Yun-Kai; Su, Chia-Hao; Chen, Jiu-Jeng; Chang, Chun-Ting; Tsai, Yu-Hsin; Syu, Sheng-Fu; Tseng, Tsu-Ting; Yeh, Chen-Sheng

2016-06-15

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs)-carbon (C) hybrid zero-dimensional nanostructures normally can be categorized into core-shell and yolk-shell architectures. Although IONP-C is a promising theranostic nanoagent, the in vivo study has surprisingly been less described. In addition, little effort has strived toward the fabrication of yolk-shell compared to the core-shell structures. In this context, we synthesized a yolk-shell type of the silica-coated hollow carbon nanospheres encapsulating IONPs cluster, which can be dispersed in aqueous solution for systemic studies in vivo, via the preparation involving the mixed micellization, polymerization/hollowing, sol-gel (hydration-condensation), and pyrolysis processes. Through a surface modification of the polyethylenimine followed by the sol-gel process, the silica shell coating was able to escape from condensing and sintering courses resulting in aggregation, due to the annealing. Not limited to the well-known functionalities in magnetical targeting and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for IONP-C hybrid structures, we expanded this yolk-shell NPs as a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive echogenic nanoagent giving an enhanced ultrasound imaging. Overall, we fabricated the NIR sensitive yolk-shell IONP-C to activate ultrasound imaging and photothermal ablation under magnetically and MR imaging guided therapy.

Mind-controlled transgene expression by a wireless-powered optogenetic designer cell implant.

PubMed

Folcher, Marc; Oesterle, Sabine; Zwicky, Katharina; Thekkottil, Thushara; Heymoz, Julie; Hohmann, Muriel; Christen, Matthias; Daoud El-Baba, Marie; Buchmann, Peter; Fussenegger, Martin

2014-11-11

Synthetic devices for traceless remote control of gene expression may provide new treatment opportunities in future gene- and cell-based therapies. Here we report the design of a synthetic mind-controlled gene switch that enables human brain activities and mental states to wirelessly programme the transgene expression in human cells. An electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) processing mental state-specific brain waves programs an inductively linked wireless-powered optogenetic implant containing designer cells engineered for near-infrared (NIR) light-adjustable expression of the human glycoprotein SEAP (secreted alkaline phosphatase). The synthetic optogenetic signalling pathway interfacing the BCI with target gene expression consists of an engineered NIR light-activated bacterial diguanylate cyclase (DGCL) producing the orthogonal second messenger cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP), which triggers the stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-dependent induction of synthetic interferon-β promoters. Humans generating different mental states (biofeedback control, concentration, meditation) can differentially control SEAP production of the designer cells in culture and of subcutaneous wireless-powered optogenetic implants in mice.

Electroactive Polymer Nanoparticles Exhibiting Photothermal Properties

PubMed Central

Cantu, Travis; Rodier, Bradley; Iszard, Zachary; Kilian, Alissa; Pattani, Varun; Walsh, Kyle; Weber, Katharina; Tunnell, James; Betancourt, Tania; Irvin, Jennifer

2016-01-01

A method for the synthesis of electroactive polymers is demonstrated, starting with the synthesis of extended conjugation monomers using a three-step process that finishes with Negishi coupling. Negishi coupling is a cross-coupling process in which a chemical precursor is first lithiated, followed by transmetallation with ZnCl2. The resultant organozinc compound can be coupled to a dibrominated aromatic precursor to give the conjugated monomer. Polymer films can be prepared via electropolymerization of the monomer and characterized using cyclic voltammetry and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectroscopy. Nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared via emulsion polymerization of the monomer using a two-surfactant system to yield an aqueous dispersion of the polymer NPs. The NPs are characterized using dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR-spectroscopy. Cytocompatibility of NPs is investigated using the cell viability assay. Finally, the NP suspensions are irradiated with a NIR laser to determine their effectiveness as potential materials for photothermal therapy (PTT). PMID:26780244

In vivo Biocompatibility, Biodistribution and Therapeutic Efficiency of Titania Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy of Solid Oral Cancers

PubMed Central

Lucky, Sasidharan Swarnalatha; Idris, Niagara Muhammad; Huang, Kai; Kim, Jaejung; Li, Zhengquan; Thong, Patricia Soo Ping; Xu, Rong; Soo, Khee Chee; Zhang, Yong

2016-01-01

Despite the advantages of using photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of head and neck tumors, it can only be used to treat early stage flat lesions due to the limited tissue penetration ability of the visible light. Here, we developed near-infrared (NIR) excitable upconversion nanoparticle (UCN) based PDT agent that can specifically target epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpressing oral cancer cells, in a bid to widen the application of PDT against thick and solid advanced or recurrent head and neck cancers. In vivo studies using the synthesized anti-EGFR-PEG-TiO2-UCNs following systemic administration displayed no major sub-acute or long term toxic effects in terms of blood biochemical, hematological or histopathological changes at a concentration of 50 mg/kg. NIR-PDT even in the presence of a 10 mm tissue phantom placed over the xenograft tumor, showed significant delay in tumor growth and improved survival rate compared to conventional chlorin-e6 (Ce6) PDT using 665 nm red light. Our work, one of the longest study till date in terms of safety (120 d), PDT efficacy (35 d) and survival (60 d), demonstrates the usefulness of UCN based PDT technology for targeted treatment of thick and bulky head and neck tumors. PMID:27570555

Core - shell upconversion nanoparticle - semiconductor heterostructures for photodynamic therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dou, Qing Qing; Rengaramchandran, Adith; Selvan, Subramanian Tamil; Paulmurugan, Ramasamy; Zhang, Yong

2015-02-01

Core-shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) with diverse chemical compositions have been attracting greater attention in recent years. However, it has been a challenge to develop CSNPs with different crystal structures due to the lattice mismatch of the nanocrystals. Here we report a rational design of core-shell heterostructure consisting of NaYF4:Yb,Tm upconversion nanoparticle (UCN) as the core and ZnO semiconductor as the shell for potential application in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The core-shell architecture (confirmed by TEM and STEM) enables for improving the loading efficiency of photosensitizer (ZnO) as the semiconductor is directly coated on the UCN core. Importantly, UCN acts as a transducer to sensitize ZnO and trigger the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce cancer cell death. We also present a firefly luciferase (FLuc) reporter gene based molecular biosensor (ARE-FLuc) to measure the antioxidant signaling response activated in cells during the release of ROS in response to the exposure of CSNPs under 980 nm NIR light. The breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and 4T1) exposed to CSNPs showed significant release of ROS as measured by aminophenyl fluorescein (APF) and ARE-FLuc luciferase assays, and ~45% cancer cell death as measured by MTT assay, when illuminated with 980 nm NIR light.

Designing and testing a wearable, wireless fNIRS patch.

PubMed

Abtahi, Mohammadreza; Cay, Gozde; Saikia, Manob Jyoti; Mankodiya, Kunal

2016-08-01

Optical brain monitoring using near infrared (NIR) light has got a lot of attention in order to study the complexity of the brain due to several advantages as oppose to other methods such as EEG, fMRI and PET. There are a few commercially available functional NIR spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain monitoring systems, but they are still non-wearable and pose difficulties in scanning the brain while the participants are in motion. In this work, we present our endeavors to design and test a low-cost, wireless fNIRS patch using NIR light sources at wavelengths of 770 and 830nm, photodetectors and a microcontroller to trigger the light sources, read photodetector's output and transfer data wirelessly (via Bluetooth) to a smart-phone. The patch is essentially a 3-D printed wearable system, recording and displaying the brain hemodynamic responses on smartphone, also eliminates the need for complicated wiring of the electrodes. We have performed rigorous lab experiments on the presented system for its functionality. In a proof of concept experiment, the patch detected the NIR absorption on the arm. Another experiment revealed that the patch's battery could last up to several hours with continuous fNIRS recording with and without wireless data transfer.

Near-infrared light controlled photocatalytic activity of carbon quantum dots for highly selective oxidation reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Haitao; Liu, Ruihua; Lian, Suoyuan; Liu, Yang; Huang, Hui; Kang, Zhenhui

2013-03-01

Selective oxidation of alcohols is a fundamental and significant transformation for the large-scale production of fine chemicals, UV and visible light driven photocatalytic systems for alcohol oxidation have been developed, however, the long wavelength near infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) light have not yet fully utilized by the present photocatalytic systems. Herein, we reported carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can function as an effective near infrared (NIR) light driven photocatalyst for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Based on the NIR light driven photo-induced electron transfer property and its photocatalytic activity for H2O2 decomposition, this metal-free catalyst could realize the transformation from benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with high selectivity (100%) and conversion (92%) under NIR light irradiation. HO&z.rad; is the main active oxygen specie in benzyl alcohol selective oxidative reaction confirmed by terephthalic acid photoluminescence probing assay (TA-PL), selecting toluene as the substrate. Such metal-free photocatalytic system also selectively converts other alcohol substrates to their corresponding aldehydes with high conversion, demonstrating a potential application of accessing traditional alcohol oxidation chemistry.Selective oxidation of alcohols is a fundamental and significant transformation for the large-scale production of fine chemicals, UV and visible light driven photocatalytic systems for alcohol oxidation have been developed, however, the long wavelength near infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) light have not yet fully utilized by the present photocatalytic systems. Herein, we reported carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can function as an effective near infrared (NIR) light driven photocatalyst for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. Based on the NIR light driven photo-induced electron transfer property and its photocatalytic activity for H2O2 decomposition, this metal-free catalyst could realize the transformation from benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with high selectivity (100%) and conversion (92%) under NIR light irradiation. HO&z.rad; is the main active oxygen specie in benzyl alcohol selective oxidative reaction confirmed by terephthalic acid photoluminescence probing assay (TA-PL), selecting toluene as the substrate. Such metal-free photocatalytic system also selectively converts other alcohol substrates to their corresponding aldehydes with high conversion, demonstrating a potential application of accessing traditional alcohol oxidation chemistry. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c3nr00092c

Recent advances in near-infrared fluorescence-guided imaging surgery using indocyanine green.

PubMed

Namikawa, Tsutomu; Sato, Takayuki; Hanazaki, Kazuhiro

2015-12-01

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has better tissue penetration, allowing for the effective rejection of excitation light and detection deep inside organs. Indocyanine green (ICG) generates NIR fluorescence after illumination by an NIR ray, enabling real-time intraoperative visualization of superficial lymphatic channels and vessels transcutaneously. The HyperEye Medical System (HEMS) can simultaneously detect NIR rays under room light to provide color imaging, which enables visualization under bright light. Thus, NIR fluorescence imaging using ICG can provide for excellent diagnostic accuracy in detecting sentinel lymph nodes in cancer and microvascular circulation in various ischemic diseases, to assist us with intraoperative decision making. Including HEMS in this system could further improve the sentinel lymph node mapping and intraoperative identification of blood supply in reconstructive organs and ischemic diseases, making it more attractive than conventional imaging. Moreover, the development of new laparoscopic imaging systems equipped with NIR will allow fluorescence-guided surgery in a minimally invasive setting. Future directions, including the conjugation of NIR fluorophores to target specific cancer markers might be realistic technology with diagnostic and therapeutic benefits.

Light trapping and surface plasmon enhanced high-performance NIR photodetector

PubMed Central

Luo, Lin-Bao; Zeng, Long-Hui; Xie, Chao; Yu, Yong-Qiang; Liang, Feng-Xia; Wu, Chun-Yan; Wang, Li; Hu, Ji-Gang

2014-01-01

Heterojunctions near infrared (NIR) photodetectors have attracted increasing research interests for their wide-ranging applications in many areas such as military surveillance, target detection, and light vision. A high-performance NIR light photodetector was fabricated by coating the methyl-group terminated Si nanowire array with plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) decorated graphene film. Theoretical simulation based on finite element method (FEM) reveals that the AuNPs@graphene/CH3-SiNWs array device is capable of trapping the incident NIR light into the SiNWs array through SPP excitation and coupling in the AuNPs decorated graphene layer. What is more, the coupling and trapping of freely propagating plane waves from free space into the nanostructures, and surface passivation contribute to the high on-off ratio as well. PMID:24468857

NIR-Vis-UV Light-Responsive Actuator Films of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites.

PubMed

Cheng, Zhangxiang; Wang, Tianjie; Li, Xiao; Zhang, Yihe; Yu, Haifeng

2015-12-16

To take full advantage of sunlight for photomechanical materials, NIR-vis-UV light-responsive actuator films of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites were fabricated. The strategy is based on phase transition of LCs from nematic to isotropic phase induced by combination of photochemical and photothermal processes in the PDLC/GO nanocomposites. Upon mechanical stretching of the film, both topological shape change and mesogenic alignment occurred in the separated LC domains, enabling the film to respond to NIR-vis-UV light. The homodispersed GO flakes act as photoabsorbent and nanoscale heat source to transfer NIR or VIS light into thermal energy, heating the film and photothermally inducing phase transition of LC microdomains. By utilizing photochemical phase transition of LCs upon UV-light irradiation, one azobenzene dye was incorporated into the LC domains, endowing the nanocomposite films with UV-responsive property. Moreover, the light-responsive behaviors can be well-controlled by adjusting the elongation ratio upon mechanical treatment. The NIR-vis-UV light-responsive PDLC/GO nanocomposite films exhibit excellent properties of easy fabrication, low-cost, and good film-forming and mechanical features, promising their numerous applications in the field of soft actuators and optomechanical systems driven directly by sunlight.

CuS/RGO hybrid photocatalyst for full solar spectrum photoreduction from UV/Vis to near-infrared light.

PubMed

Wu, Jie; Liu, Baibai; Ren, Zhenxing; Ni, Mengying; Li, Can; Gong, Yinyan; Qin, Wei; Huang, Yongli; Sun, Chang Q; Liu, Xinjuan

2018-05-01

To make full use of the solar energy, it remains a great challenge for semiconductor photocatalysts to harvest the full solar light spectrum from ultraviolet (UV) to visible even the near infrared (NIR) wavelength. Here we show firstly the CuS/RGO (reduced graphene oxide) hybrid photocatalyst synthesized via a microwave assisted method with full solar light (UV-Vis-NIR) active for efficient Cr(VI) reduction. The CuS/RGO displays high absorption and catalytic activity in the UV, visible and even the NIR light regions. As co-catalyst, RGO can separate and inhibit the recombination of charge carriers, consequently improving the catalytic activity. Only 1wt% RGO emersions can reduce 90% of Cr(VI) under the radiation of light over the full spectrum. Findings may provide a new strategy and substance to expand the utilization range of solar light from UV to visible even the NIR energy. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Mesoporous Bamboo Charcoal Nanoparticles as a New Near-Infrared Responsive Drug Carrier for Imaging-Guided Chemotherapy/Photothermal Synergistic Therapy of Tumor.

PubMed

Dong, Xinghua; Yin, Wenyan; Yu, Jie; Dou, Ruixia; Bao, Tao; Zhang, Xiao; Yan, Liang; Yong, Yuan; Su, Chunjian; Wang, Qing; Gu, Zhanjun; Zhao, Yuliang

2016-07-01

Near-infrared-(NIR)-light-triggered photothermal nanocarriers have attracted much attention for the construction of more smart and effective therapeutic platforms in nanomedicine. Here, a multifunctional drug carrier based on a low cost, natural, and biocompatible material, bamboo charcoal nanoparticles (BCNPs), which are prepared by the pyrolysis of bamboo followed by physical grinding and ultrasonication is reported. The as-prepared BCNPs with porous structure possess not only large surface areas for drug loading but also an efficient photothermal effect, making them become both a suitable drug carrier and photothermal agent for cancer therapy. After loading doxorubicin (DOX) into the BCNPs, the resulting DOX-BCNPs enhance drug potency and more importantly can overcome the drug resistance of DOX in a MCF-7 cancer cell model by significantly increasing cellular uptake while remarkably decreasing drug efflux. The in vivo synergistic effect of combining chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in this drug delivery system is also demonstrated. In addition, the BCNPs enhance optoacoustic imaging contrast due to their high NIR absorbance. Collectively, it is demonstrated that the BCNP drug delivery system constitutes a promising and effective nanocarrier for simultaneous bioimaging and chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy of cancer. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Photothermal and biodegradable polyaniline/porous silicon hybrid nanocomposites as drug carriers for combined chemo-photothermal therapy of cancer.

PubMed

Xia, Bing; Wang, Bin; Shi, Jisen; Zhang, Yu; Zhang, Qi; Chen, Zhenyu; Li, Jiachen

2017-03-15

To develop photothermal and biodegradable nanocarriers for combined chemo-photothermal therapy of cancer, polyaniline/porous silicon hybrid nanocomposites had been successfully fabricated via surface initiated polymerization of aniline onto porous silicon nanoparticles in our experiments. As-prepared polyaniline/porous silicon nanocomposites could be well dispersed in aqueous solution without any extra hydrophilic surface coatings, and showed a robust photothermal effect under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Especially, after an intravenous injection into mice, these biodegradable porous silicon-based nanocomposites as non-toxic agents could be completely cleared in body. Moreover, these polyaniline/porous silicon nanocomposites as drug carriers also exhibited an efficient loading and dual pH/NIR light-triggered release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX, a model anticancer drug). Most importantly, assisted with NIR laser irradiation, polyaniline/PSiNPs nanocomposites with loading DOX showed a remarkable synergistic anticancer effect combining chemotherapy with photothermal therapy, whether in vitro or in vivo. Therefore, based on biodegradable PSiNPs-based nanocomposites, this combination approach of chemo-photothermal therapy would have enormous potential on clinical cancer treatments in the future. Considering the non-biodegradable nature and potential long-term toxicity concerns of photothermal nanoagents, it is of great interest and importance to develop biodegradable and photothermal nanoparticles with an excellent biocompatibility for their future clinical applications. In our experiments, we fabricated porous silicon-based hybrid nanocomposites via surface initiated polymerization of aniline, which showed an excellent photothermal effect, aqueous dispersibility, biodegradability and biocompatibility. Furthermore, after an efficient loading of DOX molecules, polyaniline/porous silicon nanocomposites exhibited the remarkable synergistic anticancer effect, whether in vitro and in vivo. Copyright © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Instrumentation and method for measuring NIR light absorbed in tissue during MR imaging in medical NIRS measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myllylä, Teemu S.; Sorvoja, Hannu S. S.; Nikkinen, Juha; Tervonen, Osmo; Kiviniemi, Vesa; Myllylä, Risto A.

2011-07-01

Our goal is to provide a cost-effective method for examining human tissue, particularly the brain, by the simultaneous use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Due to its compatibility requirements, MRI poses a demanding challenge for NIRS measurements. This paper focuses particularly on presenting the instrumentation and a method for the non-invasive measurement of NIR light absorbed in human tissue during MR imaging. One practical method to avoid disturbances in MR imaging involves using long fibre bundles to enable conducting the measurements at some distance from the MRI scanner. This setup serves in fact a dual purpose, since also the NIRS device will be less disturbed by the MRI scanner. However, measurements based on long fibre bundles suffer from light attenuation. Furthermore, because one of our primary goals was to make the measuring method as cost-effective as possible, we used high-power light emitting diodes instead of more expensive lasers. The use of LEDs, however, limits the maximum output power which can be extracted to illuminate the tissue. To meet these requirements, we improved methods of emitting light sufficiently deep into tissue. We also show how to measure NIR light of a very small power level that scatters from the tissue in the MRI environment, which is characterized by strong electromagnetic interference. In this paper, we present the implemented instrumentation and measuring method and report on test measurements conducted during MRI scanning. These measurements were performed in MRI operating rooms housing 1.5 Tesla-strength closed MRI scanners (manufactured by GE) in the Dept. of Diagnostic Radiology at the Oulu University Hospital.

Far-red light-mediated programmable anti-cancer gene delivery in cooperation with photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Wang, Jinhui; He, Hua; Xu, Xin; Wang, Xiao; Chen, Yongbing; Yin, Lichen

2018-07-01

Effective anti-cancer therapy is hurdled by the complicated extracellular and intracellular barriers, and thus a smart gene vector that can enable programmable gene delivery is highly demanded. Photo-manipulation of gene delivery processes features spatial and temporal precision, while majority of current strategies utilizes short-wavelength UV/visible light with poor tissue penetration or high-power-density near-infrared (NIR) light that would cause undesired heat damage. Herein, an ROS-degradable polycation was designed and co-delivered with a photosensitizer (PS), thus realizing photo-programmable gene delivery using far-red light (661 nm) at low optical power density (down to 5 mW cm -2 ). Thioketal-crosslinked polyethylenimine (TK-PEI) was synthesized to condense p53 gene to form nanocomplexes (NCs), and hyaluronic acid (HA) modified with pheophytin a (Pha) was coated onto NCs to enhance their colloidal stability and enable cancer cell targeting. Short-time (8-min) light irradiation produced non-lethal amount of ROS to disrupt the endosomal membranes and facilitate p53 gene release via degradation of TK-PEI, which collectively enhanced p53 expression levels toward anti-cancer gene therapy. Long-time (30-min) light irradiation at the post-transfection state generated lethal amount of ROS, which cooperatively killed cancer cells to strengthen p53 gene therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first example of an "one stone, three birds" approach to realize cooperative anti-cancer gene therapy using low-power-density, long-wavelength visible light as a single stimulus. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bifunctional Carbon-Dot-WS2 Nanorods for Photothermal Therapy and Cell Imaging.

PubMed

Nandi, Sukhendu; Bhunia, Susanta Kumar; Zeiri, Leila; Pour, Maayan; Nachman, Iftach; Raichman, Daniel; Lellouche, Jean-Paul Moshe; Jelinek, Raz

2017-01-18

Multifunctional nanoparticles have attracted significant interest as biomedical vehicles, combining diagnostic, imaging, and therapeutic properties. We describe herein the construction of new nanoparticle conjugates comprising WS 2 nanorods (NRs) coupled to fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots). We show that the WS 2 -C-dot hybrids integrate the unique physical properties of the two species, specifically the photothermal activity of the WS 2 NRs upon irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light and the excitation-dependent luminescence emission of the C-dots. The WS 2 -C-dot NRs have been shown to be non-cytotoxic and have been successfully employed for multicolour cell imaging and targeted cell killing under NIR irradiation, pointing to their potential utilization as effective therapeutic vehicles. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Compensation of spectral artifacts in dual-modality intravascular optical coherence tomography and near-infrared spectroscopy (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fard, Ali M.; Gardecki, Joseph A.; Ughi, Giovanni J.; Hyun, Chulho; Tearney, Guillermo J.

2016-02-01

Intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a high-resolution catheter-based imaging method that provides three-dimensional microscopic images of coronary artery in vivo, facilitating coronary artery disease treatment decisions based on detailed morphology. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has proven to be a powerful tool for identification of lipid-rich plaques inside the coronary walls. We have recently demonstrated a dual-modality intravascular imaging technology that integrates OCT and NIRS into one imaging catheter using a two-fiber arrangement and a custom-made dual-channel fiber rotary junction. It therefore enables simultaneous acquisition of microstructural and composition information at 100 frames/second for improved diagnosis of coronary lesions. The dual-modality OCT-NIRS system employs a single wavelength-swept light source for both OCT and NIRS modalities. It subsequently uses a high-speed photoreceiver to detect the NIRS spectrum in the time domain. Although use of one light source greatly simplifies the system configuration, such light source exhibits pulse-to-pulse wavelength and intensity variation due to mechanical scanning of the wavelength. This can be in particular problematic for NIRS modality and sacrifices the reliability of the acquired spectra. In order to address this challenge, here we developed a robust data acquisition and processing method that compensates for the spectral variations of the wavelength-swept light source. The proposed method extracts the properties of the light source, i.e., variation period and amplitude from a reference spectrum and subsequently calibrates the NIRS datasets. We have applied this method on datasets obtained from cadaver human coronary arteries using a polygon-scanning (1230-1350nm) OCT system, operating at 100,000 sweeps per second. The results suggest that our algorithm accurately and robustly compensates the spectral variations and visualizes the dual-modality OCT-NIRS images. These findings are therefore crucial for the practical application and clinical translation of dual-modality intravascular OCT-NIRS imaging when the same swept sources are used for both OCT and spectroscopy.

Near-infrared light-responsive dynamic wrinkle patterns.

PubMed

Li, Fudong; Hou, Honghao; Yin, Jie; Jiang, Xuesong

2018-04-01

Dynamic micro/nanopatterns provide an effective approach for on-demand tuning of surface properties to realize a smart surface. We report a simple yet versatile strategy for the fabrication of near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive dynamic wrinkles by using a carbon nanotube (CNT)-containing poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomer as the substrate for the bilayer systems, with various functional polymers serving as the top stiff layers. The high photon-to-thermal energy conversion of CNT leads to the NIR-controlled thermal expansion of the elastic CNT-PDMS substrate, resulting in dynamic regulation of the applied strain (ε) of the bilayer system by the NIR on/off cycle to obtain a reversible wrinkle pattern. The switchable surface topological structures can transfer between the wrinkled state and the wrinkle-free state within tens of seconds via NIR irradiation. As a proof-of-concept application, this type of NIR-driven dynamic wrinkle pattern was used in smart displays, dynamic gratings, and light control electronics.

Broadband All-Polymer Phototransistors with Nanostructured Bulk Heterojunction Layers of NIR-Sensing n-Type and Visible Light-Sensing p-Type Polymers

PubMed Central

Han, Hyemi; Nam, Sungho; Seo, Jooyeok; Lee, Chulyeon; Kim, Hwajeong; Bradley, Donal D. C.; Ha, Chang-Sik; Kim, Youngkyoo

2015-01-01

We report ‘broadband light-sensing’ all-polymer phototransistors with the nanostructured bulk heterojunction (BHJ) layers of visible (VIS) light-sensing electron-donating (p-type) polymer and near infrared (NIR) light-sensing electron-accepting (n-type) polymer. Poly[{2,5-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-3,6-bis-(thien-2-yl)-pyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-diyl}-co-{2,2′-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)]-5,5′-diyl}] (PEHTPPD-BT), which is synthesized via Suzuki coupling and employed as the n-type polymer, shows strong optical absorption in the NIR region (up to 1100 nm) in the presence of weak absorption in the VIS range (400 ~ 600 nm). To strengthen the VIS absorption, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is introduced as the p-type polymer. All-polymer phototransistors with the BHJ (P3HT:PEHTPPD-BT) layers, featuring a peculiar nano-domain morphology, exhibit typical p-type transistor characteristics and efficiently detect broadband (VIS ~ NIR) lights. The maximum corrected responsivity (without contribution of dark current) reaches up to 85 ~ 88% (VIS) and 26 ~ 40% (NIR) of theoretical responsivity. The charge separation process between P3HT and PEHTPPD-BT components in the highest occupied molecular orbital is proposed as a major working mechanism for the effective NIR sensing. PMID:26563576

Self-assembled KCu7S4 nanowire monolayers for self-powered near-infrared photodetectors.

PubMed

Wang, You-Yi; Wu, Ya-Dong; Peng, Wei; Song, Yong-Hong; Wang, Bao; Wu, Chun-Yan; Lu, Yang

2018-06-13

Near infrared light (NIR) photodetectors based on one-dimensional semiconductor nanowires have generated considerable interest due to their practical application in versatile fields. We present a facile yet efficient approach to rationally integrating KCu7S4 semiconductor nanowires by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. A self-powered near infrared (NIR) light photodetector is fabricated by transferring a close-packed KCu7S4 nanowire monolayer to the surface of a silicon wafer. The as-fabricated Si/KCu7S4 heterojunction with a close-packed and well-aligned nanowire array exhibits splendid photovoltaic performance when illuminated by NIR light, allowing the detection of NIR light without an exterior power supply. The photodetector exhibits a high sensitivity to NIR light (980 nm, 295.3 μW cm-2) with responsivity (R) 15 mA W-1 and detectivity (D*) 2.15 × 1012 cm Hz1/2 W-1. Significantly, the device shows the capability to work under high pulsed light irradiation up to 50 kHz with a high-speed response (response time τr 7.4 μs and recovery time τf 8.6 μs). This facilitates the fabrication of low-cost and high-speed photodetectors and integrated optoelectronic sensor circuitry.

In vivo near infrared (NIRS) sensor attachment using fibrin bioadhesive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macnab, Andrew; Pagano, Roberto; Kwon, Brian; Dumont, Guy; Shadgan, Babak

2018-02-01

Background: `Tisseel' (Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, IL) is a fibrin-based sealant that is commonly used during spine surgery to augment dural repairs. We wish to intra-operatively secure a near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensor to the dura in order to monitor the tissue hemodynamics of the underlying spinal cord. To determine if `Tisseel' sealant adversely attenuates NIR photon transmission. Methods: We investigated `Tisseel' in both an in vitro and in vivo paradigm. For in vitro testing, we used a 1 mm pathlength cuvette containing either air or `Tisseel' interposed between a NIR light source (760 and 850 nm) and a photodiode detector and compared transmittance. For in vivo testing, a continuous wave (760 and 850 nm) spatiallyresolved NIRS device was placed over the triceps muscle using either conventional skin apposition (overlying adhesive bandage) or bioadhesion with `Tisseel'. Raw optical data and tissue saturation index (TSI%) collected at rest were compared. Results: In-vitro NIR light absorption by `Tisseel' was very high, with transmittance reduced by 95% compared to air. In-vivo muscle TSI% values were 80% with conventional attachment and 20% using fibrin glue. Conclusion: The optical properties of `Tisseel' significantly attenuate NIR light during in-vitro transmittance and critically compromise photon transmission in-vivo.

Transdermal thiol-acrylate polyethylene glycol hydrogel synthesis using near infrared light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Solchan; Lee, Hwangjae; Kim, Hyung-Seok; Kim, Min-Gon; Lee, Luke P.; Lee, Jae Young

2016-07-01

Light-induced polymerization has been widely applied for hydrogel synthesis, which conventionally involves the use of ultraviolet or visible light to activate a photoinitiator for polymerization. However, with these light sources, transdermal gelation is not efficient and feasible due to their substantial interactions with biological systems, and thus a high power is required. In this study, we used biocompatible and tissue-penetrating near infrared (NIR) light to remotely trigger a thiol-acrylate reaction for efficient in vivo gelation with good controllability. Our gelation system includes gold nanorods as a photothermal agent, a thermal initiator, diacrylate polyethylene glycol (PEG), and thiolated PEG. Irradiation with a low-power NIR laser (0.3 W cm-2) could induce gelation via a mixed-mode reaction with a small increase in temperature (~5 °C) under the optimized conditions. We also achieved successful transdermal gelation via the NIR-assisted photothermal thiol-acryl reactions. This new type of NIR-assisted thiol-acrylate polymerization provides new opportunities for in situ hydrogel formation for injectable hydrogels and delivery of drugs/cells for various biomedical applications.Light-induced polymerization has been widely applied for hydrogel synthesis, which conventionally involves the use of ultraviolet or visible light to activate a photoinitiator for polymerization. However, with these light sources, transdermal gelation is not efficient and feasible due to their substantial interactions with biological systems, and thus a high power is required. In this study, we used biocompatible and tissue-penetrating near infrared (NIR) light to remotely trigger a thiol-acrylate reaction for efficient in vivo gelation with good controllability. Our gelation system includes gold nanorods as a photothermal agent, a thermal initiator, diacrylate polyethylene glycol (PEG), and thiolated PEG. Irradiation with a low-power NIR laser (0.3 W cm-2) could induce gelation via a mixed-mode reaction with a small increase in temperature (~5 °C) under the optimized conditions. We also achieved successful transdermal gelation via the NIR-assisted photothermal thiol-acryl reactions. This new type of NIR-assisted thiol-acrylate polymerization provides new opportunities for in situ hydrogel formation for injectable hydrogels and delivery of drugs/cells for various biomedical applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: FE-SEM image of thiol-acrylate hydrogels; UV/Vis spectra of Ellman's assay; the temperature increase during transdermal photothermal hydrogelation. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01956k

A histological evaluation and in vivo assessment of intratumoral near infrared photothermal nanotherapy-induced tumor regression.

PubMed

Green, Hadiyah N; Crockett, Stephanie D; Martyshkin, Dmitry V; Singh, Karan P; Grizzle, William E; Rosenthal, Eben L; Mirov, Sergey B

2014-01-01

Nanoparticle (NP)-enabled near infrared (NIR) photothermal therapy has realized limited success in in vivo studies as a potential localized cancer therapy. This is primarily due to a lack of successful methods that can prevent NP uptake by the reticuloendothelial system, especially the liver and kidney, and deliver sufficient quantities of intravenously injected NPs to the tumor site. Histological evaluation of photothermal therapy-induced tumor regression is also neglected in the current literature. This report demonstrates and histologically evaluates the in vivo potential of NIR photothermal therapy by circumventing the challenges of intravenous NP delivery and tumor targeting found in other photothermal therapy studies. Subcutaneous Cal 27 squamous cell carcinoma xenografts received photothermal nanotherapy treatments, radial injections of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-ylated gold nanorods and one NIR 785 nm laser irradiation for 10 minutes at 9.5 W/cm(2). Tumor response was measured for 10-15 days, gross changes in tumor size were evaluated, and the remaining tumors or scar tissues were excised and histologically analyzed. The single treatment of intratumoral nanorod injections followed by a 10 minute NIR laser treatment also known as photothermal nanotherapy, resulted in ~100% tumor regression in ~90% of treated tumors, which was statistically significant in a comparison to the average of all three control groups over time (P<0.01). Photothermal nanotherapy, or intratumoral nanorod injections followed by NIR laser irradiation of tumors and tumor margins, demonstrate the potential of NIR photothermal therapy as a viable localized treatment approach for primary and early stage tumors, and prevents NP uptake by the reticuloendothelial system.

First demonstration of gold nanorods-mediated photodynamic therapeutic destruction of tumors via near infra-red light activation.

PubMed

Vankayala, Raviraj; Huang, Yu-Kuan; Kalluru, Poliraju; Chiang, Chi-Shiun; Hwang, Kuo Chu

2014-04-24

Previously, a large volume of papers reports that gold nanorods (Au NRs) are able to effectively kill cancer cells upon high laser doses (usually 808 nm, 1-48 W/cm²) irradiation, leading to hyperthermia-induced destruction of cancer cells, i.e, photothermal therapy (PTT) effects. Combination of Au NRs-mediated PTT and organic photosensitizers-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) were also reported to achieve synergistic PTT and PDT effects on killing cancer cells. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that Au NRs alone can sensitize formation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and exert dramatic PDT effects on complete destrcution of tumors in mice under very low LED/laser doses of single photon NIR (915 nm, <130 mW/cm²) light excitation. By changing the NIR light excitation wavelengths, Au NRs-mediated phototherapeutic effects can be switched from PDT to PTT or combination of both. Both PDT and PTT effects were confirmed by measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heat shock protein (HSP 70), singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG) sensing, and sodium azide quenching in cellular experiments. In vivo mice experiments further show that the PDT effect via irradiation of Au NRs by 915 nm can destruct the B16F0 melanoma tumor in mice far more effectively than doxorubicin (a clinically used anti-cancer drug) as well as the PTT effect (via irradiation of Au NRs by 780 nm light). In addition, we show that Au NRs can emit single photon-induced fluorescence to illustrate their in vivo locations/distribution. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

PEGylated Cu3BiS3 hollow nanospheres as a new photothermal agent for 980 nm-laser-driven photothermochemotherapy and a contrast agent for X-ray computed tomography imaging.

PubMed

Zhou, Shu-Mei; Ma, De-Kun; Zhang, Sheng-Hui; Wang, Wei; Chen, Wei; Huang, Shao-Ming; Yu, Kang

2016-01-21

Developing multifunctional near-infrared (NIR) light-driven photothermal agents is in high demand for efficient cancer therapy. Herein, PEGylated Cu3BiS3 hollow nanospheres (HNSs) with an average diameter of 80 nm were synthesized through a facile ethylene glycol-mediated solvothermal route. The obtained PEGylated Cu3BiS3 HNSs exhibited strong NIR optical absorption with a large molar extinction coefficient of 4.1 × 10(9) cm(-1) M(-1) at 980 nm. Under the irradiation of a 980 nm laser with a safe power density of 0.72 W cm(-2), Cu3BiS3 HNSs produced significant photothermal heating with a photothermal transduction efficiency of 27.5%. The Cu3BiS3 HNSs also showed a good antitumoral drug doxorubicin (DOX) loading capacity and pH- and NIR-responsive DOX release behaviors. At a low dosage of 10 μg mL(-1), HeLa cells could be efficiently killed through a synergistic effect of chemo- and photothermo-therapy respectively based on the DOX release and the photothermal effect of Cu3BiS3 HNSs. In addition, Cu3BiS3 HNSs displayed a good X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging capability. Furthermore, Cu3BiS3 HNSs could be used for efficient in vivo photothermochemotherapy and X-ray CT imaging of mice bearing melanoma skin cancer. This multifunctional theranostic nanomaterial shows potential promise for cancer therapy.

Development of a new diffuse near-infrared food measuring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jun; Piao, Renguan

2006-11-01

Industries from agriculture to petrochemistry have found near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic analysis useful for quality control and quantitative analysis of materials and products. The general chemical, polymer chemistry, petrochemistry, agriculture, food and textile industries are currently using NIR spectroscopic methods for analysis. In this study, we developed a new sort NIR instrument for food measuring. The instrument consists of a light source, 12 filters to the prismatic part. The special part is that we use a mirror to get two beams of light. And two PbS detectors were used. One detector collected the radiation of one light beam directly and the value was set as the standard instead the standard white surface. Another light beam irradiate the sample surface, and the diffuse light was collected by another detector. The value of the two detectors was compared and the absorbency was computed. We tested the performance of the NIR instrument in determining the protein and fat content of milk powder. The calibration showed the accuracy of the instrument in practice.

Multiphoton microscopy and image guided light activated therapy using nanomaterials (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasad, Paras N.

2017-02-01

This talk will focus on design and applications of nanomaterials exhibiting strong multiphoton upconversion for multiphoton microscopy as well as for image-guided and light activated therapy .1-3 Such processes can occur by truly nonlinear optical interactions proceeding through virtual intermediate states or by stepwise coupled linear excitations through real intermediate states. Multiphoton processes in biocompatible multifunctional nanoparticles allow for 3D deep tissue imaging. In addition, they can produce in-situ photon conversion of deep tissue penetrating near IR light into a needed shorter wavelength light for photo-activated therapy at a targeted site, thus overcoming the limited penetration of UV or visible light into biological media. We are using near IR emitters such as silicon quantum dots which also exhibit strong multiphoton excitation for multiphoton microscopy. Another approach involves nonlinear nanocrystals such as ZnO which can produce four wave mixing, sum frequency generation as well as second harmonic generation to convert a deep tissue penetrating Near IR light at the targeted biological site to a desired shorter wavelength light suitable for bio imaging or activation of a therapy. We have utilized this approach to activate a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy. Yet another type of upconversion materials is rare-earth ion doped optical nanotransformers which transform a Near IR (NIR) light from an external source by sequential single photon absorption, in situ and on demand, to a needed wavelength. Applications of these nanotransformers in multiphoton photoacoustic imaging will also be presented. An exciting direction pursued by us using these multiphoton nanoparticles, is functional imaging of brain. Simultaneously, they can effect optogenetics for regioselective stimulation of neurons for providing an effective intervention/augmentation strategy to enhance the cognitive state and lead to a foundation for futuristic vision of super human capabilities. Challenges and opportunities will be discussed.

Characterization of measurement artefacts in fluoroptic temperature sensors: implications for laser thermal therapy at 810 nm.

PubMed

Davidson, Sean R H; Vitkin, I Alex; Sherar, Michael D; Whelan, William M

2005-04-01

Fluoroptic sensors are used to measure interstitial temperatures but their utility for monitoring laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is unclear because these sensors exhibit a measurement artefact when exposed to the near-infrared (NIR) treatment light. This study investigates the cause of the artefact to determine whether fluoroptic sensors can provide reliable temperature measurements during LITT. The temperature rise measured by a fluoroptic sensor irradiated in non-absorbing media (air and water) was considered an artefact. Temperature rise was measured as a function of distance from a laser source. Two different sensor designs and several laser powers were investigated. A relationship between fluence rate and measurement artefact in water was determined and coupled with a numerical simulation of LITT in liver to estimate the error in temperature measurements made by fluoroptic sensors in tissue in proximity to the laser source. The effect of ambient light on the performance of sensors capped with a transparent material ("clear-capped sensors") was also investigated. The temperature rise recorded in air by both clear- and black-capped fluoroptic sensors decreased with distance from a laser source in a manner similar to fluence rate. Sensor cap material, laser power, and the thermal properties of the surrounding medium affected the magnitude of the artefact. Numerical simulations indicated that the accuracy of a clear-capped fluoroptic sensor used to monitor a typical LITT treatment in liver is > 1 degrees C provided the sensor is further than approximately 3 mm from the source. It was also shown that clear-capped fluoroptic sensors are affected by ambient light. The measurement artefact experienced by both black-capped and clear-capped fluoroptic sensors irradiated by NIR light scales with fluence rate and is due to direct absorption of the laser light, which results in sensor self-heating. Clear-capped fluoroptic sensors can be used to accurately monitor LITT in tissue but should be shielded from ambient light. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Facile fabrication of a near-infrared responsive nanocarrier for spatiotemporally controlled chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Hao; Zhang, Yi; Liu, Zheyi; Xu, Guiju; Huang, Guang; Ji, Yongsheng; Xiong, Zhichao; Zhang, Quanqing; Dong, Jing; Zhang, Weibing; Zou, Hanfa

2014-07-01

Remote-controlled nanocarriers for drug delivery are of great promise to provide timely, sensitive and spatiotemporally selective treatments for cancer therapy. Due to convenient and precise manipulation, deep penetration through tissues and excellent biocompatibility, near-infrared (NIR) irradiation is a preferred external stimulus for triggering the release of loaded drugs. In this work, for spatiotemporally controlled chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy, a NIR responsive nanocarrier was fabricated using reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rNGO) decorated with mesoporous silica shell and the subsequent functionalization of the thermoresponsive polymer brushes (pNIPAM-co-pAAm) at the outlet of the silica pore channels. rNGO, which combined with the mesoporous silica shell provide a high loading capacity for anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, DOX), was assigned to sense NIR irradiation for the manipulation of pNIPAM-co-pAAm valve to control the diffusion of loaded DOX. Under NIR irradiation, rNGO would generate heat, which could not only elevate the surrounding temperature over the low critical solution temperature (LCST) of pNIPAM-co-pAAm to open the thermoresponsive polymer valve and promote the diffusion of DOX, but also kill the cancer cells through the hypothermia effect. By manipulating NIR irradiation, the nanocarrier exhibited efficiently controlled release of loaded DOX both in the buffer and in living HeLa cells (the model cancer cells), providing powerful and site-targeted treatments, which can be attributed to synergistic effects of chemo-photothermal therapy. To sum up, this novel nanocarrier is an excellent drug delivery platform in remote-controlled chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy via NIR irradiation.Remote-controlled nanocarriers for drug delivery are of great promise to provide timely, sensitive and spatiotemporally selective treatments for cancer therapy. Due to convenient and precise manipulation, deep penetration through tissues and excellent biocompatibility, near-infrared (NIR) irradiation is a preferred external stimulus for triggering the release of loaded drugs. In this work, for spatiotemporally controlled chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy, a NIR responsive nanocarrier was fabricated using reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rNGO) decorated with mesoporous silica shell and the subsequent functionalization of the thermoresponsive polymer brushes (pNIPAM-co-pAAm) at the outlet of the silica pore channels. rNGO, which combined with the mesoporous silica shell provide a high loading capacity for anticancer drugs (doxorubicin, DOX), was assigned to sense NIR irradiation for the manipulation of pNIPAM-co-pAAm valve to control the diffusion of loaded DOX. Under NIR irradiation, rNGO would generate heat, which could not only elevate the surrounding temperature over the low critical solution temperature (LCST) of pNIPAM-co-pAAm to open the thermoresponsive polymer valve and promote the diffusion of DOX, but also kill the cancer cells through the hypothermia effect. By manipulating NIR irradiation, the nanocarrier exhibited efficiently controlled release of loaded DOX both in the buffer and in living HeLa cells (the model cancer cells), providing powerful and site-targeted treatments, which can be attributed to synergistic effects of chemo-photothermal therapy. To sum up, this novel nanocarrier is an excellent drug delivery platform in remote-controlled chemo-photothermal synergistic cancer therapy via NIR irradiation. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr01044b

Near-Infrared Light Activation of Proteins Inside Living Cells Enabled by Carbon Nanotube-Mediated Intracellular Delivery.

PubMed

Li, He; Fan, Xinqi; Chen, Xing

2016-02-01

Light-responsive proteins have been delivered into the cells for controlling intracellular events with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the choice of wavelength is limited to the UV and visible range; activation of proteins inside the cells using near-infrared (NIR) light, which has better tissue penetration and biocompatibility, remains elusive. Here, we report the development of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based bifunctional system that enables protein intracellular delivery, followed by NIR activation of the delivered proteins inside the cells. Proteins of interest are conjugated onto SWCNTs via a streptavidin-desthiobiotin (SA-DTB) linkage, where the protein activity is blocked. SWCNTs serve as both a nanocarrier for carrying proteins into the cells and subsequently a NIR sensitizer to photothermally cleave the linkage and release the proteins. The released proteins become active and exert their functions inside the cells. We demonstrated this strategy by intracellular delivery and NIR-triggered nuclear translocation of enhanced green fluorescent protein, and by intracellular delivery and NIR-activation of a therapeutic protein, saporin, in living cells. Furthermore, we showed that proteins conjugated onto SWCNTs via the SA-DTB linkage could be delivered to the tumors, and optically released and activated by using NIR light in living mice.

System-level analysis and design for RGB-NIR CMOS camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geelen, Bert; Spooren, Nick; Tack, Klaas; Lambrechts, Andy; Jayapala, Murali

2017-02-01

This paper presents system-level analysis of a sensor capable of simultaneously acquiring both standard absorption based RGB color channels (400-700nm, 75nm FWHM), as well as an additional NIR channel (central wavelength: 808 nm, FWHM: 30nm collimated light). Parallel acquisition of RGB and NIR info on the same CMOS image sensor is enabled by monolithic pixel-level integration of both a NIR pass thin film filter and NIR blocking filters for the RGB channels. This overcomes the need for a standard camera-level NIR blocking filter to remove the NIR leakage present in standard RGB absorption filters from 700-1000nm. Such a camera-level NIR blocking filter would inhibit the acquisition of the NIR channel on the same sensor. Thin film filters do not operate in isolation. Rather, their performance is influenced by the system context in which they operate. The spectral distribution of light arriving at the photo diode is shaped a.o. by the illumination spectral profile, optical component transmission characteristics and sensor quantum efficiency. For example, knowledge of a low quantum efficiency (QE) of the CMOS image sensor above 800nm may reduce the filter's blocking requirements and simplify the filter structure. Similarly, knowledge of the incoming light angularity as set by the objective lens' F/# and exit pupil location may be taken into account during the thin film's optimization. This paper demonstrates how knowledge of the application context can facilitate filter design and relax design trade-offs and presents experimental results.

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy with avelumab, an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody.

PubMed

Nagaya, Tadanobu; Nakamura, Yuko; Sato, Kazuhide; Harada, Toshiko; Choyke, Peter L; Hodge, James W; Schlom, Jeffrey; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2017-01-31

Near Infrared-Photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly selective tumor treatment that employs an antibody-photo-absorber conjugate (APC). Programmed cell death protein-1 ligand (PD-L1) is emerging as a molecular target. Here, we describe the efficacy of NIR-PIT, using fully human IgG1 anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), avelumab, conjugated to the photo-absorber, IR700DX, in a PD-L1 expressing H441 cell line, papillary adenocarcinoma of lung. Avelumab-IR700 showed specific binding and cell-specific killing was observed after exposure of the cells to NIR in vitro. In the in vivo study, avelumab-IR700 showed high tumor accumulation and high tumor-background ratio. Tumor-bearing mice were separated into 4 groups: (1) no treatment; (2) 100 μg of avelumab-IR700 i.v.; (3) NIR light exposure only, NIR light was administered; (4) 100 μg of avelumab-IR700 i.v., NIR light was administered. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited by NIR-PIT treatment compared with the other groups (p < 0.001), and significantly prolonged survival was achieved (p < 0.01 vs other groups). In conclusion, the anti-PD-L1 antibody, avelumab, is suitable as an APC for NIR-PIT. Furthermore, NIR-PIT with avelumab-IR700 is a promising candidate of the treatment of PD-L1-expressing tumors that could be readily translated to humans.

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy with avelumab, an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody

PubMed Central

Nagaya, Tadanobu; Nakamura, Yuko; Sato, Kazuhide; Harada, Toshiko; Choyke, Peter L.; Hodge, James W.; Schlom, Jeffrey; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2017-01-01

Near Infrared-Photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly selective tumor treatment that employs an antibody-photo-absorber conjugate (APC). Programmed cell death protein-1 ligand (PD-L1) is emerging as a molecular target. Here, we describe the efficacy of NIR-PIT, using fully human IgG1 anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), avelumab, conjugated to the photo-absorber, IR700DX, in a PD-L1 expressing H441 cell line, papillary adenocarcinoma of lung. Avelumab-IR700 showed specific binding and cell-specific killing was observed after exposure of the cells to NIR in vitro. In the in vivo study, avelumab-IR700 showed high tumor accumulation and high tumor-background ratio. Tumor-bearing mice were separated into 4 groups: (1) no treatment; (2) 100 μg of avelumab-IR700 i.v.; (3) NIR light exposure only, NIR light was administered; (4) 100 μg of avelumab-IR700 i.v., NIR light was administered. Tumor growth was significantly inhibited by NIR-PIT treatment compared with the other groups (p < 0.001), and significantly prolonged survival was achieved (p < 0.01 vs other groups). In conclusion, the anti-PD-L1 antibody, avelumab, is suitable as an APC for NIR-PIT. Furthermore, NIR-PIT with avelumab-IR700 is a promising candidate of the treatment of PD-L1-expressing tumors that could be readily translated to humans. PMID:27716622

Construction of Hierarchical Polymer Brushes on Upconversion Nanoparticles via NIR-Light-Initiated RAFT Polymerization.

PubMed

Xie, Zhongxi; Deng, Xiaoran; Liu, Bei; Huang, Shanshan; Ma, Pingan; Hou, Zhiyao; Cheng, Ziyong; Lin, Jun; Luan, Shifang

2017-09-13

Photoinduced reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization generally adopts high-energy ultraviolet (UV) or blue light. In combination with photoredox catalyst, the excitation light wavelength was extended to the visible and even near-infrared (NIR) region for photoinduced electron transfer RAFT polymerization. In this report, we introduce for the first time a surface NIR-light-initiated RAFT polymerization on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) without adding any photocatalyst and construct a functional inorganic core/polymer shell nanohybrid for application in cancer theranostics. The multilayer core-shell UCNPs (NaYF 4 :Yb/Tm@NaYbF 4 :Gd@NaNdF 4 :Yb@NaYF 4 ), with surface anchorings of chain transfer agents, can serve as efficient NIR-to-UV light transducers for initiating the RAFT polymerization. A hierarchical double block copolymer brush, consisting of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(oligo(ethylene oxide)methacrylate-co-2-(2-methoxy-ethoxy)ethyl methacrylate) (PEG for short), was grafted from the surface in sequence. The targeting arginine-glycine-aspartic (RGD) peptide was modified at the end of the copolymer through the trithiolcarbonate end group. After loading of doxorubicin, the UCNPs@PAA-b-PEG-RGD exhibited an enhanced U87MG cancer cell uptake efficiency and cytotoxicity. Besides, the unique upconversion luminescence of the nanohybrids was used for the autofluoresence-free cell imaging and labeling. Therefore, our strategy verified that UCNPs could efficiently activate RAFT polymerization by NIR photoirradiation and construct the complex nanohybrids, exhibiting prospective biomedical applications due to the low phototoxicity and deep penetration of NIR light.

Development of a near-infrared spectroscopy instrument for applications in urology.

PubMed

Macnab, Andrew J; Stothers, Lynn

2008-10-01

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an established technology using photons of light in the near infrared spectrum to monitor changes in tissue of naturally occurring chromophores, including oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. Technology and methodology have been validated for measurement of a range of physiologic parameters. NIRS has been applied successfully in urology research; however current instruments are designed principally for brain and muscle study. To describe development of a NIRS instrument specifically designed for monitoring changes in chromophore concentration in the bladder detrusor in real time, to facilitate research to establish the role of this non-invasive technology in the evaluation of patients with voiding dysfunction The portable continuous wave NIRS instrument has a 3 laser diode light source (785, 808 and 830 nanometers), fiber optic cables for light transmission, a self adhesive patient interface patch with an emitter and sensor, and software to detect the difference between the light transmitted and received by the instrument. Software incorporated auto-attenuates the optical signals and converts raw optical data into chromophore concentrations displayed graphically. The prototype was designed, tested, and iteratively developed to achieve optimal suprapubic transcutaneous monitoring of the detrusor in human subjects during bladder filling and emptying. Evaluation with simultaneous invasive urodynamic measurement in men and women indicates good specificity and sensitivity of NIRS chromophore concentration changes by receiver operator curve analysis, and correlation between NIRS data and urodynamic pressures. Urological monitoring with this NIRS instrument is feasible and generates data of potential diagnostic value.

Bio-inspired Plasmonic Nanoarchitectured Hybrid System Towards Enhanced Far Red-to-Near Infrared Solar Photocatalysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Runyu; Chen, Min; Zhou, Han; Liu, Tian; Tang, Xingwei; Zhang, Ke; Zhu, Hanxing; Ye, Jinhua; Zhang, Di; Fan, Tongxiang

2016-01-01

Solar conversion to fuels or to electricity in semiconductors using far red-to-near infrared (NIR) light, which accounts for about 40% of solar energy, is highly significant. One main challenge is the development of novel strategies for activity promotion and new basic mechanisms for NIR response. Mother Nature has evolved to smartly capture far red-to-NIR light via their intelligent systems due to unique micro/nanoarchitectures, thus motivating us for biomimetic design. Here we report the first demonstration of a new strategy, based on adopting nature’s far red-to-NIR responsive architectures for an efficient bio-inspired photocatalytic system. The system is constructed by controlled assembly of light-harvesting plasmonic nanoantennas onto a typical photocatalytic unit with butterfly wings’ 3D micro/nanoarchitectures. Experiments and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations demonstrate the structural effects on obvious far red-to-NIR photocatalysis enhancement, which originates from (1) Enhancing far red-to-NIR (700~1200 nm) harvesting, up to 25%. (2) Enhancing electric-field amplitude of localized surface plasmon (LSPs) to more than 3.5 times than that of the non-structured one, which promotes the rate of electron-hole pair formation, thus substantially reinforcing photocatalysis. This proof-of-concept study provides a new methodology for NIR photocatalysis and would potentially guide future conceptually new NIR responsive system designs.

Bio-inspired Plasmonic Nanoarchitectured Hybrid System Towards Enhanced Far Red-to-Near Infrared Solar Photocatalysis.

PubMed

Yan, Runyu; Chen, Min; Zhou, Han; Liu, Tian; Tang, Xingwei; Zhang, Ke; Zhu, Hanxing; Ye, Jinhua; Zhang, Di; Fan, Tongxiang

2016-01-28

Solar conversion to fuels or to electricity in semiconductors using far red-to-near infrared (NIR) light, which accounts for about 40% of solar energy, is highly significant. One main challenge is the development of novel strategies for activity promotion and new basic mechanisms for NIR response. Mother Nature has evolved to smartly capture far red-to-NIR light via their intelligent systems due to unique micro/nanoarchitectures, thus motivating us for biomimetic design. Here we report the first demonstration of a new strategy, based on adopting nature's far red-to-NIR responsive architectures for an efficient bio-inspired photocatalytic system. The system is constructed by controlled assembly of light-harvesting plasmonic nanoantennas onto a typical photocatalytic unit with butterfly wings' 3D micro/nanoarchitectures. Experiments and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations demonstrate the structural effects on obvious far red-to-NIR photocatalysis enhancement, which originates from (1) Enhancing far red-to-NIR (700~1200 nm) harvesting, up to 25%. (2) Enhancing electric-field amplitude of localized surface plasmon (LSPs) to more than 3.5 times than that of the non-structured one, which promotes the rate of electron-hole pair formation, thus substantially reinforcing photocatalysis. This proof-of-concept study provides a new methodology for NIR photocatalysis and would potentially guide future conceptually new NIR responsive system designs.

Platinum nanoparticles: a non-toxic, effective and thermally stable alternative plasmonic material for cancer therapy and bioengineering.

PubMed

Samadi, Akbar; Klingberg, Henrik; Jauffred, Liselotte; Kjær, Andreas; Bendix, Poul Martin; Oddershede, Lene B

2018-05-17

Absorption of near infrared (NIR) light by metallic nanoparticles can cause extreme heating and is of interest for instance in cancer treatment since NIR light has a relatively large penetration depth into biological tissue. Here, we quantify the extraordinary thermoplasmonic properties of platinum nanoparticles and demonstrate their efficiency in photothermal cancer therapy. Although platinum nanoparticles are extensively used for catalysis, they are much overlooked in a biological context. Via direct measurements based on a biological matrix we show that individual irradiated platinum nanoparticles with diameters of 50-70 nm can easily reach surface temperatures up to 900 K. In contrast to gold nanoshells, which are often used for photothermal purposes, we demonstrate that the platinum particles remain stable at these extreme temperatures. The experiments are paralleled by finite element modeling confirming the experimental results and establishing a theoretical understanding of the particles' thermoplasmonic properties. At extreme temperatures it is likely that a vapor layer will form around the plasmonic particle, and we show this scenario to be consistent with direct measurements and simulations. Viability studies demonstrate that platinum nanoparticles themselves are non-toxic at therapeutically relevant concentrations, however, upon laser irradiation we show that they efficiently kill human cancer cells. Therefore, platinum nanoparticles are highly promising candidates for thermoplasmonic applications in the life sciences, in nano-medicine, and for bio-medical engineering.

Imaging of tissue using a NIR supercontinuum laser light source with wavelengths in the second and third NIR optical windows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sordillo, Laura A.; Lindwasser, Lukas; Budansky, Yury; Leproux, Philippe; Alfano, R. R.

2015-03-01

Supercontinuum light (SC) at wavelengths in the second (1,100 nm to 1,350 nm) and third (1,600 nm to 1,870 nm) NIR optical windows can be used to improve penetration depths of light through tissue and produce clearer images. Image quality is increased due to a reduction in scattering (inverse wavelength power dependence 1/λn, n≥1). We report on the use of a compact Leukos supercontinuum laser (model STM-2000-IR), which utilizes the spectral range from 700 nm to 2,400 nm and offers between 200 - 500 microwatt/nm power in the second and third NIR windows, with an InGaAs detector to image abnormalities hidden beneath thick tissue.

Smart human serum albumin-indocyanine green nanoparticles generated by programmed assembly for dual-modal imaging-guided cancer synergistic phototherapy.

PubMed

Sheng, Zonghai; Hu, Dehong; Zheng, Mingbin; Zhao, Pengfei; Liu, Huilong; Gao, Duyang; Gong, Ping; Gao, Guanhui; Zhang, Pengfei; Ma, Yifan; Cai, Lintao

2014-12-23

Phototherapy, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), is a light-activated local treatment modality that is under intensive preclinical and clinical investigations for cancer. To enhance the treatment efficiency of phototherapy and reduce the light-associated side effects, it is highly desirable to improve drug accumulation and precision guided phototherapy for efficient conversion of the absorbed light energy to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and local hyperthermia. In the present study, a programmed assembly strategy was developed for the preparation of human serum albumin (HSA)-indocyanine green (ICG) nanoparticles (HSA-ICG NPs) by intermolecular disulfide conjugations. This study indicated that HSA-ICG NPs had a high accumulation with tumor-to-normal tissue ratio of 36.12±5.12 at 24 h and a long-term retention with more than 7 days in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, where the tumor and its margin, normal tissue were clearly identified via ICG-based in vivo near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence and photoacoustic dual-modal imaging and spectrum-resolved technology. Meanwhile, HSA-ICG NPs efficiently induced ROS and local hyperthermia simultaneously for synergetic PDT/PTT treatments under a single NIR laser irradiation. After an intravenous injection of HSA-ICG NPs followed by imaging-guided precision phototherapy (808 nm, 0.8 W/cm2 for 5 min), the tumor was completely suppressed, no tumor recurrence and treatments-induced toxicity were observed. The results suggest that HSA-ICG NPs generated by programmed assembly as smart theranostic nanoplatforms are highly potential for imaging-guided cancer phototherapy with PDT/PTT synergistic effects.

Light-based theranostics using hybrid structures derived from biological and organic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vankayala, Raviraj; Burns, Joshua M.; Mac, Jenny T.; Anvari, Bahman

2016-09-01

We have engineered hybrid nanostructures derived from erythrocytes, which can be doped with various near infrared (NIR) organic chromophores, including the FDA-approved indocyanine green (ICG). We refer to these vesicles as NIR erythrocyte-mimicking transducers (NETs), as they are capable of generating heat, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or emit fluorescence light. We present preliminary results that demonstrate the effectiveness of NETs for fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapeutic destruction of breast cancer cells, upon photo-excitation using NIR light. These hybrid nanostructures present a promising platform with theranostic capability for future biomedical clinical applications.

Crystallographic Orientation Identification in Multicrystalline Silicon Wafers Using NIR Transmission Intensity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skenes, Kevin; Kumar, Arkadeep; Prasath, R. G. R.; Danyluk, Steven

2018-02-01

Near-infrared (NIR) polariscopy is a technique used for the non-destructive evaluation of the in-plane stresses in photovoltaic silicon wafers. Accurate evaluation of these stresses requires correct identification of the stress-optic coefficient, a material property which relates photoelastic parameters to physical stresses. The material stress-optic coefficient of silicon varies with crystallographic orientation. This variation poses a unique problem when measuring stresses in multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers. This paper concludes that the crystallographic orientation of silicon can be estimated by measuring the transmission of NIR light through the material. The transmission of NIR light through monocrystalline wafers of known orientation were compared with the transmission of NIR light through various grains in mc-Si wafers. X-ray diffraction was then used to verify the relationship by obtaining the crystallographic orientations of these assorted mc-Si grains. Variation of transmission intensity for different crystallographic orientations is further explained by using planar atomic density. The relationship between transmission intensity and planar atomic density appears to be linear.

Caries detection and diagnostics with near-infrared light transillumination: clinical experiences.

PubMed

Söchtig, Friederike; Hickel, Reinhard; Kühnisch, Jan

2014-06-01

The aim of this paper was to present the function and potential of diagnosing caries lesions using a recently introduced near-infrared (NIR) transillumination technique (DIAGNOcam, KaVo). The study included 130 adolescents and adults with complete permanent dentition (age > 12). All patients underwent visual examination and, if necessary, bitewing radiographs. Proximal and occlusal surfaces, which had not yet been restored, were photographed by a NIR transillumination camera system using light with a wavelength of 780 nm rather than ionizing radiation. Of the study patients, 85 showed 127 proximal dentin caries lesions that were treated operatively. A cross table shows the correlation of radiography and NIR transillumination. Based on our practical clinical experiences to date, a possible classifi cation of diagnosis is introduced. The main result of our study was that NIR light was able to visualize caries lesions on proximal and occlusal surfaces. The study suggests that NIR transillumination is a method that may help to avoid bitewing radiographs for diagnosis of caries in everyday clinical practice.

A near-infrared light responsive c-di-GMP module-based AND logic gate in Shewanella oneidensis.

PubMed

Hu, Yidan; Wu, Yichao; Mukherjee, Manisha; Cao, Bin

2017-01-31

A novel, biofilm-based AND logic gate was constructed in Shewanella oneidensis through a near-infrared (NIR) light responsive c-di-GMP module. The logic gate was demonstrated in microbial fuel cells with isopropyl β-d-thiogalactoside (IPTG) and NIR light as the inputs and electrical signals as the output.

CuS-Based Theranostic Micelles for NIR-Controlled Combination Chemotherapy and Photothermal Therapy and Photoacoustic Imaging.

PubMed

Chen, Guojun; Ma, Ben; Wang, Yuyuan; Xie, Ruosen; Li, Chun; Dou, Kefeng; Gong, Shaoqin

2017-12-06

Cancer remains a major threat to human health due to low therapeutic efficacies of currently available cancer treatment options. Nanotheranostics, capable of simultaneous therapy and diagnosis/monitoring of diseases, has attracted increasing amounts of attention, particularly for cancer treatment. In this study, CuS-based theranostic micelles capable of simultaneous combination chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT), as well as photoacoustic imaging, were developed for targeted cancer therapy. The micelle was formed by a CuS nanoparticle (NP) functionalized by thermosensitive amphiphilic poly(acrylamide-acrylonitrile)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers. CuS NPs under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation induced a significant temperature elevation, thereby enabling NIR-triggered PTT. Moreover, the hydrophobic core formed by poly(acrylamide-acrylonitrile) segments used for drug encapsulation exhibited an upper critical solution temperature (UCST; ∼38 °C), which underwent a hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic transition once the temperature rose above the UCST induced by NIR-irradiated CuS NPs, thereby triggering a rapid drug release and enabling NIR-controlled chemotherapy. The CuS-based micelles conjugated with GE11 peptides were tested in an epidermal growth factor receptor-overexpressing triple-negative breast cancer model. In both two-dimensional monolayer cell and three-dimensional multicellular tumor spheroid models, GE11-tagged CuS-based micelles under NIR irradiation, enabling the combination chemotherapy and PTT, exhibited the best therapeutic outcome due to a synergistic effect. These CuS-based micelles also displayed a good photoacoustic imaging ability under NIR illumination. Taken together, this multifunctional CuS-based micelle could be a promising nanoplatform for targeted cancer nanotheranostics.

Setup for testing cameras for image guided surgery using a controlled NIR fluorescence mimicking light source and tissue phantom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgiou, Giota; Verdaasdonk, Rudolf M.; van der Veen, Albert; Klaessens, John H.

2017-02-01

In the development of new near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence dyes for image guided surgery, there is a need for new NIR sensitive camera systems that can easily be adjusted to specific wavelength ranges in contrast the present clinical systems that are only optimized for ICG. To test alternative camera systems, a setup was developed to mimic the fluorescence light in a tissue phantom to measure the sensitivity and resolution. Selected narrow band NIR LED's were used to illuminate a 6mm diameter circular diffuse plate to create uniform intensity controllable light spot (μW-mW) as target/source for NIR camera's. Layers of (artificial) tissue with controlled thickness could be placed on the spot to mimic a fluorescent `cancer' embedded in tissue. This setup was used to compare a range of NIR sensitive consumer's cameras for potential use in image guided surgery. The image of the spot obtained with the cameras was captured and analyzed using ImageJ software. Enhanced CCD night vision cameras were the most sensitive capable of showing intensities < 1 μW through 5 mm of tissue. However, there was no control over the automatic gain and hence noise level. NIR sensitive DSLR cameras proved relative less sensitive but could be fully manually controlled as to gain (ISO 25600) and exposure time and are therefore preferred for a clinical setting in combination with Wi-Fi remote control. The NIR fluorescence testing setup proved to be useful for camera testing and can be used for development and quality control of new NIR fluorescence guided surgery equipment.

Clinical use of organic near-infrared fluorescent contrast agents in image-guided oncologic procedures and its potential in veterinary oncology.

PubMed

Favril, Sophie; Abma, Eline; Blasi, Francesco; Stock, Emmelie; Devriendt, Nausikaa; Vanderperren, Katrien; de Rooster, Hilde

2018-04-28

One of the major challenges in surgical oncology is the intraoperative discrimination of tumoural versus healthy tissue. Until today, surgeons rely on visual inspection and palpation to define the tumoural margins during surgery and, unfortunately, for various cancer types, the local recurrence rate thus remains unacceptably high. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is an optical imaging technique that can provide real-time preoperative and intraoperative information after administration of a fluorescent probe that emits NIR light once exposed to a NIR light source. This technique is safe, cost-effective and technically easy. Several NIR fluorescent probes are currently studied for their ability to highlight neoplastic cells. In addition, NIR fluorescence imaging holds great promise for sentinel lymph node mapping. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a literature review of the current organic NIR fluorescent probes tested in the light of human oncology and to introduce fluorescence imaging as a valuable asset in veterinary oncology. © British Veterinary Association (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Generalized Beer-Lambert model for near-infrared light propagation in thick biological tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhatt, Manish; Ayyalasomayajula, Kalyan R.; Yalavarthy, Phaneendra K.

2016-07-01

The attenuation of near-infrared (NIR) light intensity as it propagates in a turbid medium like biological tissue is described by modified the Beer-Lambert law (MBLL). The MBLL is generally used to quantify the changes in tissue chromophore concentrations for NIR spectroscopic data analysis. Even though MBLL is effective in terms of providing qualitative comparison, it suffers from its applicability across tissue types and tissue dimensions. In this work, we introduce Lambert-W function-based modeling for light propagation in biological tissues, which is a generalized version of the Beer-Lambert model. The proposed modeling provides parametrization of tissue properties, which includes two attenuation coefficients μ0 and η. We validated our model against the Monte Carlo simulation, which is the gold standard for modeling NIR light propagation in biological tissue. We included numerous human and animal tissues to validate the proposed empirical model, including an inhomogeneous adult human head model. The proposed model, which has a closed form (analytical), is first of its kind in providing accurate modeling of NIR light propagation in biological tissues.

Heterogeneous Semiconductor Shells Sequentially Coated on Upconversion Nanoplates for NIR-Light Enhanced Photocatalysis.

PubMed

Cui, Cao; Tou, Meijie; Li, Mohua; Luo, Zhenguo; Xiao, Lingbo; Bai, Song; Li, Zhengquan

2017-02-20

Combination of upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) with CeO 2 is a decent choice to construct NIR-activated photocatalysts for utilizing the NIR light in the solar spectrum. Herein we present a facile approach to deposit a CeO 2 layer with controllable thickness on the plate-shaped NaYF 4 :Yb,Tm UCNs. The developed core-shell nanocomposites display obvious photocatalytic activity under the NIR light and exhibit enhanced activity under the full solar spectrum. For enhancing the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes on the CeO 2 surface, we sequentially coat a ZnO shell on the nanocomposites so as to form a heterojunction structure for achieving a better activity. The developed hybrid photocatalysts have been characterized with TEM, SEM, PL, etc., and the working mechanism of such UCN-semiconductor heterojunction photocatalysts has been proposed.

The advantage of hollow mesoporous carbon as a near-infrared absorbing drug carrier in chemo-photothermal therapy compared with IR-820.

PubMed

Zhao, Qinfu; Wang, Xiudan; Yan, Yue; Wang, Da; Zhang, Ying; Jiang, Tongying; Wang, Siling

2017-03-01

In this study, we synthesized a kind of hollow mesoporous carbon (HMC) as near-infrared (NIR) nanomaterial and made a comparison between HMC and IR-820 commercially available in terms of heat generation properties and thermal stability exposed under NIR laser irradiation. The NIR-induced photothermal tests indicated that HMC had excellent heat generating capacity and remained stable after exposed to NIR laser irradiation for several times. On the contrary, the IR-820 was thermal unstable and degraded completely after exposed to NIR laser irradiation for only one time. The anticancer drug DOX was chosen as a model drug to evaluate the loading capacity and release properties of carboxylated HMC (HMC-COOH). The drug loading efficiency of HMC-COOH could reach to 39.7%. In vitro release results indicated that the release rate of DOX was markedly increased under NIR laser irradiation both in pH5.0 and pH7.4 PBS. Cell viability experiments indicated that HMC-COOH/DOX has a synergistic therapeutic effect by combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. This present research demonstrated that HMC could be employed as NIR-adsorbing agents as well as drug carriers to load lots of drug, realizing the synergistic treatment of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In vitro near-infrared imaging of natural secondary caries.

PubMed

Simon, Jacob C; Lucas, Seth; Lee, Robert; Darling, Cynthia L; Staninec, Michal; Vanderhobli, Ram; Pelzner, Roger; Fried, Daniel

2015-02-24

Secondary caries stands as the leading reason for the failure of composite restorations and dentists spend more time replacing existing restorations than placing new ones. Current clinical strategies, and even modern visible light methods designed to detect decay, lack the sensitivity to distinguish incipient lesions, are confounded by staining on the surface and within the tooth, or are limited to detecting decay on the tooth surface. Near-IR (NIR) imaging methods, such as NIR reflectance and transillumination imaging, and optical coherence tomography are promising strategies for imaging secondary caries. Wavelengths longer than 1300-nm avoid interference from stain and exploit the greater transparency of sound enamel and dental composites, to provide increased contrast with demineralized tissues and improved imaging depth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NIR transillumination (λ=1300-nm) and NIR cross-polarized reflectance (λ=1500-1700-nm) images can serve as reliable indicators of demineralization surrounding composite restorations. Twelve composite margins (n=12) consisting of class I, II & V restorations were chosen from ten extracted teeth. The samples were imaged in vitro using NIR transillumination and reflectance, polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and a high-magnification digital visible light microscope. Samples were serially sectioned into 200- μ m slices for histological analysis using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR). The results presented demonstrate the utility of NIR light for detecting recurrent decay and suggest that NIR images could be a reliable screening tool used in conjunction with PS-OCT for the detection and diagnosis of secondary caries.

In-vitro near-infrared imaging of natural secondary caries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Jacob C.; Lucas, Seth; Lee, Robert; Darling, Cynthia L.; Staninec, Michal; Vanderhobli, Ram; Pelzner, Roger; Fried, Daniel

2015-02-01

Secondary caries stands as the leading reason for the failure of composite restorations and dentists spend more time replacing existing restorations than placing new ones. Current clinical strategies, and even modern visible light methods designed to detect decay, lack the sensitivity to distinguish incipient lesions, are confounded by staining on the surface and within the tooth, or are limited to detecting decay on the tooth surface. Near-IR (NIR) imaging methods, such as NIR reflectance and transillumination imaging, and optical coherence tomography are promising strategies for imaging secondary caries. Wavelengths longer than 1300-nm avoid interference from stain and exploit the greater transparency of sound enamel and dental composites, to provide increased contrast with demineralized tissues and improved imaging depth. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NIR transillumination (λ=1300-nm) and NIR crosspolarized reflectance (λ=1500-1700-nm) images can serve as reliable indicators of demineralization surrounding composite restorations. Twelve composite margins (n=12) consisting of class I, II and V restorations were chosen from ten extracted teeth. The samples were imaged in vitro using NIR transillumination and reflectance, polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and a high-magnification digital visible light microscope. Samples were serially sectioned into 200-μm slices for histological analysis using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR). The results presented demonstrate the utility of NIR light for detecting recurrent decay and suggest that NIR images could be a reliable screening tool used in conjunction with PS-OCT for the detection and diagnosis of secondary caries.

Gold Nanoconstructs for Multimodal Diagnostic Imaging and Photothermal Cancer Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coughlin, Andrew James

Cancer accounts for nearly 1 out of every 4 deaths in the United States, and because conventional treatments are limited by morbidity and off-target toxicities, improvements in cancer management are needed. This thesis further develops nanoparticle-assisted photothermal therapy (NAPT) as a viable treatment option for cancer patients. NAPT enables localized ablation of disease because heat generation only occurs where tissue permissive near-infrared (NIR) light and absorbing nanoparticles are combined, leaving surrounding normal tissue unharmed. Two principle approaches were investigated to improve the specificity of this technique: multimodal imaging and molecular targeting. Multimodal imaging affords the ability to guide NIR laser application for site-specific NAPT and more holistic characterization of disease by combining the advantages of several diagnostic technologies. Towards the goal of image-guided NAPT, gadolinium-conjugated gold-silica nanoshells were engineered and demonstrated to enhance imaging contrast across a range of diagnostic modes, including T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, X-Ray, optical coherence tomography, reflective confocal microscopy, and two-photon luminescence in vitro as well as within an animal tumor model. Additionally, the nanoparticle conjugates were shown to effectively convert NIR light to heat for applications in photothermal therapy. Therefore, the broad utility of gadolinium-nanoshells for anatomic localization of tissue lesions, molecular characterization of malignancy, and mediators of ablation was established. Molecular targeting strategies may also improve NAPT by promoting nanoparticle uptake and retention within tumors and enhancing specificity when malignant and normal tissue interdigitate. Here, ephrinA1 protein ligands were conjugated to nanoshell surfaces for particle homing to overexpressed EphA2 receptors on prostate cancer cells. In vitro, successful targeting and subsequent photothermal ablation of prostate cancer cells was achieved with negligible nanoshell binding to normal cells. In vivo however, ephrinA1-nanoshells did not promote enhanced therapeutic outcomes in mice bearing subcutaneous prostate cancer tumors treated with NAPT compared to nontargeted particles. Nonetheless, both treatment groups demonstrated effective ablation of prostate tumors, as evidenced by tumor tissue regression. Further investigation is warranted to overcome probable protein immunogenicity that offsets ephrinA1 targeting in vivo. With future study, photothermal therapy with multimodal gadolinium-conjugated and molecularly targeted nanoshells may offer a viable treatment option for cancer patients in the clinic.

A portable near-infrared fluorescence image overlay device for surgical navigation (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McWade, Melanie A.

2016-03-01

A rise in the use of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dyes or intrinsic fluorescent markers for surgical guidance and tissue diagnosis has triggered the development of NIR fluorescence imaging systems. Because NIR wavelengths are invisible to the naked eye, instrumentation must allow surgeons to visualize areas of high fluorescence. Current NIR fluorescence imaging systems have limited ease-of-use because they display fluorescent information on remote display monitors that require surgeons to divert attention away from the patient to identify the location of tissue fluorescence. Furthermore, some systems lack simultaneous visible light imaging which provides valuable spatial context to fluorescence images. We have developed a novel, portable NIR fluorescence imaging approach for intraoperative surgical guidance that provides information for surgical navigation within the clinician's line of sight. The system utilizes a NIR CMOS detector to collect excited NIR fluorescence from the surgical field. Tissues with NIR fluorescence are overlaid with visible light to provide information on tissue margins directly on the surgical field. In vitro studies have shown this versatile imaging system can be applied to applications with both extrinsic NIR contrast agents such as indocyanine green and weaker sources of biological fluorescence such as parathyroid gland tissue. This non-invasive, portable NIR fluorescence imaging system overlays an image directly on tissue, potentially allowing surgical decisions to be made quicker and with greater ease-of-use than current NIR fluorescence imaging systems.

Targeting pancreatic cancer with magneto-fluorescent theranostic gold nanoshells.

PubMed

Chen, Wenxue; Ayala-Orozco, Ciceron; Biswal, Nrusingh C; Perez-Torres, Carlos; Bartels, Marc; Bardhan, Rizia; Stinnet, Gary; Liu, Xian-De; Ji, Baoan; Deorukhkar, Amit; Brown, Lisa V; Guha, Sushovan; Pautler, Robia G; Krishnan, Sunil; Halas, Naomi J; Joshi, Amit

2014-01-01

We report a magneto-fluorescent theranostic nanocomplex targeted to neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) for imaging and therapy of pancreatic cancer. Gold nanoshells resonant at 810 nm were encapsulated in silica epilayers doped with iron oxide and the near-infrared (NIR) dye indocyanine green, resulting in theranostic gold nanoshells (TGNS), which were subsequently conjugated with antibodies targeting NGAL in AsPC-1-derived xenografts in nude mice. Anti-NGAL-conjugated TGNS specifically targeted pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo providing contrast for both NIR fluorescence and T2-weighted MRI with higher tumor contrast than can be obtained using long-circulating, but nontargeted, PEGylated nanoparticles. The nanocomplexes also enabled highly specific cancer cell death via NIR photothermal therapy in vitro. TGNS with embedded NIR and magnetic resonance contrasts can be specifically targeted to pancreatic cancer cells with expression of early disease marker NGAL, and enable molecularly targeted imaging and photothermal therapy.

Rational Design of Multifunctional Fe@γ-Fe2 O3 @H-TiO2 Nanocomposites with Enhanced Magnetic and Photoconversion Effects for Wide Applications: From Photocatalysis to Imaging-Guided Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

PubMed

Wang, Meifang; Deng, Kerong; Lü, Wei; Deng, Xiaoran; Li, Kai; Shi, Yanshu; Ding, Binbin; Cheng, Ziyong; Xing, Bengang; Han, Gang; Hou, Zhiyao; Lin, Jun

2018-03-01

Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) has been widely investigated and used in many areas due to its high refractive index and ultraviolet light absorption, but the lack of absorption in the visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR) region limits its application. Herein, multifunctional Fe@γ-Fe 2 O 3 @H-TiO 2 nanocomposites (NCs) with multilayer-structure are synthesized by one-step hydrogen reduction, which show remarkably improved magnetic and photoconversion effects as a promising generalists for photocatalysis, bioimaging, and photothermal therapy (PTT). Hydrogenation is used to turn white TiO 2 in to hydrogenated TiO 2 (H-TiO 2 ), thus improving the absorption in the Vis-NIR region. Based on the excellent solar-driven photocatalytic activities of the H-TiO 2 shell, the Fe@γ-Fe 2 O 3 magnetic core is introduced to make it convenient for separating and recovering the catalytic agents. More importantly, Fe@γ-Fe 2 O 3 @H-TiO 2 NCs show enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency due to more circuit loops for electron transitions between H-TiO 2 and γ-Fe 2 O 3 , and the electronic structures of Fe@γ-Fe 2 O 3 @H-TiO 2 NCs are calculated using the Vienna ab initio simulation package based on the density functional theory to account for the results. The reported core-shell NCs can serve as an NIR-responsive photothermal agent for magnetic-targeted photothermal therapy and as a multimodal imaging probe for cancer including infrared photothermal imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and photoacoustic imaging. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Assessment of ultrasound modulation of near infrared light on the quantification of scattering coefficient.

PubMed

Singh, M Suheshkumar; Yalavarthy, Phaneendra K; Vasu, R M; Rajan, K

2010-07-01

To assess the effect of ultrasound modulation of near infrared (NIR) light on the quantification of scattering coefficient in tissue-mimicking biological phantoms. A unique method to estimate the phase of the modulated NIR light making use of only time averaged intensity measurements using a charge coupled device camera is used in this investigation. These experimental measurements from tissue-mimicking biological phantoms are used to estimate the differential pathlength, in turn leading to estimation of optical scattering coefficient. A Monte-Carlo model based numerical estimation of phase in lieu of ultrasound modulation is performed to verify the experimental results. The results indicate that the ultrasound modulation of NIR light enhances the effective scattering coefficient. The observed effective scattering coefficient enhancement in tissue-mimicking viscoelastic phantoms increases with increasing ultrasound drive voltage. The same trend is noticed as the ultrasound modulation frequency approaches the natural vibration frequency of the phantom material. The contrast enhancement is less for the stiffer (larger storage modulus) tissue, mimicking tumor necrotic core, compared to the normal tissue. The ultrasound modulation of the insonified region leads to an increase in the effective number of scattering events experienced by NIR light, increasing the measured phase, causing the enhancement in the effective scattering coefficient. The ultrasound modulation of NIR light could provide better estimation of scattering coefficient. The observed local enhancement of the effective scattering coefficient, in the ultrasound focal region, is validated using both experimental measurements and Monte-Carlo simulations.

Evaluation of light detector surface area for functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy.

PubMed

Wang, Lei; Ayaz, Hasan; Izzetoglu, Meltem; Onaral, Banu

2017-10-01

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging neuroimaging technique that utilizes near infrared light to detect cortical concentration changes of oxy-hemoglobin and deoxy-hemoglobin non-invasively. Using light sources and detectors over the scalp, multi-wavelength light intensities are recorded as time series and converted to concentration changes of hemoglobin via modified Beer-Lambert law. Here, we describe a potential source for systematic error in the calculation of hemoglobin changes and light intensity measurements. Previous system characterization and analysis studies looked into various fNIRS parameters such as type of light source, number and selection of wavelengths, distance between light source and detector. In this study, we have analyzed the contribution of light detector surface area to the overall outcome. Results from Monte Carlo based digital phantoms indicated that selection of detector area is a critical system parameter in minimizing the error in concentration calculations. The findings here can guide the design of future fNIRS sensors. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

From UV to Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Metal-Organic Framework Composites: Plasmon and Upconversion Enhanced Photocatalysis.

PubMed

Li, Dandan; Yu, Shu-Hong; Jiang, Hai-Long

2018-05-15

The exploitation of photocatalysts that harvest solar spectrum as broad as possible remains a high-priority target yet grand challenge. In this work, for the first time, metal-organic framework (MOF) composites are rationally fabricated to achieve broadband spectral response from UV to near-infrared (NIR) region. In the core-shell structured upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)-Pt@MOF/Au composites, the MOF is responsive to UV and a bit visible light, the plasmonic Au nanoparticles (NPs) accept visible light, whereas the UCNPs absorb NIR light to emit UV and visible light that are harvested by the MOF and Au once again. Moreover, the MOF not only facilitates the generation of "bare and clean" Au NPs on its surface and realizes the spatial separation for the Au and Pt NPs, but also provides necessary access for catalytic substrates/products to Pt active sites. As a result, the optimized composite exhibits excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production activity (280 µmol g -1 h -1 ) under simulated solar light, and the involved mechanism of photocatalytic H 2 production under UV, visible, and NIR irradiation is elucidated. Reportedly, this is an extremely rare study on photocatalytic H 2 production by light harvesting in all UV, visible, and NIR regions. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Intense pulsed light, near infrared pulsed light, and fractional laser combination therapy for skin rejuvenation in Asian subjects: a prospective multi-center study in China.

PubMed

Tao, Li; Wu, Jiaqiang; Qian, Hui; Lu, Zhong; Li, Yuanhong; Wang, Weizhen; Zhao, Xiaozhong; Tu, Ping; Yin, Rui; Xiang, Leihong

2015-09-01

Ablative skin rejuvenation therapies have limitations for Asian people, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and long down time. Non-ablative lasers are safer but have limited efficacy. This study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of a combination therapy consisting of intense pulsed light (IPL), near infrared (NIR) light, and fractional erbium YAG (Er:YAG) laser for skin rejuvenation in Asian people. This study recruited 113 subjects from six sites in China. Subjects were randomly assigned to a full-face group, who received combination therapy, and split-face groups, in which one half of the face received combination therapy and the other half received IPL monotherapy. Each subject received five treatment sessions during a period of 90 days. Subjects were followed up at 1 and 3 months post last treatment. Three months after last treatment, the full-face group (n = 57) had a global improvement rate of 29 % and 29 % for wrinkles, 32 % for skin texture, 33 % for pigment spots, 28 % for pore size, respectively. For patients in the split-face groups (n = 54), monotherapy side had a global improvement rate of 23 % and 20 % for wrinkles, 27 % for skin texture, 25 % for pigment spots, 25 % for pore size, respectively. Both combination therapy and monotherapy resulted in significant improvements at the follow-up visits compared to baseline (P < 0.001). Combination therapy showed significantly greater improvements compared to monotherapy at two follow-up visits (P < 0.05). Combination therapy is a safe and more effective strategy than IPL monotherapy for skin rejuvenation in Asian people.

In vivo studies of low level laser (light) therapy for traumatic brain injury

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xuan, Weijun; Wu, Qiuhe; Huang, Ying-Ying; Ando, Takahiro; Huang, Liyi; Hamblin, Michael R.

2012-03-01

Low-level laser (or light) therapy (LLLT) is attracting growing interest to treat both stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The fact that near-infrared light can penetrate into the brain allows non-invasive treatment to be carried out with a low likelihood of treatment-related adverse events. It is proposed that red and NIR light is absorbed by chromophores in the mitochondria of cells leading to changes in gene transcription and upregulation of proteins involved in cell survival, antioxidant production, collagen synthesis, reduction of chronic inflammation and cell migration and proliferation. We developed a mouse model of controlled cortical impact (CCI) TBI and examined the effect of 0, 1, 3, and 14 daily 810-nm CW laser treatments in the CCI model as measured by neurological severity score and wire grip and motion test. 1 laser Tx gave a significant improvement while 3 laser Tx was even better. Surprisingly 14 laser Tx was no better than no treatment. Histological studies at necropsy suggested that the neurodegeneration was reduced at 14 days and that the cortical lesion was repaired by BrdU+ve neural progenitor (stem) cells at 28 days. Transcranial laser therapy is a promising treatment for acute (and chronic TBI) and the lack of side-effects and paucity of alternative treatments encourages early clinical trials.

Portable wide-field hand-held NIR scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Young-Jin; Roman, Manuela; Carrasquilla, Jennifer; Erickson, Sarah J.; Godavarty, Anuradha

2013-03-01

Near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging modality is one of the widely used medical imaging techniques for breast cancer imaging, functional brain mapping, and many other applications. However, conventional NIR imaging systems are bulky and expensive, thereby limiting their accelerated clinical translation. Herein a new compact (6 × 7 × 12 cm3), cost-effective, and wide-field NIR scanner has been developed towards contact as well as no-contact based real-time imaging in both reflectance and transmission mode. The scanner mainly consists of an NIR source light (between 700- 900 nm), an NIR sensitive CCD camera, and a custom-developed image acquisition and processing software to image an area of 12 cm2. Phantom experiments have been conducted to estimate the feasibility of diffuse optical imaging by using Indian-Ink as absorption-based contrast agents. As a result, the developed NIR system measured the light intensity change in absorption-contrasted target up to 4 cm depth under transillumination mode. Preliminary in-vivo studies demonstrated the feasibility of real-time monitoring of blood flow changes. Currently, extensive in-vivo studies are carried out using the ultra-portable NIR scanner in order to assess the potential of the imager towards breast imaging..

"Mixed-charge self-assembled monolayers" as a facile method to design pH-induced aggregation of large gold nanoparticles for near-infrared photothermal cancer therapy.

PubMed

Li, Huan; Liu, Xiangsheng; Huang, Nan; Ren, Kefeng; Jin, Qiao; Ji, Jian

2014-01-01

The acidic microenvironment of tumor tissues has proven to be one of the major differences from other normal tissues. The near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation of aggregated gold nanoparticles in a tumor acidic pH-induced manner could then provide an effect approach to treat solid tumors with the advantage of minimizing the undesired damage to normal tissues. Although it is well-known the aggregation of larger nanoparticles will result in a better NIR photothermal effect, the preparation of pH-sensitive gold nanoparticles in large sizes remains a big challenge because of their worse dispersive stability. In this paper, we introduce a facile way to endow large gold nanoparticles with tunable pH-aggregation behaviors by modifying the nanoparticle surface with mixed-charge self-assembly monolayers compromising positively and negatively charged thiol ligands. Four different size nanoparticles were used to study the general principle of tailoring the pH-induced aggregation behaviors of mixed-charge gold nanoparticles (MC-GNPs) by adjusting the surface ligand composition. With proper surface ligand composition, the MC-GNPs in four different sizes that all exhibited aggregation at tumor acidic pH were obtained. The biggest MC-GNPs showed the most encouraging aggregation-enhanced photothermal efficacy in vitro when they formed aggregates. The mixed-charge self-assembled monolayers were then proved as a facile method to design pH-induced aggregation of large gold nanoparticles for better NIR photothermal cancer therapy.

A Demo opto-electronic power source based on single-walled carbon nanotube sheets.

PubMed

Hu, Chunhua; Liu, Changhong; Chen, Luzhuo; Meng, Chuizhou; Fan, Shoushan

2010-08-24

It is known that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) strongly absorb light, especially in the near-infrared (NIR) region, and convert it into heat. In fact, SWNTs also have considerable ability to convert heat into electricity. In this work, we show that SWNT sheets made from as-grown SWNT arrays display a large positive thermoelectric coefficient (p-type). We designed a simple SWNT device to convert illuminating NIR light directly into a notable voltage output, which was verified by experimental tests. Furthermore, by a simple functionalization step, the p- to n-type transition was conveniently achieved for the SWNT sheets. By integrating p- and n-type elements in series, we constructed a novel NIR opto-electronic power source, which outputs a large voltage that sums over the output of every single element. Additionally, the output of the demo device has shown a good linear relationship with NIR light power density, favorable for IR sensors.

Spherically-clustered porous Au-Ag alloy nanoparticle prepared by partial inhibition of galvanic replacement and its application for efficient multimodal therapy.

PubMed

Jang, Hongje; Min, Dal-Hee

2015-03-24

The polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated spherically clustered porous gold-silver alloy nanoparticle (PVP-SPAN) was prepared by low temperature mediated, partially inhibited galvanic replacement reaction followed by silver etching process. The prepared porous nanostructures exhibited excellent photothermal conversion efficiency under irradiation of near-infrared light (NIR) and allowed a high payload of both doxorubicin (Dox) and thiolated dye-labeled oligonucleotide, DNAzyme (FDz). Especially, PVP-SPAN provided 10 times higher loading capacity for oligonucleotide than conventional hollow nanoshells due to increased pore diameter and surface-to-volume ratio. We demonstrated highly efficient chemo-thermo-gene multitherapy based on codelivery of Dox and FDz with NIR-mediated photothermal therapeutic effect using a model system of hepatitis C virus infected human liver cells (Huh7 human hepatocarcinoma cell line containing hepatitis C virus NS3 gene replicon) compared to conventional hollow nanoshells.

Photobiomodulation and the brain: a new paradigm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hennessy, Madison; Hamblin, Michael R.

2017-01-01

Transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low level laser therapy (LLLT), relies on the use of red/NIR light to stimulate, preserve and regenerate cells and tissues. The mechanism of action involves photon absorption in the mitochondria (cytochrome c oxidase), and ion channels in cells leading to activation of signaling pathways, up-regulation of transcription factors and increased expression of protective genes. We have studied PBM for treating traumatic brain injury in mice using a NIR laser spot delivered to the head. Mice had improved memory and learning, increased neuroprogenitor cells in the dentate gyrus and subventricular zone, increased BDNF and more synaptogenesis in the cortex. These highly beneficial effects on the brain suggest that the applications of LLLT are much broader than first conceived. Other groups have studied stroke (animal models and clinical trials), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression and cognitive enhancement in healthy subjects.

M13 phage-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes as nanoprobes for second near-infrared window fluorescence imaging of targeted tumors.

PubMed

Yi, Hyunjung; Ghosh, Debadyuti; Ham, Moon-Ho; Qi, Jifa; Barone, Paul W; Strano, Michael S; Belcher, Angela M

2012-03-14

Second near-infrared (NIR) window light (950-1400 nm) is attractive for in vivo fluorescence imaging due to its deep penetration depth in tissues and low tissue autofluorescence. Here we show genetically engineered multifunctional M13 phage can assemble fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and ligands for targeted fluorescence imaging of tumors. M13-SWNT probe is detectable in deep tissues even at a low dosage of 2 μg/mL and up to 2.5 cm in tissue-like phantoms. Moreover, targeted probes show specific and up to 4-fold improved uptake in prostate specific membrane antigen positive prostate tumors compared to control nontargeted probes. This M13 phage-based second NIR window fluorescence imaging probe has great potential for specific detection and therapy monitoring of hard-to-detect areas. © 2012 American Chemical Society

M13 phage-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes as nanoprobes for second near-infrared window fluorescence imaging of targeted tumors

PubMed Central

HAM, MOON-HO; QI, JIFA; BARONE, PAUL W.; STRANO, MICHAEL S.; BELCHER, ANGELA M.

2014-01-01

Second near-infrared (NIR) window light (950-1,400 nm) is attractive for in vivo fluorescence imaging due to its deep penetration depth in tissues and low tissue autofluorescence. Here we show genetically engineered multifunctional M13 phage can assemble fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and ligands for targeted fluorescence imaging of tumors. M13-SWNT probe is detectable in deep tissues even at a low dosage of 2 μg/mL and up to 2.5 cm in tissue-like phantoms. Moreover, targeted probes show specific and up to four-fold improved uptake in prostate specific membrane antigen positive prostate tumors compared to control non-targeted probes. This M13 phage-based second NIR window fluorescence imaging probe has great potential for specific detection and therapy monitoring of hard-to-detect areas. PMID:22268625

Low-resolution mapping of the effective attenuation coefficient of the human head: a multidistance approach applied to high-density optical recordings

PubMed Central

Chiarelli, Antonio M.; Maclin, Edward L.; Low, Kathy A.; Fantini, Sergio; Fabiani, Monica; Gratton, Gabriele

2017-01-01

Abstract. Near infrared (NIR) light has been widely used for measuring changes in hemoglobin concentration in the human brain (functional NIR spectroscopy, fNIRS). fNIRS is based on the differential measurement and estimation of absorption perturbations, which, in turn, are based on correctly estimating the absolute parameters of light propagation. To do so, it is essential to accurately characterize the baseline optical properties of tissue (absorption and reduced scattering coefficients). However, because of the diffusive properties of the medium, separate determination of absorption and scattering across the head is challenging. The effective attenuation coefficient (EAC), which is proportional to the geometric mean of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients, can be estimated in a simpler fashion by multidistance light decay measurements. EAC mapping could be of interest for the scientific community because of its absolute information content, and because light propagation is governed by the EAC for source–detector distances exceeding 1 cm, which sense depths extending beyond the scalp and skull layers. Here, we report an EAC mapping procedure that can be applied to standard fNIRS recordings, yielding topographic maps with 2- to 3-cm resolution. Application to human data indicates the importance of venous sinuses in determining regional EAC variations, a factor often overlooked. PMID:28466026

Low-resolution mapping of the effective attenuation coefficient of the human head: a multidistance approach applied to high-density optical recordings.

PubMed

Chiarelli, Antonio M; Maclin, Edward L; Low, Kathy A; Fantini, Sergio; Fabiani, Monica; Gratton, Gabriele

2017-04-01

Near infrared (NIR) light has been widely used for measuring changes in hemoglobin concentration in the human brain (functional NIR spectroscopy, fNIRS). fNIRS is based on the differential measurement and estimation of absorption perturbations, which, in turn, are based on correctly estimating the absolute parameters of light propagation. To do so, it is essential to accurately characterize the baseline optical properties of tissue (absorption and reduced scattering coefficients). However, because of the diffusive properties of the medium, separate determination of absorption and scattering across the head is challenging. The effective attenuation coefficient (EAC), which is proportional to the geometric mean of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients, can be estimated in a simpler fashion by multidistance light decay measurements. EAC mapping could be of interest for the scientific community because of its absolute information content, and because light propagation is governed by the EAC for source-detector distances exceeding 1 cm, which sense depths extending beyond the scalp and skull layers. Here, we report an EAC mapping procedure that can be applied to standard fNIRS recordings, yielding topographic maps with 2- to 3-cm resolution. Application to human data indicates the importance of venous sinuses in determining regional EAC variations, a factor often overlooked.

Self-Assembled Upconversion Nanoparticle Clusters for NIR-controlled Drug Release and Synergistic Therapy after Conjugation with Gold Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Cai, Huijuan; Shen, Tingting; Kirillov, Alexander M; Zhang, Yu; Shan, Changfu; Li, Xiang; Liu, Weisheng; Tang, Yu

2017-05-01

Fabricated three-dimensional (3D) upconversion nanoclusters (abbreviated as EBSUCNPs) are obtained via an emulsion-based bottom-up self-assembly of NaGdF 4 :Yb/Er@NaGdF 4 nanoparticles (abbreviated as UCNPs), which comprise a NaGdF 4 :Yb/Er core and a NaGdF 4 shell. The EBSUCNPs were then coated with a thin mesoporous amino-functionalized SiO 2 shell (resulting in EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 precursor) and further conjugated with gold nanoparticles to give the novel EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 @Au material. Finally, EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 @Au was applied as a biocompatible and efficient drug carrier for doxorubicin (DOX), thus giving rise to a multifunctional EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 -DOX@Au nanocomposite. This final material, EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 -DOX@Au, and the precursor nanoparticles, EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 @Au, were both fully characterized and their luminescence was investigated in detail. In addition, the drug release properties and photothermal effects of EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 -DOX@Au were also discussed. Interestingly, when under NIR irradiation, an increasing DOX release was achieved owing to the thermal effect of the Au NPs after absorbing the green light from the upconversion nanoclusters based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) effect. Thus, a near-infrared (NIR)-controlled "on-off" pattern of drug release behavior can be achieved. Moreover, compared with a single therapy method, the assembled nanocomposites exhibit a good synergistic therapy against cancer cells that combines chemotherapy with photothermal therapy. In addition, the in vitro fluorescence microscopy images of EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 -DOX@Au show a higher enhancement in the red region due to the loading of DOX molecules with respect to EBSUCNPs@SiO 2 @Au. Therefore, this novel multifunctional 3D cluster architecture can be used in the biomedical field after modification and may pave a new way in other application areas of UCNPs clusters.

Laser welding of chitosan-GNRs films for the closure of a capsulorhexis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Francesca; Matteini, Paolo; Ratto, Fulvio; Menabuoni, Luca; Lenzetti, Ivo; Pini, Roberto

2011-03-01

In this work we present the first attempt to close the anterior lens capsule bag by the use of chitosan patches, where Gold Nanorods (GNRs) are embedded. GNRs exhibit intense localized plasmon resonances at optical frequencies in the near infrared (NIR): upon excitation with a NIR laser, a strong photothermal effect is produced, which can be exploited to develop minimally invasive therapies. Here we use the chitosan-GNRs films as a novel NIR sensitive nanocomposite for the photothermal conversion of NIR laser light during surgical interventions of tissue welding. Chitosan is an attractive biomaterial due to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, antimicrobial and wound healing-promoting activity. Colloidal GNRs were embedded in chitosan based, highly stabilized, flexible and easy-to-handle films, which were stored in water until the time of surgery. In these preliminary tests, a capsulorhexis was performed in freshly enucleated porcine eyes. The lens was aspired, then the patch was put onto the capsule bag and welded: a diode laser (810 nm) was used to deliver single spots (200 μm core diameter optical fiber) of local capsule/patch adhesion. Then the bag was refilled with silicon oil. The result is an immediate closure of the capsular tissue, with high mechanical strength. The laser welded chitosan- GNRs films are an innovative and highly stable solution to be exploited for the treatment of capsular breaks and for the implementation of a lens refilling procedure.

Clinical application of photodynamic medicine technology using light-emitting fluorescence imaging based on a specialized luminous source.

PubMed

Namikawa, Tsutomu; Fujisawa, Kazune; Munekage, Eri; Iwabu, Jun; Uemura, Sunao; Tsujii, Shigehiro; Maeda, Hiromichi; Kitagawa, Hiroyuki; Fukuhara, Hideo; Inoue, Keiji; Sato, Takayuki; Kobayashi, Michiya; Hanazaki, Kazuhiro

2018-04-04

The natural amino acid 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) precursor and a new-generation photosensitive substance that accumulates specifically in cancer cells. When indocyanine green (ICG) is irradiated with near-infrared (NIR) light, it shifts to a higher energy state and emits infrared light with a longer wavelength than the irradiated NIR light. Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) using ALA and ICG-based NIR fluorescence imaging has emerged as a new diagnostic technique. Specifically, in laparoscopic examinations for serosa-invading advanced gastric cancer, peritoneal metastases could be detected by ALA-PDD, but not by conventional visible-light imaging. The HyperEye Medical System (HEMS) can visualize ICG fluorescence as color images simultaneously projected with visible light in real time. This ICG fluorescence method is widely applicable, including for intraoperative identification of sentinel lymph nodes, visualization of blood vessels in organ resection, and blood flow evaluation during surgery. Fluorescence navigation by ALA-PDD and NIR using ICG imaging provides good visualization and detection of the target lesions that is not possible with the naked eye. We propose that this technique should be used in fundamental research on the relationship among cellular dynamics, metabolic enzymes, and tumor tissues, and to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety in multicenter cooperative clinical trials.

HY5 regulates Nitrite Reductase 1 (NIR1) and Ammonium Transporter1;2 (AMT1;2) in Arabidopsis seedlings

PubMed Central

Huang, Lifen; Zhang, Hongcheng; Zhang, Huiyong; Deng, Xing Wang; Wei, Ning

2016-01-01

HY5 (Long Hypocotyles 5) is a key transcription factor in Arabidopsis thaliana that has a pivotal role in seedling development. Soil nitrogen is an essential macronutrient, and its uptake, assimilation and metabolism are influenced by nutrient availability and by lights. To understand the role of HY5 in nitrogen assimilation pathways, we examined the phenotype as well as the expression of selected nitrogen assimilation-related genes in hy5 mutant grown under various nitrogen limiting and nitrogen sufficient conditions, or different light conditions. We report that HY5 positively regulates nitrite reductase gene NIR1 and negatively regulates the ammonium transporter gene AMT1;2 under all nitrogen and light conditions tested, while it affects several other genes in a nitrogen supply-dependent manner. HY5 is not required for light induction of NIR1, AMT1;2 and NIA genes, but it is necessary for high level expression of NIR1 and NIA under optimal nutrient and light conditions. In addition, nitrogen deficiency exacerbates the abnormal root system of hy5. Together, our results suggest that HY5 exhibits the growth-promoting activity only when sufficient nutrients, including lights, are provided, and that HY5 has a complex involvement in nitrogen acquisition and metabolism in Arabidopsis seedlings. PMID:26259199

Safety assessment of near infrared light emitting diodes for diffuse optical measurements

PubMed Central

Bozkurt, Alper; Onaral, Banu

2004-01-01

Background Near infrared (NIR) light has been used widely to monitor important hemodynamic parameters in tissue non-invasively. Pulse oximetry, near infrared spectroscopy, and diffuse optical tomography are examples of such NIR light-based applications. These and other similar applications employ either lasers or light emitting diodes (LED) as the source of the NIR light. Although the hazards of laser sources have been addressed in regulations, the risk of LED sources in such applications is still unknown. Methods Temperature increase of the human skin caused by near infrared LED has been measured by means of in-vivo and in-vitro experiments. Effects of the conducted and radiated heat in the temperature increase have been analyzed separately. Results Elevations in skin temperature up to 10°C have been observed. The effect of radiated heat due to NIR absorption is low – less than 0.5°C – since emitted light power is comparable to the NIR part of sunlight. The conducted heat due to semiconductor junction of the LED can cause temperature increases up to 9°C. It has been shown that adjusting operational parameters by amplitude modulating or time multiplexing the LED decreases the temperature increase of the skin significantly. Conclusion In this study, we demonstrate that the major risk source of the LED in direct contact with skin is the conducted heat of the LED semiconductor junction, which may cause serious skin burns. Adjusting operational parameters by amplitude modulating or time multiplexing the LED can keep the LED within safe temperature ranges. PMID:15035670

Photostimulated near-infrared persistent luminescence as a new optical read-out from Cr3+-doped LiGa5O8

PubMed Central

Liu, Feng; Yan, Wuzhao; Chuang, Yen-Jun; Zhen, Zipeng; Xie, Jin; Pan, Zhengwei

2013-01-01

In conventional photostimulable storage phosphors, the optical information written by x-ray or ultraviolet irradiation is usually read out as a visible photostimulated luminescence (PSL) signal under the stimulation of a low-energy light with appropriate wavelength. Unlike the transient PSL, here we report a new optical read-out form, photostimulated persistent luminescence (PSPL) in the near-infrared (NIR), from a Cr3+-doped LiGa5O8 NIR persistent phosphor exhibiting a super-long NIR persistent luminescence of more than 1,000 h. An intense PSPL signal peaking at 716 nm can be repeatedly obtained in a period of more than 1,000 h when an ultraviolet-light (250–360 nm) pre-irradiated LiGa5O8:Cr3+ phosphor is repeatedly stimulated with a visible light or a NIR light. The LiGa5O8:Cr3+ phosphor has promising applications in optical information storage, night-vision surveillance, and in vivo bio-imaging. PMID:23532003

Carbon nanotubes as multifunctional biological transporters and near-infrared agents for selective cancer cell destruction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nadine Wong Shi Kam,; O'Connell, Michael; Wisdom, Jeffrey A.; Dai, Hongjie

2005-08-01

Biological systems are known to be highly transparent to 700- to 1,100-nm near-infrared (NIR) light. It is shown here that the strong optical absorbance of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in this special spectral window, an intrinsic property of SWNTs, can be used for optical stimulation of nanotubes inside living cells to afford multifunctional nanotube biological transporters. For oligonucleotides transported inside living cells by nanotubes, the oligos can translocate into cell nucleus upon endosomal rupture triggered by NIR laser pulses. Continuous NIR radiation can cause cell death because of excessive local heating of SWNT in vitro. Selective cancer cell destruction can be achieved by functionalization of SWNT with a folate moiety, selective internalization of SWNTs inside cells labeled with folate receptor tumor markers, and NIR-triggered cell death, without harming receptor-free normal cells. Thus, the transporting capabilities of carbon nanotubes combined with suitable functionalization chemistry and their intrinsic optical properties can lead to new classes of novel nanomaterials for drug delivery and cancer therapy. Author contributions: N.W.S.K., M.O., and H.D. designed research; N.W.S.K., M.O., and J.A.W. performed research; N.W.S.K., M.O., and H.D. analyzed data; and N.W.S.K. and H.D. wrote the paper.This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the PNAS office.Abbreviations: NIR, near-infrared; SWNT, single-walled carbon nanotube; AFM, atomic force microscopy; PL, phospholipid; PEG, polyethylene glycol; FA, folic acid; FR, folate receptor.

Design of an MR-compatible fNIRS instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emir, Uzay; Ademoglu, Ahmet; Ozturk, Cengizhan; Aydin, Kubilay; Demiralp, Tamer; Kurt, Adnan; Dincer, Alp; Akin, Ata

2005-04-01

Acquiring functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and functional magnetic resonance-imaging (fMRI) data are usually done asynchronously. In order to correlate these two different modalities" data, measurements must be performed at the same time. In this study, we have designed a new MR compatible continuous wave intensity based fNIRS device to overcome this problem. For MR compatible fNIRS, we used two LEDs with wavelengths at 660 and 870 nm. There are four photodiodes for light detection. LEDs operated in a sequential multiplexing mode with adjustable "on" time for each LED. Emitted and diffused light was transferred to and from the tissue through 10 m long single mode plastic optical fibers (INDUSTRIAL FIBER OPTICS, INC.). By using fibers, we overcome MR compatibility problems that can be caused by semi-conductors on probe. This MR compatible fNIRS design can provide synchronous measurements with low cost.

Fucoidan-coated CuS nanoparticles for chemo-and photothermal therapy against cancer

PubMed Central

Jang, Bian; Moorthy, Madhappan Santha; Manivasagan, Panchanathan; Xu, Li; Song, Kyeongeun; Lee, Kang Dae; Kwak, Minseok; Oh, Junghwan; Jin, Jun-O

2018-01-01

In advanced cancer therapy, the combinational therapeutic effect of photothermal therapy (PTT) using near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) and anti-cancer drug delivery-mediated chemotherapy has been widely applied. In the present study, using a facile, low-cost, and solution-based method, we developed and synthesized fucoidan, a natural polymer isolated from seaweed that has demonstrated anti-cancer effect, and coated NPs with it as an ideal candidate in chemo-photothermal therapy against cancer cells. Fucoidan-coated copper sulfide nanoparticles (F-CuS) act not only as a nanocarrier to enhance the intracellular delivery of fucoidan but also as a photothermal agent to effectively ablate different cancer cells (e.g., HeLa, A549, and K562), both in vitro and in vivo, with the induction of apoptosis under 808 nm diode laser irradiation. These results point to the potential usage of F-CuS in treating human cancer. PMID:29560098

The FLUKA Monte Carlo code coupled with the NIRS approach for clinical dose calculations in carbon ion therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magro, G.; Dahle, T. J.; Molinelli, S.; Ciocca, M.; Fossati, P.; Ferrari, A.; Inaniwa, T.; Matsufuji, N.; Ytre-Hauge, K. S.; Mairani, A.

2017-05-01

Particle therapy facilities often require Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to overcome intrinsic limitations of analytical treatment planning systems (TPS) related to the description of the mixed radiation field and beam interaction with tissue inhomogeneities. Some of these uncertainties may affect the computation of effective dose distributions; therefore, particle therapy dedicated MC codes should provide both absorbed and biological doses. Two biophysical models are currently applied clinically in particle therapy: the local effect model (LEM) and the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM). In this paper, we describe the coupling of the NIRS (National Institute for Radiological Sciences, Japan) clinical dose to the FLUKA MC code. We moved from the implementation of the model itself to its application in clinical cases, according to the NIRS approach, where a scaling factor is introduced to rescale the (carbon-equivalent) biological dose to a clinical dose level. A high level of agreement was found with published data by exploring a range of values for the MKM input parameters, while some differences were registered in forward recalculations of NIRS patient plans, mainly attributable to differences with the analytical TPS dose engine (taken as reference) in describing the mixed radiation field (lateral spread and fragmentation). We presented a tool which is being used at the Italian National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy to support the comparison study between the NIRS clinical dose level and the LEM dose specification.

Light-Regulated Polymerization under Near-Infrared/Far-Red Irradiation Catalyzed by Bacteriochlorophyll a.

PubMed

Shanmugam, Sivaprakash; Xu, Jiangtao; Boyer, Cyrille

2016-01-18

Photoregulated polymerizations are typically conducted using high-energy (UV and blue) light, which may lead to undesired side reactions. Furthermore, as the penetration of visible light is rather limited, the range of applications with such wavelengths is likewise limited. We herein report the first living radical polymerization that can be activated and deactivated by irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) and far-red light. Bacteriochlorophyll a (Bachl a) was employed as a photoredox catalyst for photoinduced electron transfer/reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization. Well-defined polymers were thus synthesized within a few hours under NIR (λ=850 nm) and far-red (λ=780 nm) irradiation with excellent control over the molecular weight (M(n)/M(w)<1.25). Taking advantage of the good penetration of NIR light, we showed that the polymerization also proceeded smoothly when a translucent barrier was placed between light source and reaction vessel. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Laser generated gold nanocorals with broadband plasmon absorption for photothermal applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poletti, Annamaria; Fracasso, Giulio; Conti, Giamaica; Pilot, Roberto; Amendola, Vincenzo

2015-08-01

Gold nanoparticles with efficient plasmon absorption in the visible and near infrared (NIR) regions, biocompatibility and easy surface functionalization are of interest for photothermal applications. Herein we describe the synthesis and photothermal properties of gold ``nanocorals'' (AuNC) obtained by laser irradiation of Au nanospheres (AuNS) dispersed in liquid solution. AuNC are formed in two stages: by photofragmentation of AuNS, followed by spontaneous unidirectional assembly of gold nanocrystals. The whole procedure is performed without chemicals or templating compounds, hence the AuNC can be coated with thiolated molecules in one step. We show that AuNC coated with thiolated polymers are easily dispersed in an aqueous environment or in organic solvents and can be included in polymeric matrixes to yield a plasmonic nanocomposite. AuNC dispersions exhibit flat broadband plasmon absorption ranging from the visible to the NIR and unitary light-to-heat conversion. Besides, in vitro biocompatibility experiments assessed the absence of cytotoxic effects even at a dose as high as 100 μg mL-1. These safe-by-designed AuNC are promising for use in various applications such as photothermal cancer therapy, light-triggered drug release, antimicrobial substrates, optical tomography, obscurant materials and optical coatings.

Multibuilding Block Janus Synthesized by Seed-Mediated Self-Assembly for Enhanced Photothermal Effects and Colored Brownian Motion in an Optical Trap.

PubMed

Sansanaphongpricha, Kanokwan; DeSantis, Michael C; Chen, Hongwei; Cheng, Wei; Sun, Kai; Wen, Bo; Sun, Duxin

2017-02-01

The asymmetrical features and unique properties of multibuilding block Janus nanostructures (JNSs) provide superior functions for biomedical applications. However, their production process is very challenging. This problem has hampered the progress of JNS research and the exploration of their applications. In this study, an asymmetrical multibuilding block gold/iron oxide JNS has been generated to enhance photothermal effects and display colored Brownian motion in an optical trap. JNS is formed by seed-mediated self-assembly of nanoparticle-loaded thermocleavable micelles, where the hydrophobic backbones of the polymer are disrupted at high temperatures, resulting in secondary self-assembly and structural rearrangement. The JNS significantly enhances photothermal effects compared to their homogeneous counterpart after near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation. The asymmetrical distribution of gold and iron oxide within JNS also generates uneven thermophoretic force to display active colored Brownian rotational motion in a single-beam gradient optical trap. These properties indicate that the asymmetrical JNS could be employed as a strong photothermal therapy mediator and a fuel-free nanoscale Janus motor under NIR light. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Au Nanomatryoshkas as Efficient Near-Infrared Photothermal Transducers for Cancer Treatment: Benchmarking against Nanoshells

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Au nanoparticles with plasmon resonances in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum efficiently convert light into heat, a property useful for the photothermal ablation of cancerous tumors subsequent to nanoparticle uptake at the tumor site. A critical aspect of this process is nanoparticle size, which influences both tumor uptake and photothermal efficiency. Here, we report a direct comparative study of ∼90 nm diameter Au nanomatryoshkas (Au/SiO2/Au) and ∼150 nm diameter Au nanoshells for photothermal therapeutic efficacy in highly aggressive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors in mice. Au nanomatryoshkas are strong light absorbers with 77% absorption efficiency, while the nanoshells are weaker absorbers with only 15% absorption efficiency. After an intravenous injection of Au nanomatryoshkas followed by a single NIR laser dose of 2 W/cm2 for 5 min, 83% of the TNBC tumor-bearing mice appeared healthy and tumor free >60 days later, while only 33% of mice treated with nanoshells survived the same period. The smaller size and larger absorption cross section of Au nanomatryoshkas combine to make this nanoparticle more effective than Au nanoshells for photothermal cancer therapy. PMID:24889266

Sensitivity Differences in Fish Offer Near-Infrared Vision as an Adaptable Evolutionary Trait

PubMed Central

Shcherbakov, Denis; Knörzer, Alexandra; Espenhahn, Svenja; Hilbig, Reinhard; Haas, Ulrich; Blum, Martin

2013-01-01

Near-infrared (NIR) light constitutes an integrated part of solar radiation. The principal ability to sense NIR under laboratory conditions has previously been demonstrated in fish. The availability of NIR in aquatic habitats, and thus its potential use as a cue for distinct behaviors such as orientation and detection of prey, however, depends on physical and environmental parameters. In clear water, blue and green light represents the dominating part of the illumination. In turbid waters, in contrast, the relative content of red and NIR radiation is enhanced, due to increased scattering and absorption of short and middle range wavelengths by suspended particles and dissolved colored materials. We have studied NIR detection thresholds using a phototactic swimming assay in five fish species, which are exposed to different NIR conditions in their natural habitats. Nile and Mozambique tilapia, which inhabit waters with increased turbidity, displayed the highest spectral sensitivity, with thresholds at wavelengths above 930 nm. Zebrafish, guppy and green swordtail, which prefer clearer waters, revealed significantly lower thresholds of spectral sensitivity with 825–845 nm for green swordtail and 845–910 nm for zebrafish and guppy. The present study revealed a clear correlation between NIR sensation thresholds and availability of NIR in the natural habitats, suggesting that NIR vision, as an integral part of the whole spectrum of visual abilities, can serve as an evolutionarily adaptable trait in fish. PMID:23691215

Targeting of Pancreatic Cancer with Magneto-Fluorescent Theranostic Gold Nanoshells

PubMed Central

Chen, Wenxue; Ayala-Orozco, Ciceron; Biswal, Nrusingh C.; Perez-Torres, Carlos; Bartels, Marc; Bardhan, Rizia; Stinnet, Gary; Liu, Xian-De; Ji, Baoan; Deorukhkar, Amit; Brown, Lisa V.; Guha, Sushovan; Pautler, Robia G.; Krishnan, Sunil; Halas, Naomi J; Joshi, Amit

2014-01-01

Aim We report a magneto-fluorescent theranostic nanocomplex targeted to neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) for imaging and therapy of pancreatic cancer. Materials and Methods Gold nanoshells resonant at 810 nm were encapsulated in silica epilayers doped with iron oxide and the NIR dye ICG, resulting in theranostic gold nanoshells (TGNS), which were subsequently conjugated with antibodies targeting NGAL in AsPC-1-derived xenografts in nude mice. Results AntiNGAL-conjugated TGNS specifically targeted pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo providing contrast for both NIR fluorescence and T2 weighted MR imaging with higher tumor contrast than can be obtained using long-circulating but non-targeted PEGylated nanoparticles. The nanocomplexes also enabled highly specific cancer cell death via NIR photothermal therapy in vitro. Conclusions Theranostic gold nanoshells with embedded NIR and MR contrasts can be specifically targeted to pancreatic cancer cells with expression of early disease marker NGAL, and enable molecularly targeted imaging and photothermal therapy. PMID:24063415

MR imaging biomarkers for evaluating therapeutic effects shortly after near infrared photoimmunotherapy

PubMed Central

Nakamura, Yuko; Bernardo, Marcelino; Nagaya, Tadanobu; Sato, Kazuhide; Harada, Toshiko; Choyke, Peter L.; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2016-01-01

Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that combines the specificity of antibodies for targeting tumors with the toxicity induced by photon absorbers after irradiation with NIR light. The purpose of this study was to determine if MR imaging can detect changes in the MR properties of tumor within several hours of NIR-PIT. A431 cells were injected subcutaneously in the right and left dorsi of 12 mice. Six days later, the mice were injected with a photon absorber, IR700, conjugated to panitumumab, an antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor. One day later, only right sided tumor was exposed to NIR light (treated tumor). MRI was performed 1 day before and 1-2 hours after NIR-PIT using gadofosveset for six mice and gadopentetate dimeglumine for another six mice. T2 relaxation times, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for the following combinations of b-values: 0-1000, 200-1000 and 500-1000 s/mm2 and enhancement indices were compared before and after NIR-PIT using a two-sided paired t-test. For treated tumors, T2 relaxation time increased after NIR-PIT (p < 0.01) and all three ADC values decreased after NIR-PIT (p < 0.01). Moreover, the enhancement area under the curve (AUC) using gadofosveset increased after NIR-PIT (p = 0.02). In conclusion, prolongation of T2, reductions in ADC and increased enhancement using gadofosveset are seen within 2 hours of NIR-PIT treatment of tumors. Thus, MRI can be a useful imaging biomarker for detecting early therapeutic changes after NIR-PIT. PMID:26885619

Near infrared spectroscopy evaluation of bladder function: the impact of skin pigmentation on detection of physiologic change during voiding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shadgan, Babak; Stothers, Lynn; Molavi, Behnam; Mutabazi, Sharif; Mukisa, Ronald; Macnab, Andrew

2015-02-01

Background: Prior research indicates the epidermal pigment layer of human skin (Melanin) has a significant absorption coefficient in the near infra-red (NIR) region; hence attenuation of light in vivo is a potential confounder for NIR spectroscopy (NIRS). A NIRS method developed for transcutaneous evaluation of bladder function is being investigated as a means of improving the burden of bladder disease in sub-Saharan Africa. This required development of a simple wireless NIRS device suitable for use as a screening tool in patients with pigmented skin where the NIR light emitted would penetrate through the epidermal pigment layer and return in sufficient quantity to provide effective monitoring. Methods: Two healthy subjects, one with pigmented skin and one with fair skin, were monitored as they voided spontaneously using the prototype transcutaneous NIRS device positioned over the bladder. The device was a self-contained wireless unit with light emitting diodes (wavelengths 760 and 850 nanometres) and interoptode distance of 4cm. The raw optical data were transmitted to a laptop where graphs of chromophore change were generated with proprietary software and compared between the subjects and with prior data from asymptomatic subjects. Results: Serial monitoring was successful in both subjects. Voiding volumes varied between 350 and 380 cc. In each subject the patterns of chromophore change, trend and magnitude of change were similar and matched the physiologic increase in total and oxygenated hemoglobin recognized to occur in normal bladder contraction during voiding. Conclusions: Skin pigmentation does not compromise the ability of transcutaneous NIRS to interrogate physiologic change in the bladder during bladder contraction in healthy subjects.

Chemophototherapy: An Emerging Treatment Option for Solid Tumors

PubMed Central

Luo, Dandan; Carter, Kevin A.; Miranda, Dyego

2016-01-01

Near infrared (NIR) light penetrates human tissues with limited depth, thereby providing a method to safely deliver non‐ionizing radiation to well‐defined target tissue volumes. Light‐based therapies including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and laser‐induced thermal therapy have been validated clinically for curative and palliative treatment of solid tumors. However, these monotherapies can suffer from incomplete tumor killing and have not displaced existing ablative modalities. The combination of phototherapy and chemotherapy (chemophototherapy, CPT), when carefully planned, has been shown to be an effective tumor treatment option preclinically and clinically. Chemotherapy can enhance the efficacy of PDT by targeting surviving cancer cells or by inhibiting regrowth of damaged tumor blood vessels. Alternatively, PDT‐mediated vascular permeabilization has been shown to enhance the deposition of nanoparticulate drugs into tumors for enhanced accumulation and efficacy. Integrated nanoparticles have been reported that combine photosensitizers and drugs into a single agent. More recently, light‐activated nanoparticles have been developed that release their payload in response to light irradiation to achieve improved drug bioavailability with superior efficacy. CPT can potently eradicate tumors with precise spatial control, and further clinical testing is warranted. PMID:28105389

Near-Infrared Scintillation of Liquid Argon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tilly, Elizabeth; Escobar, Carlos

2017-01-01

Liquid argon is well known to scintillate in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) range which is inherently difficult to detect. There has been recent evidence to suggest that it also emits near infrared (NIR) light. If this is the case, many large-scale time projection chambers and other similar detectors will be able to maximize light collection while minimizing cost. The goal of this project is to confirm and quantify this NIR emission. In order to accomplish this, an α-source was placed in a volume of highly purified liquid argon and observed using an infrared PMT with a filter excluding light withmore » wavelength <715 nm. Performing a simple counting experiment, there were indications of NIR scintillation. Further analysis is in progress.« less

The synergistic effect of photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy in the presence of gold-gold sulfide nanoshells conjugated Indocyanine green on HeLa cells.

PubMed

Ghorbani, Farzaneh; Attaran-Kakhki, Neda; Sazgarnia, Ameneh

2017-03-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) are two known optical remedies of cancer. PTT can be combined with other therapies. One of the limitations of optical therapies is the penetration of light into biological tissues, which reduces its effectiveness due to usage of photosensitizers and PTT agents, which are absorbed in the NIR region that provides the maximum penetration. For instance, Indocyanine green (ICG) serves as a photosensitizer and Gold nanostructures as agents for PTT. GGS is a gold nanoshell with two absorption peaks in the NIR and visible regions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the synergistic effect of PDT and PTT in the presence of GGS conjugated with ICG. After synthesizing GGS, ICG was conjugated with GGS. The specifications and cytotoxicity of agents were identified. Cells were irradiated by an 808nm laser with or without the agents and three laser outputs were achieved, with each having four different exposure times. The viability of treated cells was determined via MTT assay. The irradiation of the laser did not produce any significant effect by itself or in the presence of GGS. The maximum cell death recorded for GGS, ICG and GGS-ICG were 15±7%, 50±3% and 31±3% respectively. ICG and GGS-ICG differs significantly for exposures higher than 2250J/cm 2 . The conjugate was provided through a simple process and a greater chemical stability compared to GGS was achieved. Moreover, it induced a stronger photodynamic and photothermal effect on the cells. This is a promising result which can help enhance the effectiveness of a minimally invasive treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shed a light of wireless technology on portable mobile design of NIRS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yunlong; Li, Ting

2016-03-01

Mobile internet is growing rapidly driven by high-tech companies including the popular Apple and Google. The wireless mini-NIRS is believed to deserve a great spread future, while there is sparse report on wireless NIRS device and even for the reported wireless NIRS, its wireless design is scarcely presented. Here we focused on the wireless design of NIRS devices. The widely-used wireless communication standards and wireless communication typical solutions were employed into our NIRS design and then compared on communication efficiency, distance, error rate, low-cost, power consumption, and stabilities, based on the requirements of NIRS applications. The properly-performed wireless communication methods matched with the characteristics of NIRS are picked out. Finally, we realized one recommended wireless communication in our NIRS, developed a test platform on wireless NIRS and tested the full properties on wireless communication. This study elaborated the wireless communication methods specified for NIRS and suggested one implementation with one example fully illustrated, which support the future mobile design on NIRS devices.

Engineering Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for Biological Applications: From Biosensing/Bioimaging to Theranostics.

PubMed

Sun, Shao-Kai; Wang, He-Fang; Yan, Xiu-Ping

2018-05-15

Persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) are unique optical materials emitting long-lasting luminescence after ceasing excitation. Such a unique optical feature allows luminescence detection without constant external illumination to avoid the interferences of autofluorescence and scattering light from biological fluids and tissues. Besides, near-infrared (NIR) PLNPs have advantages of deep penetration and the reactivation of the persistent luminescence (PL) by red or NIR light. These features make the application of NIR-emitting PLNPs in long-term bioimaging no longer limited by the lifetime of PL. To take full advantage of PLNPs for biological applications, the versatile strategies for bridging PLNPs and biological system become increasingly significant for the design of PLNPs-based nanoprobes. In this Account, we summarize our systematic achievements in the biological applications of PLNPs from biosensing/bioimaging to theranostics with emphasizing the engineering strategies for fabricating specific PLNPs-based nanoprobes. We take surface engineering and manipulating energy transfer as the major principles to design various PLNPs-based nanoprobes based on the nature of interactions between nanoprobes and targets. We have developed target-induced formation or interruption of fluorescence resonance energy transfer systems for autofluorescence-free biosensing and imaging of cancer biomarkers. We have decorated single or dual targeting ligands on PLNPs for tumor-targeted imaging, and integrated other modal imaging agents into PLNPs for multimodal imaging. We have also employed specific functionalization for various biomedical applications including chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, stem cells tracking and PL imaging-guided gene therapy. Besides, we have modified PLNPs with multiple functional units to achieve challenging metastatic tumor theranostics. The proposed design principle and comprehensive strategies show great potential in guiding the design of PLNPs nanoprobes and promoting further development of PLNPs in the fields of biological science and medicine. We conclude this Account by outlining the future directions to further promote the practical application of PLNPs. The novel protocols for the synthesis of small-size, monodisperse, and water-soluble PLNPs with high NIR PL intensity and superlong afterglow are the vibrant directions for the biomedical applications of PLNPs. In-depth theories and evidence on luminescence mechanism of PLNPs are highly desired for further improvement of their luminescence performance. Furthermore, other irradiations without tissue penetrating depth limit, such as X-ray, are encouraged for use in energy storage and re-excitation of PLNPs, enabling imaging in deep tissue in vivo and integrating other X-ray sensitized theranostic techniques such as computed tomography imaging and radiotherapy. Last but not least, PLNPs-based nanoprobes and the brand new hybrids of PLNPs with other nanomaterials show a bright prospect for accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment of diseases besides tumors.

Near-IR-Absorbing Gold Nanoframes with Enhanced Physiological Stability and Improved Biocompatibility for In Vivo Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Wang, Liying; Chen, Yunching; Lin, Hsin Yao; Hou, Yung-Te; Yang, Ling-Chu; Sun, Aileen Y; Liu, Jia-Yu; Chang, Chien-Wen; Wan, Dehui

2017-02-01

This paper describes the synthesis of near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing gold nanoframes (GNFs) and a systematic study comparing their physiological stability and biocompatibility with those of hollow Au-Ag nanoshells (GNSs), which have been used widely as photothermal agents in biomedical applications because of their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the NIR region. The GNFs were synthesized in three steps: galvanic replacement, Au deposition, and Ag dealloying, using silver nanospheres (SNP) as the starting material. The morphology and optical properties of the GNFs were dependent on the thickness of the Au coating layer and the degree of Ag dealloying. The optimal GNF exhibited a robust spherical skeleton composed of a few thick rims, but preserved the distinctive LSPR absorbance in the NIR region-even when the Ag content within the skeleton was only 10 wt %, 4-fold lower than that of the GNSs. These GNFs displayed an attractive photothermal conversion ability and great photothermal stability, and could efficiently kill 4T1 cancer cells through light-induced heating. Moreover, the GNFs preserved their morphology and optical properties after incubation in biological media (e.g., saline, serum), whereas the GNSs were unstable under the same conditions because of rapid dissolution of the considerable silver content with the shell. Furthermore, the GNFs had good biocompatibility with normal cells (e.g., NIH-3T3 and hepatocytes; cell viability for both cells: >90%), whereas the GNSs exhibited significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity (e.g., cell viability for hepatocytes at 1.14 nM: ca. 11%), accompanied by the induction of reactive oxygen species. Finally, the GNFs displayed good biocompatibility and biosafety in an in vivo mouse model; in contrast, the accumulation of GNSs caused liver injury and inflammation. Our results suggest that GNFs have great potential to serve as stable, biocompatible NIR-light absorbers for in vivo applications, including cancer detection and combination therapy.

Nanocomplexes of Photolabile Polyelectrolyte and Upconversion Nanoparticles for Near-Infrared Light-Triggered Payload Release.

PubMed

Xiang, Jun; Ge, Feijie; Yu, Bing; Yan, Qiang; Shi, Feng; Zhao, Yue

2018-06-07

A new approach to encapsulating charged cargo molecules into a nanovector and subsequently using near-infrared (NIR) light to trigger the release is demonstrated. NIR light-responsive nanovector was prepared through electrostatic interaction-driven complexation between negatively charged silica-coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP@silica, 87 nm hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index ∼0.05) and a positively charged UV-labile polyelectrolyte bearing pendants of poly(ethylene glycol) and o-nitrobenzyl side groups; whereas charged fluorescein (FLU) was loaded through a co-complexation process. By controlling the amount of polyelectrolyte, UCNP@silica can be covered by the polymer, whereas remaining dispersed in aqueous solution. Under 980 nm laser excitation, UV light emitted by UCNP is absorbed by photolytic side groups within polyelectrolyte, which results in cleavage of o-nitrobenzyl groups and formation of carboxylic acid groups. Such NIR light-induced partial reversal of positive charge to negative charge on the polyelectrolyte layer disrupts the equilibrium among UCNP@silica, polyelectrolyte, and FLU and, consequently, leads to release of FLU molecules.

Intraoperative near-infrared autofluorescence imaging of parathyroid glands.

PubMed

Ladurner, Roland; Sommerey, Sandra; Arabi, Nora Al; Hallfeldt, Klaus K J; Stepp, Herbert; Gallwas, Julia K S

2017-08-01

To identify parathyroid glands intraoperatively by exposing their autofluorescence using near-infrared light. Fluorescence imaging was carried out during minimally invasive and open parathyroid and thyroid surgery. After identification, the parathyroid glands as well as the surrounding tissue were exposed to near-infrared (NIR) light with a wavelength of 690-770 nm using a modified Karl Storz near-infrared/indocyanine green (NIR/ICG) endoscopic system. Parathyroid tissue was expected to show near-infrared autofluorescence, captured in the blue channel of the camera. Whenever possible the visual identification of parathyroid tissue was confirmed histologically. In preliminary investigations, using the original NIR/ICG endoscopic system we noticed considerable interference of light in the blue channel overlying the autofluorescence. Therefore, we modified the light source by interposing additional filters. In a second series, we investigated 35 parathyroid glands from 25 patients. Twenty-seven glands were identified correctly based on NIR autofluorescence. Regarding the extent of autofluorescence, there were no noticeable differences between parathyroid adenomas, hyperplasia and normal parathyroid glands. In contrast, thyroid tissue, lymph nodes and adipose tissue revealed no substantial autofluorescence. Parathyroid tissue is characterized by showing autofluorescence in the near-infrared spectrum. This effect can be used to distinguish parathyroid glands from other cervical tissue entities.

Phthalocyanine-Conjugated Upconversion NaYF4 :Yb3+ /Er3+ @SiO2 Nanospheres for NIR-Triggered Photodynamic Therapy in a Tumor Mouse Model.

PubMed

Kostiv, Uliana; Patsula, Vitalii; Noculak, Agnieszka; Podhorodecki, Artur; Větvička, David; Poučková, Pavla; Sedláková, Zdenka; Horák, Daniel

2017-12-19

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has garnered immense attention as a minimally invasive clinical treatment modality for malignant cancers. However, its low penetration depth and photodamage of living tissues by UV and visible light, which activate a photosensitizer, limit the application of PDT. In this study, monodisperse NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ nanospheres 20 nm in diameter, that serve as near-infrared (NIR)-to-visible light converters and activators of a photosensitizer, were synthesized by high-temperature co-precipitation of lanthanide chlorides in a high-boiling organic solvent (octadec-1-ene). The nanoparticles were coated with a thin shell (≈3 nm) of homogenous silica via the hydrolysis and condensation of tetramethyl orthosilicate. The NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 particles were further functionalized by methacrylate-terminated groups via 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate. To introduce a large number of reactive amino groups on the particle surface, methacrylate-terminated NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 nanospheres were modified with a branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) via Michael addition. Aluminum carboxyphthalocyanine (Al Pc-COOH) was then conjugated to NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 -PEI nanospheres via carbodiimide chemistry. The resulting NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 -PEI-Pc particles were finally modified with succinimidyl ester of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in order to alleviate their future uptake by the reticuloendothelial system. Upon 980 nm irradiation, the intensive red emission of NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 -PEI-Pc-PEG nanoparticles completely vanished, indicating efficient energy transfer from the nanoparticles to Al Pc-COOH, which generates singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ). Last but not least, NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 -PEI-Pc-PEG nanospheres were intratumorally administered into mammary carcinoma MDA-MB-231 growing subcutaneously in athymic nude mice. Extensive necrosis developed at the tumor site of all mice 24-48 h after irradiation by laser at 980 nm wavelength. The results demonstrate that the NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ @SiO 2 -PEI-Pc-PEG nanospheres have great potential as a novel NIR-triggered PDT nanoplatform for deep-tissue cancer therapy. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Recent Advances in Inorganic Nanoparticle-Based NIR Luminescence Imaging: Semiconductor Nanoparticles and Lanthanide Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Kim, Dokyoon; Lee, Nohyun; Park, Yong Il; Hyeon, Taeghwan

2017-01-18

Several types of nanoparticle-based imaging probes have been developed to replace conventional luminescent probes. For luminescence imaging, near-infrared (NIR) probes are useful in that they allow deep tissue penetration and high spatial resolution as a result of reduced light absorption/scattering and negligible autofluorescence in biological media. They rely on either an anti-Stokes or a Stokes shift process to generate luminescence. For example, transition metal-doped semiconductor nanoparticles and lanthanide-doped inorganic nanoparticles have been demonstrated as anti-Stokes shift-based agents that absorb NIR light through two- or three-photon absorption process and upconversion process, respectively. On the other hand, quantum dots (QDs) and lanthanide-doped nanoparticles that emit in NIR-II range (∼1000 to ∼1350 nm) were suggested as promising Stokes shift-based imaging agents. In this topical review, we summarize and discuss the recent progress in the development of inorganic nanoparticle-based luminescence imaging probes working in NIR range.

Surface plasmon resonance near-infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Ikehata, Akifumi; Itoh, Tamitake; Ozaki, Yukihiro

2004-11-01

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is ill-suited to microanalysis because of its low absorptivity. We have developed a highly sensitive detection method for NIR spectroscopy based on absorption-sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The newly named SPR-NIR spectroscopy, which may open the way for NIR spectroscopy in microanalysis and surface science, is realized by an attachment of the Kretschmann configuration equipped with a mechanism for fine angular adjustment of incident light. The angular sweep of incident light enables us to make a tuning of a SPR peak for an absorption band of sample medium. From the dependences of wavelength, incident angle, and thickness of a gold film on the intensity of the SPR peak, it has been found that the absorbance can be enhanced by approximately 100 times compared with the absorbance obtained without the gold film under optimum conditions. This article reports the details of the experimental setup and the characteristics of absorption-sensitive SPR in the NIR region, together with some experimental results obtained by using it.

Design of a miniature solid state NIR spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hanyi; Wang, Xiaolu L.; Soos, Jolanta I.; Crisp, Joy A.

1995-06-01

For aerospace applications a miniature, solid-state near infrared (NIR) spectrometer based on an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) has been developed and built at Brimrose Corp. of America. In this spectrometer a light emitting diode (LED) array as light source, a set of optical fibers as the lightwave transmission route, and a miniature AOTF as a tunable filter were adopted. This approach makes the spectrometer very compact, light-weight, rugged and reliable, with low operating power and long lifetime.

Differential response of human dermal fibroblast subpopulations to visible and near-infrared light: Potential of photobiomodulation for addressing cutaneous conditions.

PubMed

Mignon, Charles; Uzunbajakava, Natallia E; Castellano-Pellicena, Irene; Botchkareva, Natalia V; Tobin, Desmond J

2018-04-17

The past decade has witnessed a rapid expansion of photobiomodulation (PBM), demonstrating encouraging results for the treatment of cutaneous disorders. Confidence in this approach, however, is impaired not only by a lack of understanding of the light-triggered molecular cascades but also by the significant inconsistency in published experimental outcomes, design of the studies and applied optical parameters. This study aimed at characterizing the response of human dermal fibroblast subpopulations to visible and near-infrared (NIR) light in an attempt to identify the optical treatment parameters with high potential to address deficits in aging skin and non-healing chronic wounds. Primary human reticular and papillary dermal fibroblasts (DF) were isolated from the surplus of post-surgery human facial skin. An in-house developed LED-based device was used to irradiate cell cultures using six discrete wavelengths (450, 490, 550, 590, 650, and 850 nm). Light dose-response at a standard oxygen concentration (20%) at all six wavelengths was evaluated in terms of cell metabolic activity. This was followed by an analysis of the transcriptome and procollagen I production at a protein level, where cells were cultured in conditions closer to in vivo at 2% environmental oxygen and 2% serum. Furthermore, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was accessed using real-time fluorescence confocal microscopy imaging. Here, production of ROS in the presence or absence of antioxidants, as well as the cellular localization of ROS, was evaluated. In terms of metabolic activity, consecutive irradiation with short-wavelength light (⇐530 nm) exerted an inhibitory effect on DF, while longer wavelengths (>=590 nm) had essentially a neutral effect. Cell behavior following treatment with 450 nm was biphasic with two distinct states: inhibitory at low- to mid- dose levels (<=30 J/cm 2 ), and cytotoxic at higher dose levels (>30 J/cm 2 ). Cell response to blue light was accompanied by a dose-dependent release of ROS that was localized in the perinuclear area close to mitochondria, which was attenuated by an antioxidant. Overall, reticular DFs exhibited a greater sensitivity to light treatment at the level of gene expression than did papillary DFs, with more genes significantly up- or down- regulated. At the intra-cellular signaling pathway level, the up- or down- regulation of vital pathways was observed only for reticular DF, after treatment with 30 J/cm 2 of blue light. At the cellular level, short visible wavelengths exerted a greater inhibitory effect on reticular DF. Several genes involved in the TGF-β signaling pathway were also affected. In addition, procollagen I production was inhibited. By contrast, 850 nm near-infrared (NIR) light (20 J/cm 2 ) exerted a stimulatory metabolic effect in these cells, with no detectable intracellular ROS formation. Here too, reticular DF were more responsive than papillary DF. This stimulatory effect was only observed under in vivo-like low oxygen conditions, corresponding to normal dermal tissue oxygen levels (approximately 2%). This study highlights a differential impact of light on human skin cells with upregulation of metabolic activity with NIR light, and inhibition of pro-collagen production and proliferation in response to blue light. These findings open-up new avenues for developing therapies for different cutaneous conditions (e.g., treatment of keloids and fibrosis) or differential therapy at distinct stages of wound healing. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cerebral hemodynamics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome monitored with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during positive airways pressure (CPAP) therapy: a pilot study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhongxing; Schneider, Maja; Laures, Marco; Fritschi, Ursula; Lehner, Isabella; Qi, Ming; Khatami, Ramin

2014-03-01

In obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) the periodic reduction or cessation of breathing due to narrowing or occlusion of the upper airway during sleep leads to daytime symptoms and increased cardiovascular risk, including stroke. The higher risk of stroke is related to the impairment in cerebral vascular autoregulation. Continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) therapy at night is the most effective treatment for OSA. However, there is no suitable bedside monitoring method evaluating the treatment efficacy of CPAP therapy, especially to monitor the recovery of cerebral hemodynamics. NIRS is ideally suited for non-invasive monitoring the cerebral hemodynamics during sleep. In this study, we will for first time assess dynamic changes of cerebral hemodynamics during nocturnal CPAP therapy in 3 patients with OSA using NIRS. We found periodic oscillations in HbO2, HHb, tissue oxygenation index (TOI) and blood volume associated with periodic apnea events without CPAP in all OSA patients. These oscillations were gradually attenuated and finally eliminated with the stepwise increments of CPAP pressures. The oscillations were totally eliminated in blood volume earlier than in other hemodynamic parameters. These results suggested that 1) the cerebral hemodynamic oscillations induced by OSA events can effectively be attenuated by CPAP therapy, and 2) blood flow and blood volume recovered first during CPAP therapy, followed by the recovery of oxygen consumption. Our study suggested that NIRS is a useful tool to evaluate the efficacy of CPAP therapy in patients with OSA bedside and in real time.

Near-infrared light-controlled regulation of intracellular calcium to modulate macrophage polarization.

PubMed

Kang, Heemin; Zhang, Kunyu; Wong, Dexter Siu Hong; Han, Fengxuan; Li, Bin; Bian, Liming

2018-04-21

Macrophages are multifunctional immune cells with diverse physiological functions such as fighting against infection, influencing progression of pathologies, maintaining homeostasis, and regenerating tissues. Macrophages can be induced to adopt distinct polarized phenotypes, such as classically activated pro-inflammatory (M1) phenotypes or alternatively activated anti-inflammatory and pro-healing (M2), to execute diverse and dynamic immune functions. However, unbalanced polarizations of macrophage can lead to various pathologies, such as atherosclerosis, obesity, tumor, and asthma. Thus, the capability to remotely control macrophage phenotypes is important to the success of treating many pathological conditions involving macrophages. In this study, we developed an upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based photoresponsive nanocarrier for near-infrared (NIR) light-mediated control of intracellular calcium levels to regulate macrophage polarization. UCNP was coated with mesoporous silica (UCNP@mSiO 2 ), into which loaded calcium regulators that can either supply or deplete calcium ions. UCNP@mSiO 2 was chemically modified through serial coupling of photocleavable linker and Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide-bearing molecular cap via cyclodextrin-adamantine host-guest complexation. The RGD-bearing cap functioned as the photolabile gating structure to control the release of calcium regulators and facilitated the cellular uptake of UCNP@mSiO 2 nanocarrier. The upconverted UV light emission from the UCNP@mSiO 2 under NIR light excitation triggered the cleavage of cap and intracellular release of calcium regulators, thereby allowing temporal regulation on the intracellular calcium levels. Application of NIR light through skin tissue promoted M1 or M2 polarization of macrophages, by elevating or depleting intracellular calcium levels, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of NIR light-mediated remote control on macrophage polarization. This photoresponsive nanocarrier offers the potential to remotely manipulate in vivo immune functions, such as inflammation or tissue regeneration, via NIR light-controlled macrophage polarization. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estimating Leaf Water Status from Vis-Nir Reflectance and Transmittance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanderbilt, Vern; Daughtry, Craig; Dahlgren, Robert

2017-01-01

Remotely sensing the water status of plant canopies remains a long term goal of remote sensing research. Established approaches involve measurements in the thermal infrared and the 900-2000nm reflective infrared. Less popular UV-visible-NIR techniques presumably deserve research attention, because photochemical changes linked to plant water status manifest spectral light scattering and absorption changes. Here we monitored the visible and NIR light reflected from the leaf interior as well as the leaf transmittance as the relative water content of corn (Zeamays L.) leaves decreased. Our results highlight the importance of both scattering effects and effects due to absorption by leaf pigments.

Clinical application of near-infrared spectroscopy in patients with traumatic brain injury: a review of the progress of the field.

PubMed

Sen, Anish N; Gopinath, Shankar P; Robertson, Claudia S

2016-07-01

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a technique by which the interaction between light in the near-infrared spectrum and matter can be quantitatively measured to provide information about the particular chromophore. Study into the clinical application of NIRS for traumatic brain injury (TBI) began in the 1990s with early reports of the ability to detect intracranial hematomas using NIRS. We highlight the advances in clinical applications of NIRS over the past two decades as they relate to TBI. We discuss recent studies evaluating NIRS techniques for intracranial hematoma detection, followed by the clinical application of NIRS in intracranial pressure and brain oxygenation measurement, and conclude with a summary of potential future uses of NIRS in TBI patient management.

Multispectral near-infrared reflectance and transillumination imaging of occlusal carious lesions: variations in lesion contrast with lesion depth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Jacob C.; Curtis, Donald A.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2018-02-01

In vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that near-infrared (NIR) light at λ=1300-1700-nm can be used to acquire high contrast images of enamel demineralization without interference of stains. The objective of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between the NIR image contrast of occlusal lesions and the depth of the lesion. Extracted teeth with varying amounts of natural occlusal decay were measured using a multispectral-multimodal NIR imaging system which captures λ=1300-nm occlusal transillumination, and λ=1500-1700-nm cross-polarized reflectance images. Image analysis software was used to calculate the lesion contrast detected in both images from matched positions of each imaging modality. Samples were serially sectioned across the lesion with a precision saw, and polarized light microscopy was used to measure the respective lesion depth relative to the dentinoenamel junction. Lesion contrast measured from NIR crosspolarized reflectance images positively correlated (p<0.05) with increasing lesion depth and a statistically significant difference between inner enamel and dentin lesions was observed. The lateral width of pit and fissures lesions measured in both NIR cross-polarized reflectance and NIR transillumination positively correlated with lesion depth.

Method of radiometric quality assessment of NIR images acquired with a custom sensor mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wierzbicki, Damian; Fryskowska, Anna; Kedzierski, Michal; Wojtkowska, Michalina; Delis, Paulina

2018-01-01

Unmanned aerial vehicles are suited to various photogrammetry and remote sensing missions. Such platforms are equipped with various optoelectronic sensors imaging in the visible and infrared spectral ranges and also thermal sensors. Nowadays, near-infrared (NIR) images acquired from low altitudes are often used for producing orthophoto maps for precision agriculture among other things. One major problem results from the application of low-cost custom and compact NIR cameras with wide-angle lenses introducing vignetting. In numerous cases, such cameras acquire low radiometric quality images depending on the lighting conditions. The paper presents a method of radiometric quality assessment of low-altitude NIR imagery data from a custom sensor. The method utilizes statistical analysis of NIR images. The data used for the analyses were acquired from various altitudes in various weather and lighting conditions. An objective NIR imagery quality index was determined as a result of the research. The results obtained using this index enabled the classification of images into three categories: good, medium, and low radiometric quality. The classification makes it possible to determine the a priori error of the acquired images and assess whether a rerun of the photogrammetric flight is necessary.

Design and characterization of an optimized simultaneous color and near-infrared fluorescence rigid endoscopic imaging system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venugopal, Vivek; Park, Minho; Ashitate, Yoshitomo; Neacsu, Florin; Kettenring, Frank; Frangioni, John V.; Gangadharan, Sidhu P.; Gioux, Sylvain

2013-12-01

We report the design, characterization, and validation of an optimized simultaneous color and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence rigid endoscopic imaging system for minimally invasive surgery. This system is optimized for illumination and collection of NIR wavelengths allowing the simultaneous acquisition of both color and NIR fluorescence at frame rates higher than 6.8 fps with high sensitivity. The system employs a custom 10-mm diameter rigid endoscope optimized for NIR transmission. A dual-channel light source compatible with the constraints of an endoscope was built and includes a plasma source for white light illumination and NIR laser diodes for fluorescence excitation. A prism-based 2-CCD camera was customized for simultaneous color and NIR detection with a highly efficient filtration scheme for fluorescence imaging of both 700- and 800-nm emission dyes. The performance characterization studies indicate that the endoscope can efficiently detect fluorescence signal from both indocyanine green and methylene blue in dimethyl sulfoxide at the concentrations of 100 to 185 nM depending on the background optical properties. Finally, we performed the validation of this imaging system in vivo during a minimally invasive procedure for thoracic sentinel lymph node mapping in a porcine model.

Indocyanine green-laser thermolysis of acne vulgaris

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Genina, Elina A.; Bashkatov, Alexey N.; Simonenko, Georgy V.; Tuchin, Valery V.; Yaroslavsky, Ilya V.; Altshuler, Gregory B.

2005-08-01

The near-infrared (NIR) laser radiation due to its high penetration depth is widely used in phototherapy and photothermolysis. In application to skin appendages a high selectivity of laser treatment is needed to prevent light action on surrounding tissues. Indocyanine Green (ICG) dye may provide a high selectivity of treatment due to effective ICG uploading by a target and its narrow band of considerable absorption just at the wavelength of the NIR diode laser. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of the NIR diode laser photothermolysis in combination with topical application of ICG suggested for treatment of acne vulgaris. Two volunteers with back-located acne were enrolled. Skin sites of subjects were stained by ICG and irradiated by NIR laser-diode light (803 or 809 nm). The individual acne lesions were photothermally treated at 18 W/cm2 (803 nm, 0.5 sec) without skin surface cooling or at 200 W/cm2 (809 nm, 0.5 sec) with cooling. The results of the observations during a month after the treatment have shown that ICG stained acne inflammatory elements were destructed for light exposures of 0.5 sec.

Ultrafast dynamics in co-sensitized photocatalysts under visible and NIR light irradiation.

PubMed

Patwari, Jayita; Chatterjee, Arka; Sardar, Samim; Lemmens, Peter; Pal, Samir Kumar

2018-04-18

Co-sensitization to achieve a broad absorption window is a widely accepted technique in light harvesting nanohybrid synthesis. Protoporphyrin (PPIX) and squaraine (SQ2) are two organic sensitizers absorbing in the visible and NIR wavelength regions of the solar spectrum, respectively. In the present study, we have sensitized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using PPIX and SQ2 simultaneously for their potential use in broad-band solar light harvesting in photocatalysis. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from PPIX to SQ2 in close proximity to the ZnO surface has been found to enhance visible light photocatalysis. In order to confirm the effect of intermolecular FRET in photocatalysis, the excited state lifetime of the energy donor dye PPIX has been modulated by inserting d10 (ZnII) and d7 (CoII) metal ions in the central position of the dye (PP(Zn) and PP(Co)). In the case of PP(Co)-SQ2, extensive photo-induced ligand to metal charge transfer counteracts the FRET efficiency while efficient FRET has been observed for the PP(Zn)-SQ2 pair. This observation has been justified by the comparison of the visible light photocatalysis of the respective nanohybrids with several control studies. We have also investigated the NIR photocatalysis of the co-sensitized nanohybrids which reveals that reduced aggregation of SQ2 due to co-sensitization of PPIX increases the NIR photocatalysis. However, core-metalation of PPIX reduces the NIR photocatalytic efficacy, most probably due to excited state charge transfer from SQ2 to the metal centre of PP(Co)/PP(Zn) through the conduction band of the host ZnO nanoparticles.

Physiological Effects of Continuous Colored Light Exposure on Mayer Wave Activity in Cerebral Hemodynamics: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study.

PubMed

Metz, A J; Klein, S D; Scholkmann, F; Wolf, U

2017-01-01

We are increasingly exposed to colored light, but its impact on human physiology is not yet extensively investigated. In the present study we aimed to determine the effects of colored light on human cerebral Mayer wave activity (MWA). We measured oxy- ([O 2 Hb]), deoxy- ([HHb]), total hemoglobin ([tHb]) concentrations and tissue oxygen saturation (StO 2 ) by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in the left and right pre-frontal cortex (L-PFC, R-PFC) of 17 subjects (median age: 29 years, 6 women). In a randomized crossover design subjects were exposed to blue, red, green, and yellow LED light for 10 min. Pre-light (8 min, baseline) and post-light (15 min, recovery) conditions were darkness. MWA was calculated from band-pass filtered fNIRS signals (~0.08-0.12 Hz). The medians from the last 3 min of each period (baseline, light exposure, recovery) were statistically analyzed. MWA was increased during red and green light vs. baseline and after blue light exposure in recovery in the L-PFC. MWA differed depending on the chosen frequency range, filter design, and type of signals to analyze (raw intensity, hemoglobin signal from multi-distance method or modified Beer-Lambert law, or within hemoglobin signals).

Gx1-conjugated endostar nanoparticle: a new drug delivery system for anti-colorectal cancer in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qian; Du, Yang; Li, Yaqian; Liang, Xiaolong; Yang, Xin; Tian, Jie

2014-03-01

In this study we describe a new theranostic nanostytem to combine those functions together. GX1, the peptide identified by phage display technology, is a tumor vasculature endothelium specific ligand. Endostar, a novel recombinant human endostatin, has been proved to inhibit tumor angiogenesis. In this study, Endostar-loaded PLA nanoparticles (EPNPs) were first prepared, and then GX1 was coupled to the surface of EPNPs for targeting therapy, last a near infrared (NIR) dye IRDye 800CW was conjugated to the surface of EPNPs for monitoring the biodistributon. This GX1-EPNPs-NIR dye IRDye 800CW (GEN) multifunction drug delivery system not only facilitates efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to tumor site, while minimizing systemic toxicity and side effects, but also enables to real time monitor tumor targeting in vivo. Compare to the Endostar and EPNPs, the GEN inhibited the subcutaneous colon tumor more obviously both in tumor volume and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) light intensity during the 10 days drug treatment.

Direct Integration of Red-NIR Emissive Ceramic-like An M6 Xi8 Xa6 Metal Cluster Salts in Organic Copolymers Using Supramolecular Interactions.

PubMed

Robin, Malo; Dumait, Noée; Amela-Cortes, Maria; Roiland, Claire; Harnois, Maxime; Jacques, Emmanuel; Folliot, Hervé; Molard, Yann

2018-04-03

Hybrid nanomaterials made of inorganic nanocomponents dispersed in an organic host raise an increasing interest as low-cost solution-processable functional materials. However, preventing phase segregation while allowing a high inorganic doping content remains a major challenge, and usual methods require a functionalization step prior integration. Herein, we report a new approach to design such nanocomposite in which ceramic-like metallic nanocluster compounds are embedded at 10 wt % in organic copolymers, without any functionalization. Dispersion homogeneity and stability are ensured by weak interactions occurring between the copolymer lateral chains and the nanocluster compound. Hybrids could be ink-jet printed and casted on a blue LED. This proof-of-concept device emits in the red-NIR area and generates singlet oxygen, O 2 ( 1 Δg), of particular interest for lights, display, sensors or photodynamic based therapy applications. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Amplifying the Red-Emission of Upconverting Nanoparticles for Biocompatible Clinically Used Prodrug-Induced Photodynamic Therapy

DOE PAGES

Punjabi, Amol; Wu, Xiang; Tokatli-Apollon, Amira; ...

2014-09-25

A class of biocompatible upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) with largely amplified red-emissions was developed. The optimal UCNP shows a high absolute upconversion quantum yield of 3.2% in red-emission, which is 15-fold stronger than the known optimal β-phase core/shell UCNPs. When conjugated to aminolevulinic acid, a clinically used photodynamic therapy (PDT) prodrug, significant PDT effect in tumor was demonstrated in a deep-tissue (>1.2 cm) setting in vivo at a biocompatible laser power density. Furthermore, we show that our UCNP–PDT system with NIR irradiation outperforms clinically used red light irradiation in a deep tumor setting in vivo. This study marks a major stepmore » forward in photodynamic therapy utilizing UCNPs to effectively access deep-set tumors.Lastly, it also provides an opportunity for the wide application of upconverting red radiation in photonics and biophotonics.« less

Amplifying the red-emission of upconverting nanoparticles for biocompatible clinically used prodrug-induced photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Punjabi, Amol; Wu, Xiang; Tokatli-Apollon, Amira; El-Rifai, Mahmoud; Lee, Hyungseok; Zhang, Yuanwei; Wang, Chao; Liu, Zhuang; Chan, Emory M; Duan, Chunying; Han, Gang

2014-10-28

A class of biocompatible upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) with largely amplified red-emissions was developed. The optimal UCNP shows a high absolute upconversion quantum yield of 3.2% in red-emission, which is 15-fold stronger than the known optimal β-phase core/shell UCNPs. When conjugated to aminolevulinic acid, a clinically used photodynamic therapy (PDT) prodrug, significant PDT effect in tumor was demonstrated in a deep-tissue (>1.2 cm) setting in vivo at a biocompatible laser power density. Furthermore, we show that our UCNP-PDT system with NIR irradiation outperforms clinically used red light irradiation in a deep tumor setting in vivo. This study marks a major step forward in photodynamic therapy utilizing UCNPs to effectively access deep-set tumors. It also provides an opportunity for the wide application of upconverting red radiation in photonics and biophotonics.

Amplifying the Red-Emission of Upconverting Nanoparticles for Biocompatible Clinically Used Prodrug-Induced Photodynamic Therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Punjabi, Amol; Wu, Xiang; Tokatli-Apollon, Amira

A class of biocompatible upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) with largely amplified red-emissions was developed. The optimal UCNP shows a high absolute upconversion quantum yield of 3.2% in red-emission, which is 15-fold stronger than the known optimal β-phase core/shell UCNPs. When conjugated to aminolevulinic acid, a clinically used photodynamic therapy (PDT) prodrug, significant PDT effect in tumor was demonstrated in a deep-tissue (>1.2 cm) setting in vivo at a biocompatible laser power density. Furthermore, we show that our UCNP–PDT system with NIR irradiation outperforms clinically used red light irradiation in a deep tumor setting in vivo. This study marks a major stepmore » forward in photodynamic therapy utilizing UCNPs to effectively access deep-set tumors.Lastly, it also provides an opportunity for the wide application of upconverting red radiation in photonics and biophotonics.« less

Fluorescence lifetime FRET imaging of receptor-ligand complexes in tumor cells in vitro and in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rudkouskaya, Alena; Sinsuebphon, Nattawut; Intes, Xavier; Mazurkiewicz, Joseph E.; Barroso, Margarida

2017-02-01

To guide the development of targeted therapies with improved efficacy and accelerated clinical acceptance, novel imaging methodologies need to be established. Toward this goal, fluorescence lifetime Förster resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET) imaging assays capitalize on the ability of antibodies or protein ligands to bind dimerized membrane bound receptors to measure their target engagement levels in cancer cells. Conventional FLIM FRET microscopy has been widely applied at visible wavelengths to detect protein-protein interactions in vitro. However, operation at these wavelengths restricts imaging quality and ability to quantitate lifetime changes in in vivo small animal optical imaging due to high auto-fluorescence and light scattering. Here, we have analyzed the uptake of iron-bound transferrin (Tf) probes into human breast cancer cells using FLIM-FRET microscopy in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) range. The development of NIR FLIM FRET microscopy allows for the use of quantitative lifetime-based molecular assays to measure drug-target engagement levels at multiple scales: from in vitro microscopy to in vivo small animal optical imaging (macroscopy). This novel approach can be extended to other receptors, currently targeted in oncology. Hence, lifetime-based molecular imaging can find numerous applications in drug delivery and targeted therapy assessment and optimization.

Graphene oxide/manganese ferrite nanohybrids for magnetic resonance imaging, photothermal therapy and drug delivery.

PubMed

Yang, Yan; Shi, Haili; Wang, Yapei; Shi, Benzhao; Guo, Linlin; Wu, Dongmei; Yang, Shiping; Wu, Huixia

2016-01-01

Superparamagnetic manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles have been deposited on graphene oxide (GO) by the thermal decomposition of manganese (II) acetylacetonate and iron (III) acetylacetonate precursors in triethylene glycol. The resulting GO/MnFe2O4 nanohybrids show very low cytotoxicity, negligible hemolytic activity, and imperceptible in vivo toxicity. In vitro and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging experiments demonstrate that GO/MnFe2O4 nanohybrids could be used as an effective T2 contrast agent. The strong optical absorbance in the near-infrared (NIR) region and good photothermal stability of GO/MnFe2O4 nanohybrids result in the highly efficient photothermal ablation of cancer cells. GO/MnFe2O4 nanohybrids can be further loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) by π-π conjugate effect for chemotherapy. DOX release from GO/MnFe2O4 is significantly influenced by pH and can be triggered by NIR laser. The enhanced cancer cell killing by GO/MnFe2O4/DOX composites has been achieved when irradiated with near-infrared light, suggesting that the nanohybrids could deliver both DOX chemotherapy and photothermal therapy with a synergistic effect. © The Author(s) 2015.

Improved Anticancer Photothermal Therapy Using the Bystander Effect Enhanced by Antiarrhythmic Peptide Conjugated Dopamine-Modified Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite.

PubMed

Yu, Jiantao; Lin, Yu-Hsin; Yang, Lingyan; Huang, Chih-Ching; Chen, Liliang; Wang, Wen-Cheng; Chen, Guan-Wen; Yan, Junyan; Sawettanun, Saranta; Lin, Chia-Hua

2017-01-01

Despite tremendous efforts toward developing novel near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing nanomaterials, improvement in therapeutic efficiency remains a formidable challenge in photothermal cancer therapy. This study aims to synthesize a specific peptide conjugated polydopamine-modified reduced graphene oxide (pDA/rGO) nanocomposite that promotes the bystander effect to facilitate cancer treatment using NIR-activated photothermal therapy. To prepare a nanoplatform capable of promoting the bystander effect in cancer cells, we immobilized antiarrhythmic peptide 10 (AAP10) on the surface of dopamine-modified rGO (AAP10-pDA/rGO). Our AAP10-pDA/rGO could promote the bystander effect by increasing the expression of connexin 43 protein in MCF-7 breast-cancer cells. Because of its tremendous ability to absorb NIR absorption, AAP10-pDA/rGO offers a high photothermal effect under NIR irradiation. This leads to a massive death of MCF-7 cells via the bystander effect. Using tumor-bearing mice as the model, it is found that NIR radiation effectively ablates breast tumor in the presence of AAP10-pDA/rGO and inhibits tumor growth by ≈100%. Therefore, this research integrates the bystander and photothermal effects into a single nanoplatform in order to facilitate an efficient photothermal therapy. Furthermore, our AAP10-pDA/rGO, which exhibits both hyperthermia and the bystander effect, can prevent breast-cancer recurrence and, therefore, has great potential for future clinical and research applications. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Optical and Near-Infrared Structural Properties of Cluster Galaxies at z ~ 0.3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

La Barbera, F.; Busarello, G.; Merluzzi, P.; Massarotti, M.; Capaccioli, M.

2002-06-01

Structural parameters (half-light radius re, mean effective surface brightness <μ>e, and Sersic index n, parameterizing the light profile shape) are derived for a sample of galaxies in the rich cluster AC 118 at z=0.31, so far the largest (N=93) sample of galaxies at intermediate redshift with structural parameters measured in the near-infrared. The parameters are obtained in two optical wavebands (V and R) and in the K band, corresponding approximately to the B, V, and H rest frame. The distributions of re at z=0.31 match those for the Coma Cluster (i.e., for the local universe) both in the optical and in the NIR. The K-band distribution is of particular interest, since the NIR light mimics the mass distribution of galaxies. The similarity of the distributions for the two clusters (AC 118 and Coma) proves that the galaxies at the bright end of the luminosity function did not significantly change their sizes since z~0.3 to the present epoch. The ratio of the optical to the NIR half-light radius shows a marked trend with the shape of the light profile (Sersic index n). In galaxies with n>~4 (typical bright ellipticals) re,NIR~0.6re,opt, while the average ratio is 0.8 for galaxies with lower n (typical disk systems). Moreover, the NIR Sersic index is systematically larger than in the optical for n<~4. These results, translated into optical and optical-NIR color gradients, imply that the optical color gradients at z~0.3 are similar to those of nearby galaxies. The optical-NIR color gradients are in the average larger, ranging from -0.73 mag dex-1 for n<~4 to -0.35 mag dex-1 for n>~4. Models with ``pure age'' or ``pure metallicity'' gradients are unable to reconcile our color gradients estimates with observations at z~0, but we argue that the combined effects of age and metallicity might explain consistently the observed data: passive evolution (plus the possible effect of dust absorption) may account for the differences between the optical and NIR structural properties. The lack of any major change in re,NIR since z~0.3 suggests that merging involving bright galaxies did not play a significant role in the last ~4.4 Gyr (ΩM=0.3, ΩΛ=0, H0=50 km s-1 Mpc-1). The results of the present paper will be applied to the study of the scaling laws in subsequent works. Based on observations collected at European Southern Observatory (ESO 62.O-0369, 63.O-0257, 64.O-0236) and on data from the STScI Science Archive.

Near-Infrared Scintillation of Liquid Argon: Recent Results Obtained with the NIR Facility at Fermilab

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Escobar, C. O.; Rubinov, P.; Tilly, E.

After a short review of previous attempts to observe and measure the near-infrared scintillation in liquid argon, we present new results obtained with NIR, a dedicated cryostat at the Fermilab Proton Assembly Building (PAB). The new results give confidence that the near-infrared light can be used as the much needed light signal in large liquid argon time projection chambers.11 pages,

Development and application of the near-infrared and white-light thoracoscope system for minimally invasive lung cancer surgery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Yamin; Wang, Kun; He, Kunshan; Ye, Jinzuo; Yang, Fan; Zhou, Jian; Li, Hao; Chen, Xiuyuan; Wang, Jun; Chi, Chongwei; Tian, Jie

2017-06-01

In minimally invasive surgery, the white-light thoracoscope as a standard imaging tool is facing challenges of the low contrast between important anatomical or pathological regions and surrounding tissues. Recently, the near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging shows superior advantages over the conventional white-light observation, which inspires researchers to develop imaging systems to improve overall outcomes of endoscopic imaging. We developed an NIR and white-light dual-channel thoracoscope system, which achieved high-fluorescent signal acquisition efficiency and the simultaneously optimal visualization of the NIR and color dual-channel signals. The system was designed to have fast and accurate image registration and high signal-to-background ratio by optimizing both software algorithms and optical hardware components for better performance in the NIR spectrum band. The system evaluation demonstrated that the minimally detectable concentration of indocyanine green (ICG) was 0.01 μM, and the spatial resolution was 35 μm. The in vivo feasibility of our system was verified by the preclinical experiments using six porcine models with the intravenous injection of ICG. Furthermore, the system was successfully applied for guiding the minimally invasive segmentectomy in three lung cancer patients, which revealed that our system held great promise for the clinical translation in lung cancer surgeries.

Fabrication of Graphene and AuNP Core Polyaniline Shell Nanocomposites as Multifunctional Theranostic Platforms for SERS Real-time Monitoring and Chemo-photothermal Therapy

PubMed Central

Chen, Haolin; Liu, Zhiming; Li, Songyang; Su, Chengkang; Qiu, Xuejun; Zhong, Huiqing; Guo, Zhouyi

2016-01-01

In this work, novel theranostic platforms based on graphene oxide and AuNP core polyaniline shell (GO-Au@PANI) nanocomposites are fabricated for simultaneous SERS imaging and chemo-photothermal therapy. PANI, a new NIR photothermal therapy agent with strong NIR absorption, outstanding stability and low cytotoxicity is decorated on AuNPs by one-pot oxidative polymerization, then the Au@PANI core-shell nanoparticles are attached to the graphene oxide (GO) sheet via π-π stacking and electrostatic interaction. The obtained GO-Au@PANI nanohybirds exhibit excellent NIR photothermal transduction efficiency and ultrahigh drug-loading capacity. The nanocomposites can also serve as novel NIR SERS probes utilizing the intense SERS signals of PANI. Rapid SERS imaging of cancer cells is achieved using this ultrasensitive nanoprobe. GO-Au@PANI also reveals good capability of drug delivery with the DOX-loading efficiency of 189.2% and sensitive NIR/pH-responsive DOX release. The intracellular real-time drug release dynamics from the nanocomposites is monitored by SERS-fluorescence dual mode imaging. Finally, chemo-photothermal ablation of cancer cells is carried out in vitro and in vivo using GO-Au@PANI as high-performance chemo-photothermal therapeutic nanoagent. The theranostic applications of GO-Au@PANI endow it with great potential for personalized and precise cancer medicine. PMID:27279904

Use of visible and near infrared reflectance spectra to predict lipid peroxidation of light lamb meat and discriminate dam's feeding systems.

PubMed

Ripoll, G; Lobón, S; Joy, M

2018-09-01

Measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) is a well-established method for determine lipid oxidation in meat. This assay, however, is time-consuming and generates undesired chemical waste. Dam's milk is the principal source of vitamins and provitamins that delay lipid oxidation of light lamb meat; these compounds are stored in the lamb's muscle tissue. Hence, lamb meat could be used to determine the origin of the dam's diet. The aim of this study is to evaluate Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as a tool for determining the lipid peroxidation of light lamb meat and differentiate the meat of light lambs according the diet of their dams during lactation (grazing alfalfa, lucerne, or fed a total mixed ration). NIRS using select wavelengths was able to detect the lipid oxidation of meat (TBARS method). NIRS can detect analytes at concentrations of parts per million. Moreover, the feed diets were discriminated successfully. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Far red/near infrared light-induced cardioprotection under normal and diabetic conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keszler, Agnes; Baumgardt, Shelley; Hwe, Christopher; Bienengraeber, Martin

2015-03-01

Far red/near infrared light (NIR) is beneficial against cardiac ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R), although the exact underlying mechanism is unknown. Previously we established that NIR enhanced the cardioprotective effect of nitrite in the rabbit heart. Furthermore, we observed that the nitrosyl myoglobin (MbNO) level in ischemic tissue decreased upon irradiation of the heart. Our hypothesis was that protection against I/R is dependent on nitric oxide (NO)-release from heme-proteins, and remains present during diabetes. When mice were subjected to I/R NIR (660 nm) applied during the beginning of reperfusion reduced infarct size dose dependently compared to untreated animals. Similarly, the isolated (Langendorff) heart model resulted in sustained left ventricular diastolic pressure after I/R in NIR-treated hearts. NIRinduced protection was preserved in a diabetic mouse model (db/db) and during acute hyperglycemia. NIR liberated NO from nitrosyl hemoglobin (HbNO) and MbNO as well as from HbNO isolated from the blood of diabetic animals. In the Langendorff model, after application of the nitrosylated form of a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier as an NO donor NIR induced an increase in NADH level, suggesting a mild inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by NO during reperfusion. Taken together, NIR applied during reperfusion protects the myocardium against I/R in a NO-dependent and mitochondrion-targeted manner. This unique mechanism is conserved under diabetic conditions where other protective strategies fail.

In vitro photothermal destruction of neuroblastoma cells using carbon nanotubes conjugated with GD2 monoclonal antibody

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chung-Hao; Huang, Yao-Jhang; Chang, Chia-Wei; Hsu, Wen-Ming; Peng, Ching-An

2009-08-01

Despite aggressive multimodality therapy, most neuroblastoma-bearing patients relapse and survival rate remains poor. Exploration of alternative therapeutic modalities is needed. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), revealing optical absorbance in the near-infrared region, warrant their merits in photothermal therapy. In order to specifically target disialoganglioside (GD2) overexpressed on the surface of neuroblastoma stNB-V1 cells, GD2 monoclonal antibody (anti-GD2) was conjugated to acidified CNTs. To examine the fate of anti-GD2 bound CNTs after incubation with stNB-V1 cells, rhodamine B was labeled on carboxylated CNTs functionalized with and without anti-GD2. Our results illustrated that anti-GD2-linked CNTs were extensively internalized by neuroblastoma cells via GD2-mediated endocytosis. In addition, we showed that anti-GD2 bound CNTs were not ingested by PC12 cells without GD2 expression. After anti-GD2 conjugated CNTs were incubated with neuroblastoma cells for 6 h and endocytosed by the cells, CNT-laden neuroblastoma cells were further irradiated with an 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser with intensity ramping from 0.6 to 6 W cm-2 for 10 min which was then maintained at 6 W cm-2 for an additional 5 min. Post-NIR laser exposure, and after being examined by calcein-AM dye, stNB-V1 cells were all found to undergo necrosis, while non-GD2 expressing PC12 cells all remained viable. Based on the in vitro study, CNTs bound with anti-GD2 have the potential to be utilized as a therapeutic thermal coupling agent that generates heat sufficient to selectively kill neuroblastoma cells under NIR laser light exposure.

Diffuse Optical Tomography for Brain Imaging: Continuous Wave Instrumentation and Linear Analysis Methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giacometti, Paolo; Diamond, Solomon G.

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a functional brain imaging technique that measures cerebral blood oxygenation and blood volume changes. This technique is particularly useful in human neuroimaging measurements because of the coupling between neural and hemodynamic activity in the brain. DOT is a multichannel imaging extension of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). NIRS uses laser sources and light detectors on the scalp to obtain noninvasive hemodynamic measurements from spectroscopic analysis of the remitted light. This review explains how NIRS data analysis is performed using a combination of the modified Beer-Lambert law (MBLL) and the diffusion approximation to the radiative transport equation (RTE). Laser diodes, photodiode detectors, and optical terminals that contact the scalp are the main components in most NIRS systems. Placing multiple sources and detectors over the surface of the scalp allows for tomographic reconstructions that extend the individual measurements of NIRS into DOT. Mathematically arranging the DOT measurements into a linear system of equations that can be inverted provides a way to obtain tomographic reconstructions of hemodynamics in the brain.

Image overlay solution based on threshold detection for a compact near infrared fluorescence goggle system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Shengkui; Mondal, Suman B.; Zhu, Nan; Liang, RongGuang; Achilefu, Samuel; Gruev, Viktor

2015-01-01

Near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has shown great potential for various clinical procedures, including intraoperative image guidance. However, existing NIR fluorescence imaging systems either have a large footprint or are handheld, which limits their usage in intraoperative applications. We present a compact NIR fluorescence imaging system (NFIS) with an image overlay solution based on threshold detection, which can be easily integrated with a goggle display system for intraoperative guidance. The proposed NFIS achieves compactness, light weight, hands-free operation, high-precision superimposition, and a real-time frame rate. In addition, the miniature and ultra-lightweight light-emitting diode tracking pod is easy to incorporate with NIR fluorescence imaging. Based on experimental evaluation, the proposed NFIS solution has a lower detection limit of 25 nM of indocyanine green at 27 fps and realizes a highly precise image overlay of NIR and visible images of mice in vivo. The overlay error is limited within a 2-mm scale at a 65-cm working distance, which is highly reliable for clinical study and surgical use.

Type II Supernova Light Curves and Spectra from the CfA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hicken, Malcolm; Friedman, Andrew S.; Blondin, Stephane; Challis, Peter; Berlind, Perry; Calkins, Mike; Esquerdo, Gil; Matheson, Thomas; Modjaz, Maryam; Rest, Armin; Kirshner, Robert P.

2017-11-01

We present multiband photometry of 60 spectroscopically confirmed supernovae (SNe): 39 SNe II/IIP, 19 IIn, 1 IIb, and 1 that was originally classified as a IIn but later as a Ibn. Of these, 46 have only optical photometry, 6 have only near-infrared (NIR) photometry, and 8 have both optical and NIR. The median redshift of the sample is 0.016. We also present 195 optical spectra for 48 of the 60 SN. There are 26 optical and 2 NIR light curves of SNe II/IIP with redshifts z> 0.01, some of which may give rise to useful distances for cosmological applications. All photometry was obtained between 2000 and 2011 at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO), via the 1.2 m and 1.3 m PAIRITEL telescopes for the optical and NIR, respectively. Each SN was observed in a subset of the u\\prime {UBVRIr}\\prime I\\prime {{JHK}}s bands. There are a total of 2932 optical and 816 NIR light curve points. Optical spectra were obtained using the FLWO 1.5 m Tillinghast telescope with the FAST spectrograph and the MMT Telescope with the Blue Channel Spectrograph. Our photometry is in reasonable agreement with select samples from the literature: two-thirds of our star sequences have average V offsets within ±0.02 mag and roughly three-quarters of our light curves have average differences within ±0.04 mag. The data from this work and the literature will provide insight into SN II explosions, help with developing methods for photometric SN classification, and contribute to their use as cosmological distance indicators.

Layer-by-layer assembly of graphene oxide on thermosensitive liposomes for photo-chemotherapy.

PubMed

Hashemi, Mohadeseh; Omidi, Meisam; Muralidharan, Bharadwaj; Tayebi, Lobat; Herpin, Matthew J; Mohagheghi, Mohammad Ali; Mohammadi, Javad; Smyth, Hugh D C; Milner, Thomas E

2018-01-01

Stimuli responsive polyelectrolyte nanoparticles have been developed for chemo-photothermal destruction of breast cancer cells. This novel system, called layer by layer Lipo-graph (LBL Lipo-graph), is composed of alternate layers of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene oxide conjugated poly (l-lysine) (GO-PLL) deposited on cationic liposomes encapsulating doxorubicin. Various concentrations of GO and GO-PLL were examined and the optimal LBL Lipo-graph was found to have a particle size of 267.9 ± 13 nm, zeta potential of +43.9 ± 6.9 mV and encapsulation efficiency of 86.4 ± 4.7%. The morphology of LBL Lipo-graph was examined by cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM), atomic force microcopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The buildup of LBL Lipo-graph was confirmed via ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Infra-red (IR) response suggests that four layers are sufficient to induce a gel-to-liquid phase transition in response to near infra-red (NIR) laser irradiation. Light-matter interaction of LBL Lipo-graph was studied by calculating the absorption cross section in the frequency domain by utilizing Fourier analysis. Drug release assay indicates that the LBL Lipo-graph releases much faster in an acidic environment than a liposome control. A cytotoxicity assay was conducted to prove the efficacy of LBL Lipo-graph to destroy MD-MB-231 cells in response to NIR laser emission. Also, image stream flow cytometry and two photon microcopy provide supportive data for the potential application of LBL Lipo-graph for photothermal therapy. Study results suggest the novel dual-sensitive nanoparticles allow intracellular doxorubin delivery and respond to either acidic environments or NIR excitation. Stimuli sensitive hybrid nanoparticles have been synthesized using a layer-by-layer technique and demonstrated for dual chemo-photothermal destruction of breast cancer cells. The hybrid nanoparticles are composed of alternating layers of graphene oxide and graphene oxide conjugated poly-l-lysine coating the surface of a thermosensitive cationic liposome containing doxorubicin as a core. Data suggests that the hybrid nanoparticles may offer many advantages for chemo-photothermal therapy. Advantages include a decrease of the initial burst release which may result in the reduction in systemic toxicity, increase in pH responsivity around the tumor environment and improved NIR light absorption. Copyright © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Programmed near-infrared light-responsive drug delivery system for combined magnetic tumor-targeting magnetic resonance imaging and chemo-phototherapy.

PubMed

Feng, Qianhua; Zhang, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Wanxia; Hao, Yongwei; Wang, Yongchao; Zhang, Hongling; Hou, Lin; Zhang, Zhenzhong

2017-02-01

In this study, an intelligent drug delivery system was developed by capping doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded hollow mesoporous CuS nanoparticles (HMCuS NPs) with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). Under near infrared (NIR) light irradiation, the versatile HMCuS NPs could exploit the merits of both photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) simultaneously. Herein, the multifunctional IONPs as gatekeeper with the enhanced capping efficiency were supposed to realize "zero premature release" and minimize the adverse side effects during the drug delivery in vivo. More importantly, the hybrid metal nanoplatform (HMCuS/DOX@IONP-PEG) allowed several emerging exceptional characteristics. Our studies have substantiated the hybrid nanoparticles possessed an enhanced PTT effect due to coupled plasmonic resonances with an elevated heat-generating capacity. Notably, an effective removal of IONP-caps occurred after NIR-induced photo-hyperthermia via weakening of the coordination interactions between HMCuS-NH 2 and IONPs, which suggested the feasibility of sophisticated controlled on-demand drug release upon exposing to NIR stimulus with spatial/temporal resolution. Benefiting from the favorable magnetic tumor targeting efficacy, the in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated a remarkable anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy under NIR irradiation, resulting from the synergistic combination of chemo-phototherapy. In addition, T 2 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast performance of IONPs provided the identification of cancerous lesions. Based on these findings, the well-designed drug delivery system via integration of programmed functions will provide knowledge for advancing multimodality theranostic strategy. As we all know, a series of shortcomings of conventional chemotherapy such as limited stability, rapid clearing and non-specific tumor targeting ability remain a significant challenge to achieve successful clinical therapeutic efficiency in cancer treatments. Fortunately, developing drug delivery system under the assistance of multifunctional nanocarries might be a great idea. For the first time, we proposed an intelligent drug delivery system by capping DOX-loaded hollow mesoporous CuS nanoparticles (HMCuS NPs) with multifunctional IONPs to integrate programmed functions including enhanced PTT effect, sophisticated controlled drug release, magnetic targeting property and MR imaging. The results showed HMCuS/DOX@IONP-PEG could significantly enhance anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy due to the synergistic combination of chemo-phototherapy. By this delicate design, we believe such smart and extreme versatile all-in-one drug delivery platform could arouse broad interests in the fields of biomaterials, nanotechnology, and drug delivery system. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Laser scattering by transcranial rat brain illumination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sousa, Marcelo V. P.; Prates, Renato; Kato, Ilka T.; Sabino, Caetano P.; Suzuki, Luis C.; Ribeiro, Martha S.; Yoshimura, Elisabeth M.

2012-06-01

Due to the great number of applications of Low-Level-Laser-Therapy (LLLT) in Central Nervous System (CNS), the study of light penetration through skull and distribution in the brain becomes extremely important. The aim is to analyze the possibility of precise illumination of deep regions of the rat brain, measure the penetration and distribution of red (λ = 660 nm) and Near Infra-Red (NIR) (λ = 808 nm) diode laser light and compare optical properties of brain structures. The head of the animal (Rattus Novergicus) was epilated and divided by a sagittal cut, 2.3 mm away from mid plane. This section of rat's head was illuminated with red and NIR lasers in points above three anatomical structures: hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal cortex. A high resolution camera, perpendicularly positioned, was used to obtain images of the brain structures. Profiles of scattered intensities in the laser direction were obtained from the images. There is a peak in the scattered light profile corresponding to the skin layer. The bone layer gives rise to a valley in the profile indicating low scattering coefficient, or frontal scattering. Another peak in the region related to the brain is an indication of high scattering coefficient (μs) for this tissue. This work corroborates the use of transcranial LLLT in studies with rats which are subjected to models of CNS diseases. The outcomes of this study point to the possibility of transcranial LLLT in humans for a large number of diseases.

Novel applications of near-infrared fluorescence imaging in orthopaedic surgery (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henderson, Eric R.; DSouza, Alisha V.; Paulsen, Keith D.; Pogue, Brian W.

2017-02-01

Sarcomas are cancers of the bones, muscles, nerves, and fat that require complete surgical removal for cure. The primary surgical goal therefore is to remove the tumor with a zone of normal, non-cancerous tissue surrounding the tumor, considered a `negative' surgical margin. At present, surgeons rely on radiologic imaging and visual and tactile clues to gauge cancer depth and guide surgical excision. This can result in removal of too much or too little tissue, which can lead to unnecessary removal of vital structures or incomplete cancer removal, respectively. Both results can have negative effects on ultimate patient outcome, with positive margins reported in 23% of sarcoma surgeries. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probes are molecules that when stimulated with specific, known frequencies of near-infrared light will emit light of another distinct frequency. NIR light penetrates human tissue reasonably well and therefore can be used to detect the presence and location of unseen structures labeled with NIR fluorescence probes through several centimeters of tissue. Intra-operative near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probes have been effective for this purpose in brain tumor surgery and may be applicable to sarcoma surgery. Foundational research is needed to explore the potential of this affibody probe and perfusion probes to estimate margin thickness in sarcoma surgery. In this study we will determine if sarcoma labeling using NIR fluorescence probes is superior with perfusion probes or a novel affibody probe. We will also determine whether NIR fluorescence using perfusion probes or a novel affibody probe can be correlated accurately to margin thickness.

2D Layered Materials of Rare-Earth Er-Doped MoS2 with NIR-to-NIR Down- and Up-Conversion Photoluminescence.

PubMed

Bai, Gongxun; Yuan, Shuoguo; Zhao, Yuda; Yang, Zhibin; Choi, Sin Yuk; Chai, Yang; Yu, Siu Fung; Lau, Shu Ping; Hao, Jianhua

2016-09-01

A 2D system of Er-doped MoS2 layered nanosheets is developed. Structural studies indicate that the Er atoms can be substitutionally introduced into MoS2 to form stable doping. Density functional theory calculation implies that the system remains stable. Both NIR-to-NIR up-conversion and down-conversion light-emissions are observed in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, ascribed to the energy transition from Er(3+) dopants. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Fluorescent Imaging With Indocyanine Green During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients at Increased Risk of Bile Duct Injury

PubMed Central

Ankersmit, Marjolein; van Dam, Dieuwertje A.; van Rijswijk, Anne-Sophie; van den Heuvel, Baukje; Tuynman, Jurriaan B.; Meijerink, Wilhelmus J. H. J.

2017-01-01

Background. Although rare, injury to the common bile duct (CBD) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) can be reduced by better intraoperative visualization of the cystic duct (CD) and CBD. The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy of early visualization of the CD and the added value of CBD identification, using near-infrared (NIR) light and the fluorescent agent indocyanine green (ICG), in patients at increased risk of bile duct injury. Materials and Methods. Patients diagnosed with complicated cholecystitis and scheduled for LC were included. The CBD and CD were visualized with NIR light before and during dissection of the liver hilus and at critical view of safety (CVS). Results. Of the 20 patients originally included, 2 were later excluded due to conversion. In 6 of 18 patients, the CD was visualized early during dissection and prior to imaging with conventional white light. The CBD was additionally visualized with ICG-NIR in 7 of 18 patients. In 1 patient, conversion was prevented due to detection of the CD and CBD with ICG-NIR. Conclusions. Early visualization of the CD or additional identification of the CBD using ICG-NIR in patients with complicated cholecystolithiasis can be helpful in preventing CBD injury. Future studies should attempt to establish the optimal dosage and time frame for ICG administration and bile duct visualization with respect to different gallbladder pathologies. PMID:28178882

Photoactivation of Diiodido-Pt(IV) Complexes Coupled to Upconverting Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Perfahl, Stefanie; Natile, Marta M; Mohamad, Heba S; Helm, Christiane A; Schulzke, Carola; Natile, Giovanni; Bednarski, Patrick J

2016-07-05

The preparation, characterization, and surface modification of upconverting lanthanide-doped hexagonal NaGdF4 nanocrystals attached to light sensitive diiodido-Pt(IV) complexes is presented. The evaluation for photoactivation and cytotoxicity of the novel carboxylated diiodido-Pt(IV) cytotoxic prodrugs by near-infrared (NIR) light (λ = 980 nm) is also reported. We attempted two different strategies for attachment of light-sensitive diiodido-Pt(IV) complexes to Yb,Er- and Yb,Tm-doped β-NaGdF4 upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) in order to provide nanohybrids, which offer unique opportunities for selective drug activation within the tumor cells and subsequent spatiotemporal controlled drug release by NIR-to-visible light-upconversion: (A) covalent attachment of the Pt(IV) complex via amide bond formation and (B) carboxylate exchange of oleate on the surface of the UCNPs with diiodido-Pt(IV) carboxylato complexes. Initial feasibility studies showed that NIR applied by a 980 nm laser had only a slight effect on the stability of the various diiodido-Pt(IV) complexes, but when UCNPs were present more rapid loss of the ligand-metal-charge transfer (LMCT) bands of the diiodido-Pt(IV) complexes was observed. Furthermore, Pt released from the Pt(IV) complexes platinated calf-thymus DNA (ct-DNA) more rapidly when NIR was applied compared to dark controls. Of the two attachment strategies, method A with the covalently attached diiodido-Pt(IV) carboxylates via amide bond formation proved to be the most effective method for generating UCNPs that release Pt when irradiated with NIR; the released Pt was also able to bind irreversibly to calf thymus DNA. Nonetheless, only ca. 20% of the Pt on the surface of the UCNPs was in the Pt(IV) oxidation state, the rest was Pt(II), indicating chemical reduction of the diiodido-Pt(IV) prodrug by the UCNPs. Cytotoxicity studies with the various UCNP-Pt conjugates and constructs, tested on human leukemia HL60 cells in culture, indicated a substantial increase in cytotoxicity when modified UCNPs were combined with five rounds of 30 min irradiation with NIR compared to dark controls, but NIR alone also had a significant cytotoxic effect at this duration.

Effects of a higher dose of near-infrared light on clinical signs and neuroprotection in a monkey model of Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Moro, Cécile; El Massri, Nabil; Darlot, Fannie; Torres, Napoleon; Chabrol, Claude; Agay, Diane; Auboiroux, Vincent; Johnstone, Daniel M; Stone, Jonathan; Mitrofanis, John; Benabid, Alim-Louis

2016-10-01

We have reported previously that intracranial application of near-infrared light (NIr) - when delivered at the lower doses of 25J and 35J - reduces clinical signs and offers neuroprotection in a subacute MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) monkey model of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we explored whether a higher NIr dose (125J) generated beneficial effects in the same MPTP monkey model (n=15). We implanted an NIr (670nm) optical fibre device within a midline region of the midbrain in macaque monkeys, close to the substantia nigra of both sides. MPTP injections (1.8-2.1mg/kg) were made over a five day period, during which time the NIr device was turned on and left on continuously throughout the ensuing three week survival period. Monkeys were evaluated clinically and their brains processed for immunohistochemistry and stereology. Our results showed that the higher NIr dose did not have any toxic impact on cells at the midbrain implant site. Further, this NIr dose resulted in a higher number of nigral tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive cells when compared to the MPTP group. However, the higher NIr dose monkeys showed little evidence for an increase in mean clinical score, number of nigral Nissl-stained cells and density of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase terminations. In summary, the higher NIr dose of 125J was not as beneficial to MPTP-treated monkeys as compared to the lower doses of 25J and 35J, boding well for strategies of NIr dose delivery and device energy consumption in a future clinical trial. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Early caries imaging and monitoring with near-infrared light.

PubMed

Fried, Daniel; Featherstone, John D B; Darling, Cynthia L; Jones, Robert S; Ngaotheppitak, Patara; Bühler, Christopher M

2005-10-01

Enamel is highly transparent in the near infrared (NIR); therefore, this region of the electromagnetic spectrum is suited ideally for the development of new optical diagnostic tools for the detection and imaging of early dental caries. This article discusses the NIR optical properties of sound and demineralized dental enamel and the potential use of polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography and NIR transillumination for the imaging of dental caries.

A system for simultaneous near-infrared reflectance and transillumination imaging of occlusal carious lesions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Jacob C.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2016-02-01

Clinicians need technologies to improve the diagnosis of questionable occlusal carious lesions (QOC's) and determine if decay has penetrated to the underlying dentin. Assessing lesion depth from near-infrared (NIR) images holds great potential due to the high transparency of enamel and stain to NIR light at λ=1300-1700-nm, which allows direct visualization and quantified measurements of enamel demineralization. Unfortunately, NIR reflectance measurements alone are limited in utility for approximating occlusal lesion depth >200-μm due to light attenuation from the lesion body. Previous studies sought to combine NIR reflectance and transillumination measurements taken at λ=1300-nm in order to estimate QOC depth and severity. The objective of this study was to quantify the change in lesion contrast and size measured from multispectral NIR reflectance and transillumination images of natural occlusal carious lesions with increasing lesion depth and severity in order to determine the optimal multimodal wavelength combinations for estimating QOC depth. Extracted teeth with varying amounts of natural occlusal decay were measured using a multispectral-multimodal NIR imaging system at prominent wavelengths within the λ=1300-1700-nm spectral region. Image analysis software was used to calculate lesion contrast and area values between sound and carious enamel regions.

Fabricating core (Au)-shell (different stimuli-responsive polymers) nanoparticles via inverse emulsion polymerization: Comparing DOX release behavior in dark room and under NIR lighting.

PubMed

Mazloomi-Rezvani, Mahsa; Salami-Kalajahi, Mehdi; Roghani-Mamaqani, Hossein

2018-06-01

Different core-shell nanoparticles with Au as core and stimuli-responsive polymers such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), poly(N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide)) (PMBA), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly((2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) as shells were fabricated via inverse emulsion polymerization. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to investigate particles sizes and particle size distributions and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was applied to observe the core-shell structure of Au-polymer nanoparticles. Also, surface charge of all samples was studied by measurement of zeta potentials. Synthesized core-shell nanoparticles were utilized as nanocarriers of DOX as anti-cancer drug and drug release behaviors were investigated in dark room and under irradiation of near-infrared (NIR) light. Results showed that all core-shell samples have particle sizes less than 100 nm with narrow particle size distributions. Moreover, amount of drug loading decreased by increasing zeta potential. In dark room, lower pH resulted in higher cumulative drug release due to better solubility of DOX in acidic media. Also, NIR lighting on DOX-loaded samples led to increasing cumulative drug release significantly. However, DOX-loaded Au-PAA and Au-PMAA showed higher drug release at pH = 7.4 compared to 5.3 under NIR lighting. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of NIR spectroscopy in the assessment of diabetic foot disorders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schleicher, Eckhard; Hampel, Uwe; Freyer, Richard

2001-10-01

Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is a common sequel of long-term diabetes mellitus. There is a urgent need of noninvasive, objective and quantitative diagnostic tools to assess tissue viability and perfusion for a successful therapy. NIR spectroscopy seems to be qualified to measure local capillary hemoglobin saturation of the outer extremities in patients with progressive diabetic disorders. We investigate how NIR spectroscopy can be applied to the assessment of diabetic foot problems such as neuropathy and angiopathy. Thereby we use spatially resolved spectroscopy in conjunction with a specially developed continuous-wave laser spectrometer. Comparison of intra- and interindividual measurements is expected to yield quantitative measures of local tissue viability which is a prerequisite for a successful therapy.

Improved light collection and wavelet de-noising enable quantification of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism by a low-cost, off-the-shelf spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diop, Mamadou; Wright, Eric; Toronov, Vladislav; Lee, Ting-Yim; St. Lawrence, Keith

2014-05-01

Broadband continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopy (CW-NIRS) is an attractive alternative to time-resolved and frequency-domain techniques for quantifying cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen metabolism in newborns. However, efficient light collection is critical to broadband CW-NIRS since only a small fraction of the injected light emerges from any given area of the scalp. Light collection is typically improved by optimizing the contact area between the detection system and the skin by means of light guides with large detection surface. Since the form-factor of these light guides do not match the entrance of commercial spectrometers, which are usually equipped with a narrow slit to improve their spectral resolution, broadband NIRS spectrometers are typically custom-built. Nonetheless, off-the-shelf spectrometers have attractive advantages compared to custom-made units, such as low cost, small footprint, and wide availability. We demonstrate that off-the-shelf spectrometers can be easily converted into suitable instruments for deep tissue spectroscopy by improving light collection, while maintaining good spectral resolution, and reducing measurement noise. The ability of this approach to provide reliable cerebral hemodynamics was illustrated in a piglet by measuring CBF and oxygen metabolism under different anesthetic regimens.

Design of an FT-NIR spectrometer for online quality analysis of traditional Chinese medicine manufacturing process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ren; Wu, Lan; Wang, Shiming; Ye, Linhua; Ding, Zhihua

2008-03-01

As a fast, non-destructive analysis method, Fourier transform (FT) near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is very suitable and effective for online quality analysis of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufacturing process. In this thesis, the theoretics of FT-NIRS was analyzed and an FT-NIR spectrometer with 4 cm -1 resolution in the 12500-5000 cm -1 frequency range was designed. The spectrometer was based on a Michelson interferometer with Bromine tungsten lamp as the NIR light source and InGaAs detector to collect the interference signal. Each element was designed and chosen to provide maximum sensitivity in the NIR spectral region. A fiber-optic flow cell system was used to realize online analysis of traditional Chinese medicine. The performance of the spectrometer was evaluated and the feasibility of using FT-NIR spectrometer to get absorption spectra of traditional Chinese medicine was demonstrated.

Bacterial Phytochromes, Cyanobacteriochromes and Allophycocyanins as a Source of Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes

PubMed Central

Oliinyk, Olena S.; Chernov, Konstantin G.

2017-01-01

Bacterial photoreceptors absorb light energy and transform it into intracellular signals that regulate metabolism. Bacterial phytochrome photoreceptors (BphPs), some cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) and allophycocyanins (APCs) possess the near-infrared (NIR) absorbance spectra that make them promising molecular templates to design NIR fluorescent proteins (FPs) and biosensors for studies in mammalian cells and whole animals. Here, we review structures, photochemical properties and molecular functions of several families of bacterial photoreceptors. We next analyze molecular evolution approaches to develop NIR FPs and biosensors. We then discuss phenotypes of current BphP-based NIR FPs and compare them with FPs derived from CBCRs and APCs. Lastly, we overview imaging applications of NIR FPs in live cells and in vivo. Our review provides guidelines for selection of existing NIR FPs, as well as engineering approaches to develop NIR FPs from the novel natural templates such as CBCRs. PMID:28771184

Novel self-assembled sandwich nanomedicine for NIR-responsive release of NO

PubMed Central

Fan, Jing; He, Qianjun; Liu, Yi; Ma, Ying; Fu, Xiao; Liu, Yijing; Huang, Peng; He, Nongyue; Chen, Xiaoyuan

2015-01-01

A novel sandwich nanomedicine (GO-BNN6) for near-infrared (NIR) light responsive release of nitric oxide (NO) has been constructed by self-assembling of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and a NO donor BNN6 through the π-π stacking interaction. GO-BNN6 nanomedicine has an extraordinarily high drug loading capacity (1.2 mg BNN6 per mg GO), good thermal stability, and high NIR responsiveness. The NO release from GO-BNN6 can be easily triggered and effectively controlled by adjusting the switching, irradiation time and power density of NIR laser. The intracellular NIR-responsive release of NO from GO-BNN6 nanomedicine causes a remarkable anti-cancer effect. PMID:26568270

Colloidal plasmonic gold nanoparticles and gold nanorings: shape-dependent generation of singlet oxygen and their performance in enhanced photodynamic cancer therapy.

PubMed

Yang, Yamin; Hu, Yue; Du, Henry; Ren, Lei; Wang, Hongjun

2018-01-01

In recognition of the potentials of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer, it is desirable to further understand the shape-dependent surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) properties of various gold nanostructures and evaluate their performances in PDT. Monodispersed colloidal spherical solid Au NPs were synthesized by UV-assisted reduction using chloroauric acid and sodium citrate, and hollow gold nanorings (Au NRs) with similar outer diameter were synthesized based on sacrificial galvanic replacement method. The enhanced electromagnetic (EM) field distribution and their corresponding efficiency in enhancing singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) generation of both gold nanostructures were investigated based on theoretical simulation and experimental measurements. Their shape-dependent SPR response and resulted cell destruction during cellular PDT in combination with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) were further studied under different irradiation conditions. With comparable cellular uptake, more elevated formation of 1 O 2 in 5-ALA-enabled PDT was detected with the presence of Au NRs than that with Au NPs under broadband light irradiation in both cell-free and intracellular conditions. As a result of the unique morphological attributes, exhibiting plasmonic effect of Au NRs was still achievable in the near infrared (NIR) region, which led to an enhanced therapeutic efficacy of PDT under NIR light irradiation. Shape-dependent SPR response of colloidal Au NPs and Au NRs and their respective effects in promoting PDT efficiency were demonstrated in present study. Our innovative colloidal Au NRs with interior region accessible to surrounding photosensitizers would serve as efficient enhancers of PDT potentially for deep tumor treatment.

Colloidal plasmonic gold nanoparticles and gold nanorings: shape-dependent generation of singlet oxygen and their performance in enhanced photodynamic cancer therapy

PubMed Central

Yang, Yamin; Hu, Yue; Du, Henry; Ren, Lei; Wang, Hongjun

2018-01-01

Introduction In recognition of the potentials of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer, it is desirable to further understand the shape-dependent surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) properties of various gold nanostructures and evaluate their performances in PDT. Materials and methods Monodispersed colloidal spherical solid Au NPs were synthesized by UV-assisted reduction using chloroauric acid and sodium citrate, and hollow gold nanorings (Au NRs) with similar outer diameter were synthesized based on sacrificial galvanic replacement method. The enhanced electromagnetic (EM) field distribution and their corresponding efficiency in enhancing singlet oxygen (1O2) generation of both gold nanostructures were investigated based on theoretical simulation and experimental measurements. Their shape-dependent SPR response and resulted cell destruction during cellular PDT in combination with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) were further studied under different irradiation conditions. Results With comparable cellular uptake, more elevated formation of 1O2 in 5-ALA-enabled PDT was detected with the presence of Au NRs than that with Au NPs under broadband light irradiation in both cell-free and intracellular conditions. As a result of the unique morphological attributes, exhibiting plasmonic effect of Au NRs was still achievable in the near infrared (NIR) region, which led to an enhanced therapeutic efficacy of PDT under NIR light irradiation. Conclusion Shape-dependent SPR response of colloidal Au NPs and Au NRs and their respective effects in promoting PDT efficiency were demonstrated in present study. Our innovative colloidal Au NRs with interior region accessible to surrounding photosensitizers would serve as efficient enhancers of PDT potentially for deep tumor treatment. PMID:29670350

Gd³⁺ Tethered Gold Nanorods for Combined Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Photo-Thermal Therapy.

PubMed

Pitchaimani, Arunkumar; Duong, Tuyen; Nguyen, Thanh; Maurmann, Leila; Key, Jaehong; Bossmann, Stefan H; Aryal, Santosh

2017-04-01

Near infrared (NIR) mediated photothermal therapy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are promising treatment and imaging modalities in the field of cancer theranostics. Gold nanorods are the first choice of materials for NIR-mediated photothermal therapy due to their strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at NIR region. Similarly, gadolinium based MRI contrast agents have an ability to increase the ionic and molecular relaxivity, thereby enhancing the solvent proton relaxation rate resulting in contrast enhancement. Herein, the effort has been made to engineer a dual front theranostic agent with combined photothermal and magnetic resonance imaging capacity using gadolinium tethered gold nanorods (Gd3+-AuNR). NIR-responsive gold nanorods were surface fabricated by means of Au-thiol interaction using a thiolated macrocyclic chelator that chelates Gd3+ ions, and further stabilized by thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG-SH). The magnetic properties of the Gd3+-AuNR displayed an enhanced r 1 relaxivity of 12.1 mM–1s–1, with higher biological stability, and contrast enhancement in both solution state and in cell pellets. In-vitro (cell-free) and ex-vivo (on pig skin) analysis of the Gd3+-AuNR shows enhanced photothermal properties as equivalent to that of the raw AuNR. Furthermore, Gd3+-AuNR showed competent cellular entry and intracellular distribution as revealed by hyperspectral microscopy. In addition, Gd3+-AuNR also exhibits significant thermal ablation of B16–F10 cells in the presence of NIR. Thus, Gd3+-AuNR features a significant theranostic potential with combined photothermal and imaging modality, suggesting a great potential in anticancer therapy.

Synthesis of Core-shell Lanthanide-doped Upconversion Nanocrystals for Cellular Applications.

PubMed

Ai, Xiangzhao; Lyu, Linna; Mu, Jing; Hu, Ming; Wang, Zhimin; Xing, Bengang

2017-11-10

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) have attracted much attention in recent years based on their promising and controllable optical properties, which allow for the absorption of near-infrared (NIR) light and can subsequently convert it into multiplexed emissions that span over a broad range of regions from the UV to the visible to the NIR. This article presents detailed experimental procedures for high-temperature co-precipitation synthesis of core-shell UCNs that incorporate different lanthanide ions into nanocrystals for efficiently converting deep-tissue penetrable NIR excitation (808 nm) into a strong blue emission at 480 nm. By controlling the surface modification with biocompatible polymer (polyacrylic acid, PAA), the as-prepared UCNs acquires great solubility in buffer solutions. The hydrophilic nanocrystals are further functionalized with specific ligands (dibenzyl cyclooctyne, DBCO) for localization on the cell membrane. Upon NIR light (808 nm) irradiation, the upconverted blue emission can effectively activate the light-gated channel protein on the cell membrane and specifically regulate the cation (e.g., Ca 2+ ) influx in the cytoplasm. This protocol provides a feasible methodology for the synthesis of core-shell lanthanide-doped UCNs and subsequent biocompatible surface modification for further cellular applications.

A DAQ-Device-Based Continuous Wave Near-Infrared Spectroscopy System for Measuring Human Functional Brain Activity

PubMed Central

Li, Xiaoli; Liu, Xiaomin

2014-01-01

In the last two decades, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is getting more and more popular as a neuroimaging technique. The fNIRS instrument can be used to measure local hemodynamic response, which indirectly reflects the functional neural activities in human brain. In this study, an easily implemented way to establish DAQ-device-based fNIRS system was proposed. Basic instrumentation components (light sources driving, signal conditioning, sensors, and optical fiber) of the fNIRS system were described. The digital in-phase and quadrature demodulation method was applied in LabVIEW software to distinguish light sources from different emitters. The effectiveness of the custom-made system was verified by simultaneous measurement with a commercial instrument ETG-4000 during Valsalva maneuver experiment. The light intensity data acquired from two systems were highly correlated for lower wavelength (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = 0.92, P < 0.01) and higher wavelength (r = 0.84, P < 0.01). Further, another mental arithmetic experiment was implemented to detect neural activation in the prefrontal cortex. For 9 participants, significant cerebral activation was detected in 6 subjects (P < 0.05) for oxyhemoglobin and in 8 subjects (P < 0.01) for deoxyhemoglobin. PMID:25180044

[Research on NIR equivalent spectral measurement].

PubMed

Wang, Zhi-Hong; Liu, Jie; Sun, Yu-Yang; Teng, Fei; Lin, Jun

2013-04-01

When the spectra of the diffuse reflectance of low reflectivity samples or the transmittance of low transmisivity samples are measured by a portable near infrared (NIR) spectrometer, because there is the noise of the spectrometer, the smaller the reflectance or transmittance of the sample, the lower its SNR. Even if treated by denoise methods, the spectra can not meet the requirement of NIR analysis. So the equivalent spectrum measure method was researched. Based on the intensity of the reflected or transmitted signal by the sample under the traditional measure conditions, the light current of the spectrometer was enlarged, and then the signal of the measured sample increased; the reflected or transmitted light of the measure reference was reduced to avoid the signal of the measure reference over range. Moreover the equivalent spectrum of the sample was calculated in order to make it identical with the spectrum measured by traditional method. Thus the NIR spectral SNR was improved. The results of theory analysis and experiments show that if the light signal of the spectrometer was properly increased according to the reflected or transmitted signal of the low reflectivity or transmisivity sample, the equivalent spectrum was the same as the spectrum measured by traditional method and its SNR was improved.

A portable, multi-channel fNIRS system for prefrontal cortex: Preliminary study on neurofeedback and imagery tasks (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paik, Seung-ho; Kim, Beop-Min

2016-03-01

fNIRS is a neuroimaging technique which uses near-infrared light source in the 700-1000 nm range and enables to detect hemodynamic changes (i.e., oxygenated hemoglobin, deoxygenated hemoglobin, blood volume) as a response to various brain processes. In this study, we developed a new, portable, prefrontal fNIRS system which has 12 light sources, 15 detectors and 108 channels with a sampling rate of 2 Hz. The wavelengths of light source are 780nm and 850nm. ATxmega128A1, 8bit of Micro controller unit (MCU) with 200~4095 resolution along with MatLab data acquisition algorithm was utilized. We performed a simple left and right finger movement imagery tasks which produced statistically significant changes of oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) areas. We observed that the accuracy of the imagery tasks can be improved by carrying out neurofeedback training, during which a real-time feedback signal is provided to a participating subject. The effects of the neurofeedback training was later visually verified using the 3D NIRfast imaging. Our portable fNIRS system may be useful in non-constraint environment for various clinical diagnoses.

Simple route to (NH4)xWO3 nanorods for near infrared absorption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Chongshen; Yin, Shu; Dong, Qiang; Sato, Tsugio

2012-05-01

Described here is how to synthesize one-dimensional ammonium tungsten bronze ((NH4)xWO3) by a facile solvothermal approach in which ethylene glycol and acetic acid were employed as solvents and ammonium paratungstate was used as a starting material, as well as how to develop the near infrared absorption properties of (NH4)xWO3 nanorods for application as a solar light control filter. The as-obtained product was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry (TG), atomic force microscope (AFM) and UV-Vis-NIR spectra. The SEM and TEM images clearly revealed that the obtained sample possessed rod/fiber-like morphologies with diameters around 120 nm. As determined by UV-Vis-NIR optical measurement, the thin film consisted of (NH4)xWO3 nanoparticles, which can selectively transmit most visible lights, but strongly absorb the near-infrared (NIR) lights and ultraviolet rays. These interesting optical properties make the (NH4)xWO3 nanorods suitable for the solar control windows.Described here is how to synthesize one-dimensional ammonium tungsten bronze ((NH4)xWO3) by a facile solvothermal approach in which ethylene glycol and acetic acid were employed as solvents and ammonium paratungstate was used as a starting material, as well as how to develop the near infrared absorption properties of (NH4)xWO3 nanorods for application as a solar light control filter. The as-obtained product was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry (TG), atomic force microscope (AFM) and UV-Vis-NIR spectra. The SEM and TEM images clearly revealed that the obtained sample possessed rod/fiber-like morphologies with diameters around 120 nm. As determined by UV-Vis-NIR optical measurement, the thin film consisted of (NH4)xWO3 nanoparticles, which can selectively transmit most visible lights, but strongly absorb the near-infrared (NIR) lights and ultraviolet rays. These interesting optical properties make the (NH4)xWO3 nanorods suitable for the solar control windows. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2nr30612c

Imaging using a supercontinuum laser to assess tumors in patients with breast carcinoma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sordillo, Laura A.; Sordillo, Peter P.; Alfano, R. R.

2016-03-01

The supercontinuum laser light source has many advantages over other light sources, including broad spectral range. Transmission images of paired normal and malignant breast tissue samples from two patients were obtained using a Leukos supercontinuum (SC) laser light source with wavelengths in the second and third NIR optical windows and an IR- CCD InGaAs camera detector (Goodrich Sensors Inc. high response camera SU320KTSW-1.7RT with spectral response between 900 nm and 1,700 nm). Optical attenuation measurements at the four NIR optical windows were obtained from the samples.

Interface-Located Photothermoelectric Effect of Organic Thermoelectric Materials in Enabling NIR Detection.

PubMed

Huang, Dazhen; Zou, Ye; Jiao, Fei; Zhang, Fengjiao; Zang, Yaping; Di, Chong-an; Xu, Wei; Zhu, Daoben

2015-05-06

Organic photothermoelectric (PTE) materials are promising candidates for various photodetection applications. Herein, we report on poly[Cux(Cu-ett)]:PVDF, which is an excellent polymeric thermoelectric composite, possesses unprecedented PTE properties. The NIR light irradiation on the poly[Cu(x)(Cu-ett)]:PVDF film could induce obvious enhancement in Seebeck coefficient from 52 ± 1.5 to 79 ± 5.0 μV/K. By taking advantage of prominent photothermoelectric effect of poly[Cu(x)(Cu-ett)]:PVDF, an unprecedented voltage of 12 mV was obtained. This excellent performance enables its promising applications in electricity generation from solar energy and NIR detection to a wide range of light intensities ranging from 1.7 mW/cm(2) to 17 W/cm(2).

A Molecularly Targeted Theranostic Probe for Ovarian Cancer

PubMed Central

Chen, Wenxue; Bardhan, Rizia; Bartels, Marc; Perez-Torres, Carlos; Pautler, Robia G.; Halas, Naomi J.; Joshi, Amit

2014-01-01

Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family has been implicated in ovarian cancer because of its participation in signaling pathway regulating cellular proliferation, differentiation, motility, and survival. Currently, effective diagnostic and therapeutic schemes are lacking for treating ovarian cancer and consequently ovarian cancer has a high mortality rate. While HER2 receptor expression does not usually affect the survival rates of ovarian cancer to the same extent as in breast cancer, it can be employed as a docking site for directed nanotherapies in cases with de novo or acquired chemotherapy resistance. In this study, we have exploited a novel gold nanoshell-based complex (nanocomplex) for targeting, dual modal imaging, and photothermal therapy of HER2 overexpressing and drug resistant ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells in vitro. The nanocomplexes are engineered to simultaneously provide contrast as fluorescence optical imaging probe and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent. Both immunofluorescence staining and MRI successfully demonstrate that nanocomplex-anti-HER2 conjugates specifically bind to OVCAR3 cells as opposed to the control, MDA-MB-231 cells, which have low HER2 expression. In addition, nanocomplexes targeted to OVCAR3 cells, when irradiated with near infrared (NIR) laser result in selective destruction of cancer cells through photothermal ablation. We also demonstrate that NIR light therapy and the nanocomplexes by themselves are non-cytotoxic in vitro. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a successful integration of dual modal bioimaging with photothermal cancer therapy for treatment of ovarian cancer. Based on their efficacy in vitro, these nanocomplexes are highly promising for image guided photo-thermal therapy of ovarian cancer as well as other HER2 overexpressing cancers. PMID:20371708

Melanin nanoparticles derived from a homology of medicine and food for sentinel lymph node mapping and photothermal in vivo cancer therapy.

PubMed

Chu, Maoquan; Hai, Wangxi; Zhang, Zheyu; Wo, Fangjie; Wu, Qiang; Zhang, Zefei; Shao, Yuxiang; Zhang, Ding; Jin, Lu; Shi, Donglu

2016-06-01

The use of non-toxic or low toxicity materials exhibiting dual functionality for use in sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and cancer therapy has attracted considerable attention during the past two decades. Herein, we report that the natural black sesame melanin (BSM) extracted from black sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum L.) shows exciting potential for SLN mapping and cancer photothermal therapy. Aqueous solutions of BSM under neutral and alkaline conditions can assemble into sheet-like nanoparticles ranging from 20 to 200 nm in size. The BSM nanoparticles were encapsulated by liposomes to improve their water solubility and the encapsulated and bare BSM nanoparticles were both non-toxic to cells. Furthermore, the liposome-encapsulated BSM nanoparticles (liposome-BSM) did not exhibit any long-term toxicity in mice. The liposome-BSM nanoparticles were subsequently used to passively target healthy and tumor-bearing mice SLNs, which were identified by the black color of the nanoparticles. BSM also strongly absorbed light in the near-infrared (NIR) range, which was rapidly converted to heat energy. Human esophagus carcinoma cells (Eca-109) were killed efficiently by liposome-BSM nanocomposites upon NIR laser irradiation. Furthermore, mouse tumor tissues grown from Eca-109 cells were seriously damaged by the photothermal effects of the liposome-BSM nanocomposites, with significant tumor growth suppression compared with controls. Given that BSM is a safe and nutritious biomaterial that can be easily obtained from black sesame seed, the results presented herein represent an important development in the use of natural biomaterials for clinical SLN mapping and cancer therapy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Novel, near-infrared spectroscopic, label-free, techniques to assess bone abnormalities such as Paget's disease, osteoporosis and bone fractures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sordillo, Diana C.; Sordillo, Laura A.; Shi, Lingyan; Budansky, Yury; Sordillo, Peter P.; Alfano, Robert R.

2015-02-01

Near- infrared (NIR) light with wavelengths from 650 nm to 950 nm (known as the first NIR window) has conventionally been used as a non-invasive technique that can reach deeper penetration depths through media than light at shorter wavelengths. Recently, several novel, NIR, label-free, techniques have been developed to assess Paget's disease of bone, osteoporosis and bone microfractures. We designed a Bone Optical Analyzer (BOA) which utilizes the first window to measure changes of Hb and HbO2. Paget's disease is marked by an increase in vascularization in bones, and this device can enable easy diagnosis and more frequent monitoring of the patient's condition, without exposing him to a high cumulative dose of radiation. We have also used inverse imaging algorithms to reconstruct 2D and 3D maps of the bone's structure. This device could be used to assess diseases such as osteoporosis. Using 800 nm femtosecond excitation with two-photon (2P) microscopy, we acquired 2PM images of the periosteum and spatial frequency spectra (based on emission of collagen) from the periosteal regions. This technique can provide information on the structure of the periosteum and can detect abnormalities which may be an indication of disease. Most recently, we showed that longer NIR wavelengths in the second and third NIR windows (1100 nm-1350 nm, 1600 nm-1870 nm), could be used to image bone microfractures. Use of NIR light could allow for repeated studies in patients with diseases such as Paget's and osteoporosis quickly and non-invasively, and could impact the current management for these diseases.

Potential Benefits of Manmade Opals Demonstrated for First Time (Fact Sheet)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

NREL experiments show that disordered inverse opals significantly scatter and trap near-infrared light, with possible impact on optoelectronic materials. Inverse opals, familiar in the form of brilliantly colored opal gemstones, are a class of materials that has astounding optical properties. Scientists have been exploring the ability of inverse opals to manipulate light in the hopes of harnessing this capacity for advanced technologies such as displays, detectors, lasers, and photovoltaics. A research group at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) discovered that man-made inverse opal films containing significant morphological disorder exhibit substantial light scattering, consequently trapping wavelengths in the near-infrared (NIR),more » which is important to a number of technologies. This discovery is the first experimental evidence to validate a 2005 theoretical model predicting the confinement of light in such structures, and it holds great promise for improving the performance of technologies that rely on careful light control. This breakthrough also makes possible optoelectronic technologies that use a range of low-cost molecular and semiconductor species that otherwise absorb light too weakly to be useful. The disordered inverse opal architecture validates the theoretical model that predicts the diffusion and confinement of light in such structures. Electrochemically deposited CdSe inverse opal films containing significant morphological disorder exhibit substantial light scattering and consequent NIR light trapping. This discovery holds promise for NIR light management in optoelectronic technologies, particularly those involving weakly absorbing molecular and semiconductor photomaterials.« less

Extra-luminal detection of assumed colonic tumor site by near-infrared laparoscopy.

PubMed

Zako, Tamotsu; Ito, Masaaki; Hyodo, Hiroshi; Yoshimoto, Miya; Watanabe, Masayuki; Takemura, Hiroshi; Kishimoto, Hidehiro; Kaneko, Kazuhiro; Soga, Kohei; Maeda, Mizuo

2016-09-01

Localization of colorectal tumors during laparoscopic surgery is generally performed by tattooing into the submucosal layer of the colon. However, faint and diffuse tattoos may lead to difficulties in recognizing cancer sites, resulting in inappropriate resection of the colon. We previously demonstrated that yttrium oxide nanoparticles doped with the rare earth ions (ytterbium and erbium) (YNP) showed strong near-infrared (NIR) emission under NIR excitation (1550 nm emission with 980 nm excitation). NIR light can penetrate deep tissues. In this study, we developed an NIR laparoscopy imaging system and demonstrated its use for accurate resection of the colon in swine. The NIR laparoscopy system consisted of an NIR laparoscope, NIR excitation laser diode, and an NIR camera. Endo-clips coated with YNP (NIR clip), silicon rubber including YNP (NIR silicon mass), and YNP solution (NIR ink) were prepared as test NIR markers. We used a swine model to detect an assumed colon cancer site using NIR laparoscopy, followed by laparoscopic resection. The NIR markers were fixed at an assumed cancer site within the colon by endoscopy. An NIR laparoscope was then introduced into the abdominal cavity through a laparoscopy port. NIR emission from the markers in the swine colon was successfully recognized using the NIR laparoscopy imaging system. The position of the markers in the colon could be identified. Accurate resection of the colon was performed successfully by laparoscopic surgery under NIR fluorescence guidance. The presence of the NIR markers within the extirpated colon was confirmed, indicating resection of the appropriate site. NIR laparoscopic surgery is useful for colorectal cancer site recognition and accurate resection using laparoscopic surgery.

A Colloidal-Quantum-Dot-Based Self-Charging System via the Near-Infrared Band.

PubMed

Baek, Se-Woong; Cho, Jungmin; Kim, Joo-Seong; Kim, Changjo; Na, Kwangmin; Lee, Sang-Hoon; Jun, Sunhong; Song, Jung Hoon; Jeong, Sohee; Choi, Jang Wook; Lee, Jung-Yong

2018-05-11

A novel self-charging platform is proposed using colloidal-quantum-dot (CQD) photovoltaics (PVs) via the near-infrared (NIR) band for low-power electronics. Low-bandgap CQDs can convert invisible NIR light sources to electrical energy more efficiently than wider spectra because of reduced thermalization loss. This energy-conversion strategy via NIR photons ensures an enhanced photostability of the CQD devices. Furthermore, the NIR wireless charging system can be concealed using various colored and NIR-transparent fabric or films, providing aesthetic freedom. Finally, an NIR-driven wireless charging system is demonstrated for a wearable healthcare bracelet by integrating a CQD PVs receiver with a flexible lithium-ion battery and entirely embedding them into a flexible strap, enabling permanent self-charging without detachment. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Modular Integration of Upconverting Nanocrystal-Dendrimer Composites for Folate Receptor-Specific NIR Imaging and Light-Triggered Drug Release.

PubMed

Wong, Pamela T; Chen, Dexin; Tang, Shengzhuang; Yanik, Sean; Payne, Michael; Mukherjee, Jhindan; Coulter, Alexa; Tang, Kenny; Tao, Ke; Sun, Kang; Baker, James R; Choi, Seok Ki

2015-12-02

Upconversion nanocrystals (UCNs) display near-infrared (NIR)-responsive photoluminescent properties for NIR imaging and drug delivery. The development of effective strategies for UCN integration with other complementary nanostructures for targeting and drug conjugation is highly desirable. This study reports on a core/shell-based theranostic system designed by UCN integration with a folate (FA)-conjugated dendrimer for tumor targeting and with photocaged doxorubicin as a cytotoxic agent. Two types of UCNs (NaYF4:Yb/Er (or Yb/Tm); diameter = ≈50 to 54 nm) are described, each displaying distinct emission properties upon NIR (980 nm) excitation. The UCNs are surface modified through covalent attachment of photocaged doxorubicin (ONB-Dox) and a multivalent FA-conjugated polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer G5(FA)6 to prepare UCN@(ONB-Dox)(G5FA). Surface plasmon resonance experiments performed with G5(FA)6 dendrimer alone show nanomolar binding avidity (KD = 5.9 × 10(-9) M) to the folate binding protein. This dendrimer binding corresponds with selective binding and uptake of UCN@(ONB-Dox)(G5FA) by FAR-positive KB carcinoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, UCN@(ONB-Dox)(G5FA) treatment of FAR(+) KB cells inhibits cell growth in a light dependent manner. These results validate the utility of modularly integrated UCN-dendrimer nanocomposites for cell type specific NIR imaging and light-controlled drug release, thus serving as a new theranostic system. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Estimating the spatial resolution of fNIRS sensors for BCI purposes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almajidy, Rand Kasim; Kirch, Robert D.; Christ, Olaf; Hofmann, Ulrich G.

2014-03-01

Differential near infrared sensors recently sparked a growing interest as a promising measuring modality for brain computer interfacing. In our study we present the design and characterization of novel, differential functional NIRS sensors, intended to record hemodynamic changes of the human motor cortex in the hand-area during motor imagery tasks. We report on the spatial characterization of a portable, multi-channel NIRS system with one module consisting of two central light emitting diodes (LED) (770 nm and 850 nm) and four symmetric pairs of radially aligned photodiodes (PD) resembling a plus symbol. The other sensor module features four similar, differential light paths crossing in the center of a star. Characterization was performed on a concentric, double beaker phantom, featuring a PBS/intralipid/blood mixture (97/1/2%). In extension of previous work, the inner, oxygenated beaker was covered by neoprene sleeves with holes of various sizes, thus giving an estimate on the spatial limits of the NIRS sensor's measurement volume. The star shaped sensor module formed a diffuse focus of approximately 3 cm in diameter at 1.4 cm depth, whereas the plus shaped arrangement suggested a concentric ring of four separate regions of interest, overall larger than 6 cm. The systems measurement sensitivity could be improved by removing ambient light from the sensing photodiodes by optical filtering. Altogether, we conclude that both our novel fNIRS design as well as its electronics perform well in the double-layered oxygenation phantom and are thus suitable for in-vivo testing.

Phase-dependent Photometric and Spectroscopic Characterization of the MASTER-Net Optical Transient J212444.87+321738.3: An Oxygen-rich Mira

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghosh, Supriyo; Mondal, Soumen; Das, Ramkrishna; Banerjee, D. P. K.; Ashok, N. M.; Hambsch, Franz-Josef; Dutta, Somnath

2018-05-01

We describe the time-dependent properties of a new spectroscopically confirmed Mira variable, which was discovered in 2013 as MASTER-Net Optical Transient J212444.87+321738.3 toward the Cygnus constellation. We have performed long-term optical/near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic observations to characterize the object. From the optical/NIR light curves, we estimate a variability period of 465 ± 30 days. The wavelength-dependent amplitudes of the observed light curves range from ΔI ∼ 4 mag to ΔK ∼ 1.5 mag. The (J ‑ K) color index varies from 1.78 to 2.62 mag over phases. Interestingly, a phase lag of ∼60 days between optical and NIR light curves is also seen, as in other Miras. Our optical/NIR spectra show molecular features of TiO, VO, CO, and strong water bands that are a typical signature of oxygen-rich Mira. We rule out S- or C-type as ZrO bands at 1.03 and 1.06 μm and C2 band at 1.77 μm are absent. We estimate the effective temperature of the object from the Spectral Energy Distribution, and distance and luminosity from standard Period–Luminosity relations. The optical/NIR spectra display time-dependent atomic and molecular features (e.g., TiO, Na I, Ca I, H2O, CO), as commonly observed in Miras. Such spectroscopic observations are useful for studying pulsation variability in Miras.

Digital micromirror based near-infrared illumination system for plasmonic photothermal neuromodulation.

PubMed

Jung, Hyunjun; Kang, Hongki; Nam, Yoonkey

2017-06-01

Light-mediated neuromodulation techniques provide great advantages to investigate neuroscience due to its high spatial and temporal resolution. To generate a spatial pattern of neural activity, it is necessary to develop a system for patterned-light illumination to a specific area. Digital micromirror device (DMD) based patterned illumination system have been used for neuromodulation due to its simple configuration and design flexibility. In this paper, we developed a patterned near-infrared (NIR) illumination system for region specific photothermal manipulation of neural activity using NIR-sensitive plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs). The proposed system had high power transmission efficiency for delivering power density up to 19 W/mm 2 . We used a GNR-coated microelectrode array (MEA) to perform biological experiments using E18 rat hippocampal neurons and showed that it was possible to inhibit neural spiking activity of specific area in neural circuits with the patterned NIR illumination. This patterned NIR illumination system can serve as a promising neuromodulation tool to investigate neuroscience in a wide range of physiological and clinical applications.

Copper Selenide Nanocrystals for Photothermal Therapy

PubMed Central

Hessel, Colin M.; Pattani, Varun; Rasch, Michael; Panthani, Matthew G.; Koo, Bonil; Tunnell, James W.; Korgel, Brian A.

2011-01-01

Ligand-stabilized copper selenide (Cu2−xSe) nanocrystals, approximately 16 nm in diameter, were synthesized by a colloidal hot injection method and coated with amphiphilic polymer. The nanocrystals readily disperse in water and exhibit strong near infrared (NIR) optical absorption with a high molar extinction coefficient of 7.7 × 107 cm−1 M−1 at 980 nm. When excited with 800 nm light, the Cu2−xSe nanocrystals produce significant photothermal heating with a photothermal transduction efficiency of 22%, comparable to nanorods and nanoshells of gold (Au). In vitro photothermal heating of Cu2−xSe nanocrystals in the presence of human colorectal cancer cell (HCT-116) led to cell destruction after 5 minutes of laser irradiation at 33 W/cm2, demonstrating the viabilitiy of Cu2−xSe nanocrystals for photothermal therapy applications. PMID:21553924

Photocleavable Hydrogel-Coated Upconverting Nanoparticles: A Multifunctional Theranostic Platform for NIR Imaging and On-Demand Macromolecular Delivery.

PubMed

Jalani, Ghulam; Naccache, Rafik; Rosenzweig, Derek H; Haglund, Lisbet; Vetrone, Fiorenzo; Cerruti, Marta

2016-01-27

Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have emerged as excellent nanotransducers for converting longer wavelength near-infrared (NIR) light to shorter wavelengths spanning the ultraviolet (UV) to the visible (Vis) regions of the spectrum via a multiphoton absorption process, known as upconversion. Here, we report the development of NIR to UV-Vis-NIR UCNPs consisting of LiYF4:Yb(3+)/Tm(3+)@SiO2 individually coated with a 10 ± 2 nm layer of chitosan (CH) hydrogel cross-linked with a photocleavable cross-linker (PhL). We encapsulated fluorescent-bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) inside the gel. Under 980 nm excitation, the upconverted UV emission cleaves the PhL cross-links and instantaneously liberates the FITC-BSA under 2 cm thick tissue. The release is immediately arrested if the excitation source is switched off. The upconverted NIR light allows for the tracking of particles under the tissue. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells cultured with UCNPs are viable both in the presence and in the absence of laser irradiation. Controlled drug delivery of large biomolecules and deep tissue imaging make this system an excellent theranostic platform for tissue engineering, biomapping, and cellular imaging applications.

Broadband dye-sensitized upconverting nanocrystals enabled near-infrared planar perovskite solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Xuesen; Li, Xitao; Lv, Xinding; Zheng, Yan-Zhen; Meng, Fanli; Tao, Xia

2017-12-01

Extending the spectral absorption of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) from visible into near-infrared (NIR) range is a promising strategy to minimize non-absorption loss of solar photons and enhance the cell photovoltaic performance. Herein, we report on for the first time a viable strategy of incorporating IR806 dye-sensitized upconversion nanocrystals (IR806-UCNCs) into planar PSC for broadband upconversion of NIR light (800-1000 nm) into perovskite absorber-responsive visible emissions. A smart trick is firstly adopted to prepare hydrophilic IR806-UCNCs via a NOBF4 assisted two-step ligand-exchange that allows incorporating with perovskite precursor for in-situ growth of upconverting planar perovskite film. Unlike typically reported upconverting nanoparticles with narrow NIR absorption, the as-prepared IR806-UCNCs are able to harvest NIR light broadly and then transfer the captured energy to the UCNCs for an efficient visible upconversion. The IR806-UCNCs-incorporated cell exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 17.49%, corresponding to 29% increment from that of the pristine cell (13.52%). This strategy provides a feasible way to enable the most efficient harvesting of NIR sunlight for solar cells and other optoelectric devices.

UV/vis and NIR light-responsive spiropyran self-assembled monolayers.

PubMed

Ivashenko, Oleksii; van Herpt, Jochem T; Feringa, Ben L; Rudolf, Petra; Browne, Wesley R

2013-04-02

Self-assembled monolayers of a 6-nitro BIPS spiropyran (SP) modified with a disulfide-terminated aliphatic chain were prepared on polycrystalline gold surfaces and characterized by UV/vis absorption, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS). The SAMs obtained are composed of the ring-closed form (i.e., spiropyran) only. Irradiation with UV light results in conversion of the monolayer to the merocyanine form (MC), manifested in the appearance of an N(+) contribution in the N 1s region of the XPS spectrum of the SAMs, the characteristic absorption band of the MC form in the visible region at 555 nm, and the C-O stretching band in the SERS spectrum. Recovery of the initial state of the monolayer was observed both thermally and after irradiation with visible light. Several switching cycles were performed and monitored by SERS spectroscopy, demonstrating the stability of the SAMs during repeated switching between SP and MC states. A key finding in the present study is that ring-opening of the surface-immobilized spiropyrans can be induced by irradiation with continuous wave NIR (785 nm) light as well as by irradiation with UV light. We demonstrate that ring-opening by irradiation at 785 nm proceeds by a two-photon absorption pathway both in the SAMs and in the solid state. Hence, spiropyran SAMs on gold can undergo reversible photochemical switching from the SP to the MC form with both UV and NIR and the reverse reaction induced by irradiation with visible light or heating. Furthermore, the observation of NIR-induced switching with a continuous wave source holds important consequences in the study of photochromic switches on surfaces using SERS and emphasizes the importance of the use of multiple complementary techniques in characterizing photoresponsive SAMs.

Dental optical tomography with upconversion nanoparticles—a feasibility study

PubMed Central

Long, Feixiao; Intes, Xavier

2017-01-01

Abstract. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have the unique ability to emit multiple colors upon excitation by near-infrared (NIR) light. Herein, we investigate the potential use of UCNPs as contrast agents for dental optical tomography, with a focus on monitoring the status of fillings after dental restoration. The potential of performing tomographic imaging using UCNP emission of visible or NIR light is established. This in silico and ex vivo study paves the way toward employing UCNPs as theranostic agents for dental applications. PMID:28586852

Dental optical tomography with upconversion nanoparticles—a feasibility study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, Feixiao; Intes, Xavier

2017-06-01

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have the unique ability to emit multiple colors upon excitation by near-infrared (NIR) light. Herein, we investigate the potential use of UCNPs as contrast agents for dental optical tomography, with a focus on monitoring the status of fillings after dental restoration. The potential of performing tomographic imaging using UCNP emission of visible or NIR light is established. This in silico and ex vivo study paves the way toward employing UCNPs as theranostic agents for dental applications.

Dental optical tomography with upconversion nanoparticles-a feasibility study.

PubMed

Long, Feixiao; Intes, Xavier

2017-06-01

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have the unique ability to emit multiple colors upon excitation by near-infrared (NIR) light. Herein, we investigate the potential use of UCNPs as contrast agents for dental optical tomography, with a focus on monitoring the status of fillings after dental restoration. The potential of performing tomographic imaging using UCNP emission of visible or NIR light is established. This in silico and ex vivo study paves the way toward employing UCNPs as theranostic agents for dental applications.

Photothermal effects from Au-Cu2O core-shell nanocubes, octahedra, and nanobars with broad near-infrared absorption tunability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hsiang-Ju; Yang, Kung-Hsun; Hsu, Shih-Chen; Huang, Michael H.

2015-12-01

Other than the display of purely optical phenomenon, the recently-discovered facet-dependent optical properties of metal-Cu2O nanocrystals have become useful by illuminating Au-Cu2O nanocubes and octahedra having a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band in the near-infrared (NIR) region from octahedral Au cores with 808 nm light for heat generation. After 5 min of light irradiation, a solution of Au-Cu2O nanocubes can reach 65 °C with their Au SPR band matching the illuminating light wavelength. Photothermal efficiency has been found to be facet-dependent. In addition, short gold nanorods were employed to synthesize {100}-bound rectangular Au-Cu2O nanobars with a tunable longitudinal Au SPR absorption band covering a broad NIR range from ~1050 to 1400 nm. Because the Au SPR bands can become fixed with relatively thin Cu2O shells of less than 15 nm, ultrasmall nanobars having a size of 61 nm directly red-shift the Au SPR band to 1047 nm. And 73 nm nanobars can give a Au SPR band at 1390 nm. Truncated nanobars exposing {100}, {110}, and {111} facets give a very blue-shifted Au SPR band. The nanobars also exhibit photothermal activity when illuminated by 1064 nm light. These small Au-Cu2O nanocrystals represent the simplest nanostructure design to absorb light covering the entire NIR wavelengths.Other than the display of purely optical phenomenon, the recently-discovered facet-dependent optical properties of metal-Cu2O nanocrystals have become useful by illuminating Au-Cu2O nanocubes and octahedra having a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band in the near-infrared (NIR) region from octahedral Au cores with 808 nm light for heat generation. After 5 min of light irradiation, a solution of Au-Cu2O nanocubes can reach 65 °C with their Au SPR band matching the illuminating light wavelength. Photothermal efficiency has been found to be facet-dependent. In addition, short gold nanorods were employed to synthesize {100}-bound rectangular Au-Cu2O nanobars with a tunable longitudinal Au SPR absorption band covering a broad NIR range from ~1050 to 1400 nm. Because the Au SPR bands can become fixed with relatively thin Cu2O shells of less than 15 nm, ultrasmall nanobars having a size of 61 nm directly red-shift the Au SPR band to 1047 nm. And 73 nm nanobars can give a Au SPR band at 1390 nm. Truncated nanobars exposing {100}, {110}, and {111} facets give a very blue-shifted Au SPR band. The nanobars also exhibit photothermal activity when illuminated by 1064 nm light. These small Au-Cu2O nanocrystals represent the simplest nanostructure design to absorb light covering the entire NIR wavelengths. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06847a

Cancer cell membrane-coated magnetic nanoparticles for MR/NIR fluorescence dual-modal imaging and photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Li, Jiong; Wang, Xuandong; Zheng, Dongye; Lin, Xinyi; Wei, Zuwu; Zhang, Da; Li, Zhuanfang; Zhang, Yun; Wu, Ming; Liu, Xiaolong

2018-05-22

Theranostic nanoprobes integrated with dual-modal imaging and therapeutic functions, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), have exhibited significant potency in cancer treatments due to their high imaging accuracy and non-invasive advantages for cancer elimination. However, biocompatibility and highly efficient accumulation of these nanoprobes in tumor are still unsatisfactory for clinical application. In this study, a photosensitizer -loaded magnetic nanobead with surface further coated with a layer of cancer cell membrane (SSAP-Ce6@CCM) was designed to improve the biocompatibility and cellular uptake and ultimately achieve enhanced MR/NIR fluorescence imaging and PDT efficacy. Compared with similar nanobeads without CCM coating, SSAP-Ce6@CCM showed significantly enhanced cellular uptake, as evidenced by Prussian blue staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometric analysis. Consequently, SSAP-Ce6@CCM displayed a more distinct MR/NIR imaging ability and more obvious photo-cytotoxicity towards cancer cells under 670 nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, the enhanced PDT effect benefited from the surface coating of cancer cell membrane was demonstrated in SMMC-7721 tumor-bearing mice through tumor growth observation and tumor tissue pathological examination. Therefore, this CCM-disguised nanobead that integrated the abilities of MR/NIR fluorescence dual-modal imaging and photodynamic therapy might be a promising theranostic platform for tumor treatment.

Transdermal gelation of methacrylated macromers with near-infrared light and gold nanorods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gramlich, William M.; Holloway, Julianne L.; Rai, Reena; Burdick, Jason A.

2014-01-01

Injectable hydrogels provide locally controlled tissue bulking and a means to deliver drugs and cells to the body. The formation of hydrogels in vivo may involve the delivery of two solutions that spontaneously crosslink when mixed, with pH or temperature changes, or with light (e.g., visible or ultraviolet). With these approaches, control over the kinetics of gelation, introduction of the initiation trigger (e.g., limited penetration of ultraviolet light through tissues), or alteration of the material physical properties (e.g., mechanics) may be difficult to achieve. To overcome these limitations, we used the interaction of near-infrared (NIR) light with gold nanorods (AuNRs) to generate heat through the photothermal effect. NIR light penetrates tissues to a greater extent than other wavelengths and provides a means to indirectly initiate radical polymerization. Specifically, this heating coupled with a thermal initiator (VA-044) produced radicals that polymerized methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA) and generated hydrogels. A range of VA-044 concentrations changed the gelation time, yielding a system stable at 37 ° C for 22 min that gels quickly (˜3 min) when heated to 55 ° C. With a constant irradiation time (10 min) and laser power (0.3 W), different VA-044 and AuNR concentrations tuned the compressive modulus of the hydrogel. By changing the NIR irradiation time we attained a wide range of moduli at a set solution composition. In vivo mouse studies confirmed that NIR laser irradiation through tissue could gel an injected precursor solution transdermally.

Rheo-optical near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy study of partially miscible polymer blend of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinzawa, Hideyuki; Mizukado, Junji

2018-03-01

Tensile deformations of a partially miscible blend of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) is studied by a rheo-optical characterization near-infrared (NIR) technique to probe deformation behavior during tensile deformation. Sets of NIR spectra of the polymer samples were collected by using an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) NIR spectrometer coupled with a tensile testing machine as an excitation device. While deformations of the samples were readily captured as strain-dependent NIR spectra, the entire feature of the spectra was overwhelmed with the baseline fluctuation induced by the decrease in the sample thickness and subsequent change in the light scattering. Several pretreatment techniques, including multiplicative scatter collection (MSC) and null-space projection, are subjected to the NIR spectra prior to the determination of the sequential order of the spectral intensity changes by two-dimensional (2D) correlation analysis. The comparison of the MSC and null-space projection provided an interesting insight into the system, especially deformation-induced variation of light scattering observed during the tensile testing of the polymer sample. In addition, the sequential order determined with the 2D correlation spectra revealed that orientation of a specific part of PMMA chain occurs before that of the others because of the interaction between Cdbnd O group of PMMA and terminal sbnd OH group of PEG.

Clinical performance of the near-infrared imaging system VistaCam iX Proxi for detection of approximal enamel lesions.

PubMed

Jablonski-Momeni, Anahita; Jablonski, Boris; Lippe, Nikola

2017-01-01

Apart from the visual detection of caries, X-rays can be taken for detection of approximal lesions. The Proxi head of VistaCam iX intraoral camera system uses near-infrared light (NIR) to enable caries detection in approximal surfaces. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the NIR for the detection of approximal enamel lesions by comparison with radiographic findings. One hundred ninety-three approximal surfaces from 18 patients were examined visually and using digital radiographs for presence or absence of enamel lesions. Then digital images of each surface were produced using the near-infrared light. Correlation between methods was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ( r s ). Agreement between radiographic and NIR findings was calculated using the kappa coefficient. McNemar's test was used to analyse differences between the radiographic and NIR findings ( α =0.05). Moderate correlation was found between all detection methods ( r s =0.33-0.50, P <0.0001). Agreement between the radiographic and NIR findings was moderate ( κ =0.50, 95% CI=0.37-0.62) for the distinction between sound surfaces and enamel caries. No significant differences were found between the findings ( P =0.07). Radiographs and NIR were found to be comparable for the detection of enamel lesions in permanent teeth.

Clinical performance of the near-infrared imaging system VistaCam iX Proxi for detection of approximal enamel lesions

PubMed Central

Jablonski-Momeni, Anahita; Jablonski, Boris; Lippe, Nikola

2017-01-01

Objectives/Aims: Apart from the visual detection of caries, X-rays can be taken for detection of approximal lesions. The Proxi head of VistaCam iX intraoral camera system uses near-infrared light (NIR) to enable caries detection in approximal surfaces. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the NIR for the detection of approximal enamel lesions by comparison with radiographic findings. Materials and methods: One hundred ninety-three approximal surfaces from 18 patients were examined visually and using digital radiographs for presence or absence of enamel lesions. Then digital images of each surface were produced using the near-infrared light. Correlation between methods was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs). Agreement between radiographic and NIR findings was calculated using the kappa coefficient. McNemar’s test was used to analyse differences between the radiographic and NIR findings (α=0.05). Results: Moderate correlation was found between all detection methods (rs=0.33–0.50, P<0.0001). Agreement between the radiographic and NIR findings was moderate (κ=0.50, 95% CI=0.37–0.62) for the distinction between sound surfaces and enamel caries. No significant differences were found between the findings (P=0.07). Conclusion: Radiographs and NIR were found to be comparable for the detection of enamel lesions in permanent teeth. PMID:29607082

Bio-mimetic Nanostructure Self-assembled from Au@Ag Heterogeneous Nanorods and Phage Fusion Proteins for Targeted Tumor Optical Detection and Photothermal Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fei; Liu, Pei; Sun, Lin; Li, Cuncheng; Petrenko, Valery A.; Liu, Aihua

2014-10-01

Nanomaterials with near-infrared (NIR) absorption have been widely studied in cancer detection and photothermal therapy (PTT), while it remains a great challenge in targeting tumor efficiently with minimal side effects. Herein we report a novel multifunctional phage-mimetic nanostructure, which was prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly of Au@Ag heterogenous nanorods (NRs) with rhodamine 6G, and specific pVIII fusion proteins. Au@Ag NRs, first being applied for PTT, exhibited excellent stability, cost-effectivity, biocompatibility and tunable NIR absorption. The fusion proteins were isolated from phage DDAGNRQP specifically selected from f8/8 landscape phage library against colorectal cancer cells in a high-throughput way. Considering the definite charge distribution and low molecular weight, phage fusion proteins were assembled on the negatively charged NR core by electrostatic interactions, exposing the N-terminus fused with DDAGNRQP peptide on the surface. The fluorescent images showed that assembled phage fusion proteins can direct the nanostructure into cancer cells. The nanostructure was more efficient than gold nanorods and silver nanotriangle-based photothermal agents and was capable of specifically ablating SW620 cells after 10 min illumination with an 808 nm laser in the light intensity of 4 W/cm2. The prepared nanostructure would become an ideal reagent for simutaneously targeted optical imaging and PTT of tumor.

Synthesis and characterization of near IR fluorescent albumin nanoparticles for optical detection of colon cancer.

PubMed

Cohen, Sarit; Pellach, Michal; Kam, Yossi; Grinberg, Igor; Corem-Salkmon, Enav; Rubinstein, Abraham; Margel, Shlomo

2013-03-01

Near IR (NIR) fluorescent human serum albumin (HSA) nanoparticles hold great promise as contrast agents for tumor diagnosis. HSA nanoparticles are considered to be biocompatible, non-toxic and non-immunogenic. In addition, NIR fluorescence properties of these nanoparticles are important for in vivo tumor diagnostics, with low autofluorescence and relatively deep penetration of NIR irradiation due to low absorption of biomatrices. The present study describes the synthesis of new NIR fluorescent HSA nanoparticles, by entrapment of a NIR fluorescent dye within the HSA nanoparticles, which also significantly increases the photostability of the dye. Tumor-targeting ligands such as peanut agglutinin (PNA) and anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibodies (anti-CEA) were covalently conjugated to the NIR fluorescent albumin nanoparticles, increasing the potential fluorescent signal in tumors with upregulated corresponding receptors. Specific colon tumor detection by the NIR fluorescent HSA nanoparticles was demonstrated in a chicken embryo model and a rat model. In future work we also plan to encapsulate cancer drugs such as doxorubicin within the NIR fluorescent HSA nanoparticles for both colon cancer imaging and therapy. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interplay between up-regulation of cytochrome-c-oxidase and hemoglobin oxygenation induced by near-infrared laser

PubMed Central

Wang, Xinlong; Tian, Fenghua; Soni, Sagar S.; Gonzalez-Lima, F.; Liu, Hanli

2016-01-01

Photobiomodulation, also known as low-level laser/light therapy (LLLT), refers to the use of red-to-near-infrared light to stimulate cellular functions for physiological or clinical benefits. The mechanism of LLLT is assumed to rely on photon absorption by cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), the terminal enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen for energy metabolism. In this study, we used broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the LLLT-induced changes in CCO and hemoglobin concentrations in human forearms in vivo. Eleven healthy participants were administered with 1064-nm laser and placebo treatments on their right forearms. The spectroscopic data were analyzed and fitted with wavelength-dependent, modified Beer-Lambert Law. We found that LLLT induced significant increases of CCO concentration (Δ[CCO]) and oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbO]) on the treated site as the laser energy dose accumulated over time. A strong linear interplay between Δ[CCO] and Δ[HbO] was observed for the first time during LLLT, indicating a hemodynamic response of oxygen supply and blood volume closely coupled to the up-regulation of CCO induced by photobiomodulation. These results demonstrate the tremendous potential of broadband NIRS as a non-invasive, in vivo means to study mechanisms of photobiomodulation and perform treatment evaluations of LLLT. PMID:27484673

Interplay between up-regulation of cytochrome-c-oxidase and hemoglobin oxygenation induced by near-infrared laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xinlong; Tian, Fenghua; Soni, Sagar S.; Gonzalez-Lima, F.; Liu, Hanli

2016-08-01

Photobiomodulation, also known as low-level laser/light therapy (LLLT), refers to the use of red-to-near-infrared light to stimulate cellular functions for physiological or clinical benefits. The mechanism of LLLT is assumed to rely on photon absorption by cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), the terminal enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen for energy metabolism. In this study, we used broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the LLLT-induced changes in CCO and hemoglobin concentrations in human forearms in vivo. Eleven healthy participants were administered with 1064-nm laser and placebo treatments on their right forearms. The spectroscopic data were analyzed and fitted with wavelength-dependent, modified Beer-Lambert Law. We found that LLLT induced significant increases of CCO concentration (Δ[CCO]) and oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbO]) on the treated site as the laser energy dose accumulated over time. A strong linear interplay between Δ[CCO] and Δ[HbO] was observed for the first time during LLLT, indicating a hemodynamic response of oxygen supply and blood volume closely coupled to the up-regulation of CCO induced by photobiomodulation. These results demonstrate the tremendous potential of broadband NIRS as a non-invasive, in vivo means to study mechanisms of photobiomodulation and perform treatment evaluations of LLLT.

Interplay between up-regulation of cytochrome-c-oxidase and hemoglobin oxygenation induced by near-infrared laser.

PubMed

Wang, Xinlong; Tian, Fenghua; Soni, Sagar S; Gonzalez-Lima, F; Liu, Hanli

2016-08-03

Photobiomodulation, also known as low-level laser/light therapy (LLLT), refers to the use of red-to-near-infrared light to stimulate cellular functions for physiological or clinical benefits. The mechanism of LLLT is assumed to rely on photon absorption by cytochrome c oxidase (CCO), the terminal enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain that catalyzes the reduction of oxygen for energy metabolism. In this study, we used broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure the LLLT-induced changes in CCO and hemoglobin concentrations in human forearms in vivo. Eleven healthy participants were administered with 1064-nm laser and placebo treatments on their right forearms. The spectroscopic data were analyzed and fitted with wavelength-dependent, modified Beer-Lambert Law. We found that LLLT induced significant increases of CCO concentration (Δ[CCO]) and oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbO]) on the treated site as the laser energy dose accumulated over time. A strong linear interplay between Δ[CCO] and Δ[HbO] was observed for the first time during LLLT, indicating a hemodynamic response of oxygen supply and blood volume closely coupled to the up-regulation of CCO induced by photobiomodulation. These results demonstrate the tremendous potential of broadband NIRS as a non-invasive, in vivo means to study mechanisms of photobiomodulation and perform treatment evaluations of LLLT.

Near infrared light-mediated photoactivation of cytotoxic Re(i) complexes by using lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles.

PubMed

Hu, Ming; Zhao, Jixian; Ai, Xiangzhao; Budanovic, Maja; Mu, Jing; Webster, Richard D; Cao, Qian; Mao, Zongwan; Xing, Bengang

2016-09-13

Platinum-based chemotherapy, although it has been well proven to be effective in the battle against cancer, suffers from limited specificity, severe side effects and drug resistance. The development of new alternatives with potent anticancer effects and improved specificity is therefore urgently needed. Recently, there are some new chemotherapy reagents based on photoactive Re(i) complexes which have been reported as promising alternatives to improve specificity mainly attributed to the spatial and temporal activation process by light irradiation. However, most of them respond to short-wavelength light (e.g. UV, blue or green light), which may cause unwanted photo damage to cells. Herein, we demonstrate a system for near-infrared (NIR) light controlled activation of Re(i) complex cytotoxicity by integration of photoactivatable Re(i) complexes and lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). Upon NIR irradiation at 980 nm, the Re(i) complex can be locally activated by upconverted UV light emitted from UCNPs and subsequently leads to enhanced cell lethality. Cytotoxicity studies showed effective inactivation of both drug susceptible human ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells and cisplatin resistant subline A2780cis cells by our UCNP based system with NIR irradiation, and there was minimum light toxicity observed in the whole process, suggesting that such a system could provide a promising strategy to control localized activation of Re(i) complexes and therefore minimize potential side effects.

Cancer Theranostics with Near-Infrared Light-Activatable Multimodal Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Melancon, Marites P.; Zhou, Min; Li, Chun

2011-01-01

CONSPECTUS Nanomaterials that interact with light provide a unique opportunity for biophotonic nanomedicine. Multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) that have strong and tunable surface plasmon resonance absorption in the near-infrared region combined with visibility with multiple imaging modalities (magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging, and photoacoustic imaging) have great potential in image-guided therapies. These novel nanostructures, once introduced, are expected to home to solid tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention effect (a passive targeting mechanism) or via targeting ligands bound to their surfaces (an active targeting mechanism). The primary mode of action for photothermal conducting NPs is to convert photoenergy into heat, causing temperature in the treatment volume to be elevated above the thermal damage threshold, which results in irreversible cell killing. It is now recognized that this process, termed photothermal ablation therapy or PTA, although very effective, is unlikely to kill all tumor cells when used alone. In addition to PTA, photothermal conducting NPs can also efficiently trigger drug release and activate RNA interference. Such a multimodal approach, which permits simultaneous PTA therapy, chemotherapy, and therapeutic RNA interference, should provide an opportunity for complete eradication of residual disease. In this Account, we provide an up-to-date review of the synthesis and characterization, functionalization, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of NIR light-activatable multifunctional nanostructures used for imaging and therapy, with an emphasis on hollow gold nanospheres, magnetic core–shell gold nanoshells, and semiconductor copper monosulfide NPs. We discuss three types novel drug delivery systems in which hollow gold nanospheres are used to mediate controlled drug release. PMID:21848277

Low-Level Light Therapy Potentiates NPe6-mediated Photodynamic Therapy in a Human Osteosarcoma Cell Line via Increased ATP

PubMed Central

Tsai, Shang-Ru; Yin, Rui; Huang, Ying-Ying; Sheu, Bor-Ching; Lee, Si-Chen; Hamblin, Michael R.

2015-01-01

Background Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) is used to stimulate healing, reduce pain and inflammation, and preserve tissue from dying. LLLT has been shown to protect cells in culture from dying after various cytotoxic insults, and LLLT is known to increase the cellular ATP content. Previous studies have demonstrated that maintaining a sufficiently high ATP level is necessary for the efficient induction and execution of apoptosis steps after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Methods We asked whether LLLT would protect cells from cytotoxicity due to PDT, or conversely whether LLLT would enhance the efficacy of PDT mediated by mono-L-aspartyl chlorin(e6) (NPe6). Increased ATP could lead to enhanced cell uptake of NPe6 by the energy dependent process of endocytosis, and also to more efficient apoptosis. In this study, human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63 was subjected to 1.5 J/cm2 of 810 nm near infrared radiation (NIR) followed by addition of 10 μM NPe6 and after 2 h incubation by 1.5 J/cm2 of 652 nm red light for PDT. Results PDT combined with LLLT led to higher cell death and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species compared to PDT alone. The uptake of NPe6 was moderately increased by LLLT, and cellular ATP was increased. The mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitor antimycin A abrogated the LLLT-induced increase in cytotoxicity. Conclusions Taken together, these results demonstrate that LLLT potentiates NPe6-mediated PDT via increased ATP synthesis and is a potentially promising strategy that could be applied in clinical PDT. PMID:25462575

Near-infrared localized surface plasmon resonance of self-growing W-doped VO2 nanoparticles at room temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishikawa, Kazutaka; Kishida, Yoshihiro; Ito, Kota; Tamura, Shin-ichi; Takeda, Yasuhiko

2017-11-01

Nanoparticles (NPs) of vanadium dioxide (VO2) in the metal state exhibit localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) at 1200-1600 nm, which fills the gap between the absorption ranges of silicon and the LSPR of conventional transparent conductor NPs (ZnO:Al, In2O3:Sn, etc.). However, two issues of the lithographic process for NP formation and the metal-insulator transition temperature (69 °C) higher than room temperature have made it difficult to use VO2 NPs for applications such as energy conversion devices, near infrared (NIR) light detectors, and bio-therapy. In this study, we developed a self-growing process for tungsten (W)-doped VO2 NPs that are in the metal state at room temperature, using sputter deposition and post-lamp annealing. The changes in the LSPR peak wavelengths with the NP size were well controlled by changing the deposited film thickness and oxygen pressure during the post-annealing treatment. The presented results resolve the difficulties of using the metal-insulator transition material VO2 for practical NIR utilization.

Near infrared spatial frequency domain fluorescence imaging of tumor phantoms containing erythrocyte-derived optical nanoplatforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burns, Joshua M.; Schaefer, Elise; Anvari, Bahman

2018-02-01

Light-activated theranostic constructs provide a multi-functional platform for optical imaging and phototherapeutic applications. Our group has engineered nano-sized vesicles derived from erythrocytes that encapsulate the FDAapproved near infrared (NIR) absorber indocyanine green (ICG). We refer to these constructs as NIR erythrocytemimicking transducers (NETs). Once photo-excited by NIR light these constructs can transduce the photons energy to emit fluorescence, generate heat, or induce chemical reactions. In this study, we investigated fluorescence imaging of NETs embedded within tumor phantoms using spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI). Using SFDI, we were able to fluorescently image simulated tumors doped with different concentration of NETs. These preliminary results suggest that NETs can be used in conjunction with SFDI for potential tumor imaging applications.

Utilization of functional near infrared spectroscopy for non-invasive evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halim, A. A. A.; Laili, M. H.; Aziz, N. A.; Laili, A. R.; Salikin, M. S.; Rusop, M.

2016-07-01

The goal of this brief review is to report the techniques of functional near infrared spectroscopy for non-invasive evaluation in human study. The development of functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technologies has advanced quantification signal using multiple wavelength and detector to solve the propagation of light inside the tissues including the absorption, scattering coefficient and to define the light penetration into tissues multilayers. There are a lot of studies that demonstrate signal from fNIRS which can be used to evaluate the changes of oxygenation level and measure the limitation of muscle performance in human brain and muscle tissues. Comprehensive reviews of diffuse reflectance based on beer lambert law theory were presented in this paper. The principle and development of fNIRS instrumentation is reported in detail.

Near infrared spectrum simulation applied to human skin for diagnosis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Chen-Mu; Fang, Yi-Chin; Wang, Chih-Yu; Chiu, Pin-Chun; Wu, Guo-Ying; Zheng, Wei-Chi; Chemg, Shih-Hao

2007-11-01

This research proposes a new method for skin diagnose using near infrared as the light source (750nm~1300nm). Compared to UV and visible light, near infrared might penetrate relatively deep into biological soft tissue in some cases although NIR absorption property of tissue is not a constant for water, fat, and collagen etc. In the research, NIR absorption and scattering properties for skin are discussed firstly using the theory of molecule vibration from Quantum physics and Solid State Physics; secondly the practical model for various NIR absorption spectrum to skin tissue are done by optical simulation for human skin. Finally, experiments are done for further identification of proposed model for human skin and its reaction to near infrared. Results show success with identification from both theory and experiments.

Robust Behavior Recognition in Intelligent Surveillance Environments.

PubMed

Batchuluun, Ganbayar; Kim, Yeong Gon; Kim, Jong Hyun; Hong, Hyung Gil; Park, Kang Ryoung

2016-06-30

Intelligent surveillance systems have been studied by many researchers. These systems should be operated in both daytime and nighttime, but objects are invisible in images captured by visible light camera during the night. Therefore, near infrared (NIR) cameras, thermal cameras (based on medium-wavelength infrared (MWIR), and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) light) have been considered for usage during the nighttime as an alternative. Due to the usage during both daytime and nighttime, and the limitation of requiring an additional NIR illuminator (which should illuminate a wide area over a great distance) for NIR cameras during the nighttime, a dual system of visible light and thermal cameras is used in our research, and we propose a new behavior recognition in intelligent surveillance environments. Twelve datasets were compiled by collecting data in various environments, and they were used to obtain experimental results. The recognition accuracy of our method was found to be 97.6%, thereby confirming the ability of our method to outperform previous methods.

Switchable Materials for Smart Windows.

PubMed

Wang, Yang; Runnerstrom, Evan L; Milliron, Delia J

2016-06-07

This article reviews the basic principles of and recent developments in electrochromic, photochromic, and thermochromic materials for applications in smart windows. Compared with current static windows, smart windows can dynamically modulate the transmittance of solar irradiation based on weather conditions and personal preferences, thus simultaneously improving building energy efficiency and indoor human comfort. Although some smart windows are commercially available, their widespread implementation has not yet been realized. Recent advances in nanostructured materials provide new opportunities for next-generation smart window technology owing to their unique structure-property relations. Nanomaterials can provide enhanced coloration efficiency, faster switching kinetics, and longer lifetime. In addition, their compatibility with solution processing enables low-cost and high-throughput fabrication. This review also discusses the importance of dual-band modulation of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light, as nearly 50% of solar energy lies in the NIR region. Some latest results show that solution-processable nanostructured systems can selectively modulate the NIR light without affecting the visible transmittance, thus reducing energy consumption by air conditioning, heating, and artificial lighting.

Physics-based subsurface visualization of human tissue.

PubMed

Sharp, Richard; Adams, Jacob; Machiraju, Raghu; Lee, Robert; Crane, Robert

2007-01-01

In this paper, we present a framework for simulating light transport in three-dimensional tissue with inhomogeneous scattering properties. Our approach employs a computational model to simulate light scattering in tissue through the finite element solution of the diffusion equation. Although our model handles both visible and nonvisible wavelengths, we especially focus on the interaction of near infrared (NIR) light with tissue. Since most human tissue is permeable to NIR light, tools to noninvasively image tumors, blood vasculature, and monitor blood oxygenation levels are being constructed. We apply this model to a numerical phantom to visually reproduce the images generated by these real-world tools. Therefore, in addition to enabling inverse design of detector instruments, our computational tools produce physically-accurate visualizations of subsurface structures.

Automated cart with VIS/NIR hyperspectral reflectance and fluorescence imaging capabilities

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A system to take high-resolution VIS/NIR hyperspectral reflectance and fluorescence images in outdoor fields using ambient lighting or a pulsed laser (355 nm), respectively, for illumination was designed, built, and tested. Components of the system include a semi-autonomous cart, a gated-intensified...

Penetration depth measurement of near-infrared hyperspectral imaging light for milk powder

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The increasingly common application of near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging technique to the analysis of food powders has led to the need for optical characterization of samples. This study was aimed at exploring the feasibility of quantifying penetration depth of NIR hyperspectral imaging ligh...

Oxygen vacancy induced Bi2WO6 for the realization of photocatalytic CO2 reduction over the full solar spectrum: from the UV to the NIR region.

PubMed

Kong, Xin Ying; Choo, Yen Yee; Chai, Siang-Piao; Soh, Ai Kah; Mohamed, Abdul Rahman

2016-12-06

Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction over the UV-Vis-NIR broad spectrum was realized for the first time. The presence of surface oxygen vacancy defects on Bi 2 WO 6 resulted in significant photocatalytic enhancement over the pristine counterpart under UV and visible light irradiation. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic responsiveness of Bi 2 WO 6 -OV was successfully extended to the NIR region.

Near-infrared scintillation of liquid argon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alexander, T.; Escobar, C. O.; Lippincott, W. H.

2016-03-03

Since the 1970s it has been known that noble gases scintillate in the near infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum (0.7more » $$\\mu$$m < $$\\lambda$$; < 1.5$$\\mu$$m). More controversial has been the question of the NIR light yield for condensed noble gases. We first present the motivation for using the NIR scintillation in liquid argon detectors, then briefly review early as well as more recent efforts and finally show encouraging preliminary results of a test performed at Fermilab.« less

Near Infrared Fluorescence Imaging in Nano-Therapeutics and Photo-Thermal Evaluation

PubMed Central

Vats, Mukti; Mishra, Sumit Kumar; Baghini, Mahdieh Shojaei; Chauhan, Deepak S.; Srivastava, Rohit; De, Abhijit

2017-01-01

The unresolved and paramount challenge in bio-imaging and targeted therapy is to clearly define and demarcate the physical margins of tumor tissue. The ability to outline the healthy vital tissues to be carefully navigated with transection while an intraoperative surgery procedure is performed sets up a necessary and under-researched goal. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, there is a need to optimize design considerations in order to not only obtain an effective imaging agent but to also achieve attributes like favorable water solubility, biocompatibility, high molecular brightness, and a tissue specific targeting approach. The emergence of near infra-red fluorescence (NIRF) light for tissue scale imaging owes to the provision of highly specific images of the target organ. The special characteristics of near infra-red window such as minimal auto-fluorescence, low light scattering, and absorption of biomolecules in tissue converge to form an attractive modality for cancer imaging. Imparting molecular fluorescence as an exogenous contrast agent is the most beneficial attribute of NIRF light as a clinical imaging technology. Additionally, many such agents also display therapeutic potentials as photo-thermal agents, thus meeting the dual purpose of imaging and therapy. Here, we primarily discuss molecular imaging and therapeutic potentials of two such classes of materials, i.e., inorganic NIR dyes and metallic gold nanoparticle based materials. PMID:28452928

Near-infrared supercontinuum laser beam source in the second and third near-infrared optical windows used to image more deeply through thick tissue as compared with images from a lamp source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sordillo, Laura A.; Lindwasser, Lukas; Budansky, Yury; Leproux, Philippe; Alfano, Robert R.

2015-03-01

With the use of longer near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, image quality can be increased due to less scattering (described by the inverse wavelength power dependence 1/λn where n≥1) and minimal absorption from water molecules. Longer NIR windows, known as the second (1100 nm to 1350 nm) and third (1600 to 1870 nm) NIR windows are utilized to penetrate more deeply into tissue media and produce high-quality images. An NIR supercontinuum (SC) laser light source, with wavelengths in the second and third NIR optical windows to image tissue provides ballistic imaging of tissue. The SC ballistic beam can penetrate depths of up to 10 mm through tissue.

SIGNATURES OF GRAVITATIONAL INSTABILITY IN RESOLVED IMAGES OF PROTOSTELLAR DISKS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dong, Ruobing; Vorobyov, Eduard; Pavlyuchenkov, Yaroslav

2016-06-01

Protostellar (class 0/I) disks, which have masses comparable to those of their nascent host stars and are fed continuously from their natal infalling envelopes, are prone to gravitational instability (GI). Motivated by advances in near-infrared (NIR) adaptive optics imaging and millimeter-wave interferometry, we explore the observational signatures of GI in disks using hydrodynamical and Monte Carlo radiative transfer simulations to synthesize NIR scattered light images and millimeter dust continuum maps. Spiral arms induced by GI, located at disk radii of hundreds of astronomical units, are local overdensities and have their photospheres displaced to higher altitudes above the disk midplane; therefore,more » arms scatter more NIR light from their central stars than inter-arm regions, and are detectable at distances up to 1 kpc by Gemini/GPI, VLT/SPHERE, and Subaru/HiCIAO/SCExAO. In contrast, collapsed clumps formed by disk fragmentation have such strong local gravitational fields that their scattering photospheres are at lower altitudes; such fragments appear fainter than their surroundings in NIR scattered light. Spiral arms and streamers recently imaged in four FU Ori systems at NIR wavelengths resemble GI-induced structures and support the interpretation that FUors are gravitationally unstable protostellar disks. At millimeter wavelengths, both spirals and clumps appear brighter in thermal emission than the ambient disk and can be detected by ALMA at distances up to 0.4 kpc with one hour integration times at ∼0.″1 resolution. Collapsed fragments having masses ≳1 M {sub J} can be detected by ALMA within ∼10 minutes.« less

An effective approach to reduce inflammation and stenosis in carotid artery: polypyrrole nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Zhiyou; Qin, Jinbao; Li, Bo; Ye, Kaichuang; Zhang, Yuxin; Yang, Xinrui; Yuan, Fukang; Huang, Lijia; Hu, Junqing; Lu, Xinwu

2015-04-01

Photothermal therapy (PTT), as a promising treatment for tumours, has rarely been reported for application in artery restenosis, which is a common complication of endovascular management due to enduring chronic inflammation and abnormal cell proliferation. In our study, biodegradable polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy-NPs) were synthesized and characterized, including their size distribution, UV-vis-NIR absorbance, molar extinction coefficients, and photothermal properties. We then verified that PPy-NP incubation followed by 915 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation could effectively ablate inflammatory macrophages in vitro, leading to significant cell apoptosis and cell death. Further, it was found that a combination of local PPy-NP injection with 915 nm NIR laser irradiation could significantly alleviate arterial inflammation by eliminating infiltrating macrophages and further ameliorating artery stenosis in an ApoE-/- mouse model, without showing any obvious toxic side effects. Thus, we propose that PTT based on PPy-NPs as photothermal agents and a 915 nm NIR laser as a power source can serve as a new effective treatment for reducing inflammation and stenosis formation in inflamed arteries after endovascular management.Photothermal therapy (PTT), as a promising treatment for tumours, has rarely been reported for application in artery restenosis, which is a common complication of endovascular management due to enduring chronic inflammation and abnormal cell proliferation. In our study, biodegradable polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy-NPs) were synthesized and characterized, including their size distribution, UV-vis-NIR absorbance, molar extinction coefficients, and photothermal properties. We then verified that PPy-NP incubation followed by 915 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation could effectively ablate inflammatory macrophages in vitro, leading to significant cell apoptosis and cell death. Further, it was found that a combination of local PPy-NP injection with 915 nm NIR laser irradiation could significantly alleviate arterial inflammation by eliminating infiltrating macrophages and further ameliorating artery stenosis in an ApoE-/- mouse model, without showing any obvious toxic side effects. Thus, we propose that PTT based on PPy-NPs as photothermal agents and a 915 nm NIR laser as a power source can serve as a new effective treatment for reducing inflammation and stenosis formation in inflamed arteries after endovascular management. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Figures. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00542f

Thickness-dependent photocatalytic performance of graphite oxide for degrading organic pollutants under visible light.

PubMed

Oh, Junghoon; Chang, Yun Hee; Kim, Yong-Hyun; Park, Sungjin

2016-04-28

Photocatalysts use sustainable solar light energy to trigger various catalytic reactions. Metal-free nanomaterials have been suggested as cost-effective and environmentally friendly photocatalysts. In this work, we propose thickness-controlled graphite oxide (GO) as a metal-free photocatalyst, which is produced by exfoliating thick GO particles via stirring and sonication. All GO samples exhibit photocatalytic activity for degrading an organic pollutant, rhodamine B under visible light, and the thickest sample shows the best catalytic performance. UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance absorption spectra indicate that thicker GO samples absorb more vis-NIR light than thinner ones. Density-functional theory calculations show that GO has a much smaller band gap than that of single-layer graphene oxide, and thus suggest that the largely-reduced band gap is responsible for this trend of light absorption.

Deep tissue imaging of microfracture and non-displaced fracture of bone using the second and third near-infrared therapeutic windows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sordillo, Laura A.; Pu, Yang; Sordillo, P. P.; Budansky, Yury; Alfano, Robert R.

2014-03-01

Near-infrared (NIR) light in the wavelengths of 700 nm to 2,000 nm has three NIR optical, or therapeutic, windows, which allow for deeper depth penetration in scattering tissue media. Microfractures secondary to repetitive stress, particularly in the lower extremities, are an important problem for military recruits and athletes. They also frequently occur in the elderly, or in patients taking bisphosphonates or denosumab. Microfractures can be early predictors of a major bone fracture. Using the second and third NIR therapeutic windows, we investigated the results from images of chicken bone and human tibial bone with microfractures and non-displaced fractures with and without overlying tissues of various thicknesses. Images of bone with microfractures and non-displaced fractures with tissue show scattering photons in the third NIR window with wavelengths between 1,650 nm and 1,870 nm are diminished and absorption is increased slightly from and second NIR windows. Results from images of fractured bones show the attenuation length of light through tissue in the third optical window to be larger than in the second therapeutic window. Use of these windows may aid in the detection of bone microfractures, and thus reduce the incidence of major bone fracture in susceptible groups.

Optical diagnosis of testicular torsion: feasibility and methodology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shadgan, Babak; Macnab, Andrew; Stothers, Lynn; Kajbafzadeh, A. M.

2014-03-01

Background: Torsion of the testis compromises blood flow through the spermatic cord; testicular ischemia results which if not diagnosed promptly and corrected surgically irrevocably damages the testis. Current diagnostic modalities aimed at rationalizing surgical exploration by demonstrating interruption of spermatic cord blood flow or testicular ischemia have limited applicability. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers a non-invasive optical method for detection of ischemia; continuous wave and frequency domain devices have been used experimentally; no device customized for clinical use has been designed. Methods: A miniature spatially resolved NIRS device with light emitting diode light source was applied over the right and left spermatic cord and the difference in oxygen saturation between the two sides measured. Results: In a 14-month old boy with a history of unilateral testicular pain color Doppler ultrasonography was equivocal but the NIRS-derived tissue oxygen saturation index (TSI) was significantly reduced on the left side. Confirmation of torsion of the left testicle was made surgically. Conclusions: Spatially resolved NIRS monitoring of spermatic cord oxygen saturation is feasible in children, adding to prior studies of testicular oxygen saturation in adults. Customized device design and further clinical trials would enhance the applicability of NIRS as a diagnostic entity for torsion.

Evaluation of two imaging techniques: near-infrared transillumination and dental radiographs for the detection of early approximal enamel caries.

PubMed

Maia, A M A; Karlsson, L; Margulis, W; Gomes, A S L

2011-10-01

The aim of this paper was to evaluate a transillumination (TI) system using near-infrared (NIR) light and bitewing radiographs for the detection of early approximal enamel caries lesions. Mesiodistal sections of teeth (n = 14) were cut with various thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 4.75 mm. Both sides of each section were included, 17 approximal surfaces with natural enamel caries and 11 surfaces considered intact. The approximal surfaces were illuminated by NIR light and X-ray. Captured images were analysed by two calibrated specialists in radiology, and re-analysed after 6 months using stereomicroscope images as a gold standard. The interexaminer reliability (Kappa test statistic) for the NIR TI technique showed moderate agreement on first (0.55) and second (0.48) evaluation, and low agreement for bitewing radiographs on first (0.26) and second (0.32) evaluation. In terms of accuracy, the sensitivity for the NIR TI system was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.72. For the bitewing radiographs the sensitivity ranged from 0.35 to 0.53 and the specificity ranged from 0.50 to 0.72. In the same samples and conditions tested, NIR TI images showed reliability and the enamel caries surfaces were better identified than on dental radiographs.

Evaluation of two imaging techniques: near-infrared transillumination and dental radiographs for the detection of early approximal enamel caries

PubMed Central

Maia, A M A; Karlsson, L; Margulis, W; Gomes, A S L

2011-01-01

Objectives The aim of this paper was to evaluate a transillumination (TI) system using near-infrared (NIR) light and bitewing radiographs for the detection of early approximal enamel caries lesions. Methods Mesiodistal sections of teeth (n = 14) were cut with various thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 4.75 mm. Both sides of each section were included, 17 approximal surfaces with natural enamel caries and 11 surfaces considered intact. The approximal surfaces were illuminated by NIR light and X-ray. Captured images were analysed by two calibrated specialists in radiology, and re-analysed after 6 months using stereomicroscope images as a gold standard. Results The interexaminer reliability (Kappa test statistic) for the NIR TI technique showed moderate agreement on first (0.55) and second (0.48) evaluation, and low agreement for bitewing radiographs on first (0.26) and second (0.32) evaluation. In terms of accuracy, the sensitivity for the NIR TI system was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.72. For the bitewing radiographs the sensitivity ranged from 0.35 to 0.53 and the specificity ranged from 0.50 to 0.72. Conclusion In the same samples and conditions tested, NIR TI images showed reliability and the enamel caries surfaces were better identified than on dental radiographs. PMID:21960400

Wound size measurement of lower extremity ulcers using segmentation algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dadkhah, Arash; Pang, Xing; Solis, Elizabeth; Fang, Ruogu; Godavarty, Anuradha

2016-03-01

Lower extremity ulcers are one of the most common complications that not only affect many people around the world but also have huge impact on economy since a large amount of resources are spent for treatment and prevention of the diseases. Clinical studies have shown that reduction in the wound size of 40% within 4 weeks is an acceptable progress in the healing process. Quantification of the wound size plays a crucial role in assessing the extent of healing and determining the treatment process. To date, wound healing is visually inspected and the wound size is measured from surface images. The extent of wound healing internally may vary from the surface. A near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging approach has been developed for non-contact imaging of wounds internally and differentiating healing from non-healing wounds. Herein, quantitative wound size measurements from NIR and white light images are estimated using a graph cuts and region growing image segmentation algorithms. The extent of the wound healing from NIR imaging of lower extremity ulcers in diabetic subjects are quantified and compared across NIR and white light images. NIR imaging and wound size measurements can play a significant role in potentially predicting the extent of internal healing, thus allowing better treatment plans when implemented for periodic imaging in future.

A clinical review of phototherapy for psoriasis.

PubMed

Zhang, Ping; Wu, Mei X

2018-01-01

Psoriasis is an autoimmune inflammatory skin disease. In the past several decades, phototherapy has been widely used to treat stable psoriatic lesions, including trunk, scalp, arms and legs, and partial nail psoriasis. A variety of light/lasers with different mechanisms of action have been developed for psoriasis including ultraviolet B (UVB), psoralen ultraviolet A (PUVA), pulsed dye laser (PDL), photodynamic therapy (PDT), intense pulsed light (IPL), light-emitting diodes (LED), and so on. Because light/laser each has specific therapeutic and adverse effects, it is important to adequately choose the sources and parameters in management of psoriasis with different pathogenic sites, severities, and duration of the disorder. This review aims at providing most updated clinic information to physicians about how to select light/laser sources and individual therapeutic regimens. To date, UV light is primarily for stable plaque psoriasis and PDL for topical psoriatic lesions with small area, both of which are safe and effective. On the other hand, PUVA has better curative effects than UVB for managing refractory psoriasis plaques, if its side effects can be better controlled. PDL provides optimal outcomes on nail psoriasis compared with other lasers. Although the trails of low-level light/laser therapy (LLLT) are still small, the near infrared (NIR) and visible red light with low energy show promise for treating psoriasis due to its strong penetration and encouraging photobiomodulation. IPL is rarely reported for psoriasis treatment, but PDT-IPL has been found to offer a moderate effect on nail psoriasis. In brief, various phototherapies have been used either in different combinations or as monotherapy. The modality has become a mainstay in the treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis without systemic adverse events in today's clinical practice.

The influence of light quality on the accumulation of flavonoids in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) leaves.

PubMed

Fu, Bo; Ji, Xiaoming; Zhao, Mingqin; He, Fan; Wang, Xiaoli; Wang, Yiding; Liu, Pengfei; Niu, Lu

2016-09-01

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites in plants regulated by the environment. To analyze the effect of light quality on the accumulation of flavonoids, we performed a rapid analysis of flavonoids in extracts of tobacco leaves using UHPLC-QTOF. A total of 12 flavonoids were detected and identified in tobacco leaves, which were classified into flavonoid methyl derivatives and flavonoid glycoside derivatives according to the groups linked to the flavonoid core. Correlation analysis was further conducted to investigate the effect of different wavelengths of light on their accumulation. The content of flavonoid methyl derivatives was positively correlated with the proportions of far-red light (FR; 716-810nm) and near-infrared light (NIR; 810-2200nm) in the sunlight spectrum and negatively correlated with the proportion of ultraviolet (UV-A; 350-400nm) and the red/far-red ratio (R/FR). By contrast, the content of flavonoid glycoside derivatives was positively correlated with the proportion of UV-A and the R/FR, and negatively correlated with FR and NIR. The results indicated that light quality with higher proportions of FR and NIR increases the activity of flavonoid methyltransferases but suppresses the activity of flavonoid glycoside transferases. While a high proportion of UV-A and a high R/FR can increase flavonoid glycoside transferase activity but suppress flavonoid methyltransferase activity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dynamic Features for Iris Recognition.

PubMed

da Costa, R M; Gonzaga, A

2012-08-01

The human eye is sensitive to visible light. Increasing illumination on the eye causes the pupil of the eye to contract, while decreasing illumination causes the pupil to dilate. Visible light causes specular reflections inside the iris ring. On the other hand, the human retina is less sensitive to near infra-red (NIR) radiation in the wavelength range from 800 nm to 1400 nm, but iris detail can still be imaged with NIR illumination. In order to measure the dynamic movement of the human pupil and iris while keeping the light-induced reflexes from affecting the quality of the digitalized image, this paper describes a device based on the consensual reflex. This biological phenomenon contracts and dilates the two pupils synchronously when illuminating one of the eyes by visible light. In this paper, we propose to capture images of the pupil of one eye using NIR illumination while illuminating the other eye using a visible-light pulse. This new approach extracts iris features called "dynamic features (DFs)." This innovative methodology proposes the extraction of information about the way the human eye reacts to light, and to use such information for biometric recognition purposes. The results demonstrate that these features are discriminating features, and, even using the Euclidean distance measure, an average accuracy of recognition of 99.1% was obtained. The proposed methodology has the potential to be "fraud-proof," because these DFs can only be extracted from living irises.

In vivo type 2 cannabinoid receptor-targeted tumor optical imaging using a near infrared fluorescent probe.

PubMed

Zhang, Shaojuan; Shao, Pin; Bai, Mingfeng

2013-11-20

The type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R) plays a vital role in carcinogenesis and progression and is emerging as a therapeutic target for cancers. However, the exact role of CB2R in cancer progression and therapy remains unclear. This has driven the increasing efforts to study CB2R and cancers using molecular imaging tools. In addition, many types of cancers overexpress CB2R, and the expression levels of CB2R appear to be associated with tumor aggressiveness. Such upregulation of the receptor in cancer cells provides opportunities for CB2R-targeted imaging with high contrast and for therapy with low side effects. In the present study, we report the first in vivo tumor-targeted optical imaging using a novel CB2R-targeted near-infrared probe. In vitro cell fluorescent imaging and a competitive binding assay indicated specific binding of NIR760-mbc94 to CB2R in CB2-mid delayed brain tumor (DBT) cells. NIR760-mbc94 also preferentially labeled CB2-mid DBT tumors in vivo, with a 3.7-fold tumor-to-normal contrast enhancement at 72 h postinjection, whereas the fluorescence signal from the tumors of the mice treated with NIR760 free dye was nearly at the background level at the same time point. SR144528, a CB2R competitor, significantly inhibited tumor uptake of NIR760-mbc94, indicating that NIR760-mbc94 binds to CB2R specifically. In summary, NIR760-mbc94 specifically binds to CB2R in vitro and in vivo and appears to be a promising molecular tool that may have great potential for use in diagnostic imaging of CB2R-positive cancers and therapeutic monitoring as well as in elucidating the role of CB2R in cancer progression and therapy.

Dual-illumination mode, wide-field probe imaging scheme for imaging irido-corneal angle region inside eye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinoj, V. K.; Murukeshan, V. M.; Hong, Jesmond; Baskaran, M.; Aung, Tin

2015-07-01

Noninvasive medical imaging techniques have generated great interest and high potential in the research and development of ocular imaging and follow up procedures. It is well known that angle closure glaucoma is one of the major ocular diseases/ conditions that causes blindness. The identification and treatment of this disease are related primarily to angle assessment techniques. In this paper, we illustrate a probe-based imaging approach to obtain the images of the angle region in eye. The proposed probe consists of a micro CCD camera and LED/NIR laser light sources and they are configured at the distal end to enable imaging of iridocorneal region inside eye. With this proposed dualmodal probe, imaging is performed in light (white visible LED ON) and dark (NIR laser light source alone) conditions and the angle region is noticeable in both cases. The imaging using NIR sources have major significance in anterior chamber imaging since it evades pupil constriction due to the bright light and thereby the artificial altering of anterior chamber angle. The proposed methodology and developed scheme are expected to find potential application in glaucoma disease detection and diagnosis.

Preliminary Study for Designing a Novel Vein-Visualizing Device

PubMed Central

Kim, Donghoon; Kim, Yujin; Yoon, Siyeop; Lee, Deukhee

2017-01-01

Venipuncture is an important health diagnosis process. Although venipuncture is one of the most commonly performed procedures in medical environments, locating the veins of infants, obese, anemic, or colored patients is still an arduous task even for skilled practitioners. To solve this problem, several devices using infrared light have recently become commercially available. However, such devices for venipuncture share a common drawback, especially when visualizing deep veins or veins of a thick part of the body like the cubital fossa. This paper proposes a new vein-visualizing device applying a new penetration method using near-infrared (NIR) light. The light module is attached directly on to the declared area of the skin. Then, NIR beam is rayed from two sides of the light module to the vein with a specific angle. This gives a penetration effect. In addition, through an image processing procedure, the vein structure is enhanced to show it more accurately. Through a phantom study, the most effective penetration angle of the NIR module is decided. Additionally, the feasibility of the device is verified through experiments in vivo. The prototype allows us to visualize the vein patterns of thicker body parts, such as arms. PMID:28178227

IrisDenseNet: Robust Iris Segmentation Using Densely Connected Fully Convolutional Networks in the Images by Visible Light and Near-Infrared Light Camera Sensors

PubMed Central

Arsalan, Muhammad; Naqvi, Rizwan Ali; Kim, Dong Seop; Nguyen, Phong Ha; Owais, Muhammad; Park, Kang Ryoung

2018-01-01

The recent advancements in computer vision have opened new horizons for deploying biometric recognition algorithms in mobile and handheld devices. Similarly, iris recognition is now much needed in unconstraint scenarios with accuracy. These environments make the acquired iris image exhibit occlusion, low resolution, blur, unusual glint, ghost effect, and off-angles. The prevailing segmentation algorithms cannot cope with these constraints. In addition, owing to the unavailability of near-infrared (NIR) light, iris recognition in visible light environment makes the iris segmentation challenging with the noise of visible light. Deep learning with convolutional neural networks (CNN) has brought a considerable breakthrough in various applications. To address the iris segmentation issues in challenging situations by visible light and near-infrared light camera sensors, this paper proposes a densely connected fully convolutional network (IrisDenseNet), which can determine the true iris boundary even with inferior-quality images by using better information gradient flow between the dense blocks. In the experiments conducted, five datasets of visible light and NIR environments were used. For visible light environment, noisy iris challenge evaluation part-II (NICE-II selected from UBIRIS.v2 database) and mobile iris challenge evaluation (MICHE-I) datasets were used. For NIR environment, the institute of automation, Chinese academy of sciences (CASIA) v4.0 interval, CASIA v4.0 distance, and IIT Delhi v1.0 iris datasets were used. Experimental results showed the optimal segmentation of the proposed IrisDenseNet and its excellent performance over existing algorithms for all five datasets. PMID:29748495

IrisDenseNet: Robust Iris Segmentation Using Densely Connected Fully Convolutional Networks in the Images by Visible Light and Near-Infrared Light Camera Sensors.

PubMed

Arsalan, Muhammad; Naqvi, Rizwan Ali; Kim, Dong Seop; Nguyen, Phong Ha; Owais, Muhammad; Park, Kang Ryoung

2018-05-10

The recent advancements in computer vision have opened new horizons for deploying biometric recognition algorithms in mobile and handheld devices. Similarly, iris recognition is now much needed in unconstraint scenarios with accuracy. These environments make the acquired iris image exhibit occlusion, low resolution, blur, unusual glint, ghost effect, and off-angles. The prevailing segmentation algorithms cannot cope with these constraints. In addition, owing to the unavailability of near-infrared (NIR) light, iris recognition in visible light environment makes the iris segmentation challenging with the noise of visible light. Deep learning with convolutional neural networks (CNN) has brought a considerable breakthrough in various applications. To address the iris segmentation issues in challenging situations by visible light and near-infrared light camera sensors, this paper proposes a densely connected fully convolutional network (IrisDenseNet), which can determine the true iris boundary even with inferior-quality images by using better information gradient flow between the dense blocks. In the experiments conducted, five datasets of visible light and NIR environments were used. For visible light environment, noisy iris challenge evaluation part-II (NICE-II selected from UBIRIS.v2 database) and mobile iris challenge evaluation (MICHE-I) datasets were used. For NIR environment, the institute of automation, Chinese academy of sciences (CASIA) v4.0 interval, CASIA v4.0 distance, and IIT Delhi v1.0 iris datasets were used. Experimental results showed the optimal segmentation of the proposed IrisDenseNet and its excellent performance over existing algorithms for all five datasets.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Insights from Combined Recording Studies

PubMed Central

Scarapicchia, Vanessa; Brown, Cassandra; Mayo, Chantel; Gawryluk, Jodie R.

2017-01-01

Although blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a widely available, non-invasive technique that offers excellent spatial resolution, it remains limited by practical constraints imposed by the scanner environment. More recently, functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has emerged as an alternative hemodynamic-based approach that possesses a number of strengths where fMRI is limited, most notably in portability and higher tolerance for motion. To date, fNIRS has shown promise in its ability to shed light on the functioning of the human brain in populations and contexts previously inaccessible to fMRI. Notable contributions include infant neuroimaging studies and studies examining full-body behaviors, such as exercise. However, much like fMRI, fNIRS has technical constraints that have limited its application to clinical settings, including a lower spatial resolution and limited depth of recording. Thus, by combining fMRI and fNIRS in such a way that the two methods complement each other, a multimodal imaging approach may allow for more complex research paradigms than is feasible with either technique alone. In light of these issues, the purpose of the current review is to: (1) provide an overview of fMRI and fNIRS and their associated strengths and limitations; (2) review existing combined fMRI-fNIRS recording studies; and (3) discuss how their combined use in future research practices may aid in advancing modern investigations of human brain function. PMID:28867998

High contrast near-infrared polarized reflectance images of demineralization on tooth buccal and occlusal surfaces at lambda = 1310-nm.

PubMed

Wu, J; Fried, D

2009-03-01

Sound enamel manifests peak transparency in the near-IR (NIR) at 1310-nm, therefore the near-IR is ideally suited for high contrast imaging of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to acquire images of early demineralized enamel on the buccal and occlusal surfaces of extracted human teeth using NIR reflectance imaging and compare the contrast of those images with the contrast of images taken using other methods. Fifteen human molars were used in this in vitro study. Teeth were painted with a clear acid-resistant varnish, leaving two 2 mm x 2 mm windows on the buccal and occlusal surfaces of each tooth for demineralization. Artificial lesions were produced in the exposed windows after a 2-day exposure to a demineralizing solution at pH 4.5. Lesions were imaged using NIR transillumination, NIR and visible light reflectance, and fluorescence imaging methods. Crossed polarizers were used where appropriate to improve contrast. Polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) was also used to non-destructively assess the depth and severity of demineralization in each sample window. NIR reflectance imaging had the highest image contrast for both the buccal and occlusal groups and it was significantly higher contrast than visible light reflectance (P < 0.05). The results of the study suggest that NIR reflectance imaging is a promising new method for acquiring high contrast images of early demineralization on tooth surfaces. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Transillumination and reflectance probes for in vivo near-IR imaging of dental caries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simon, Jacob C.; Lucas, Seth A.; Staninec, Michal; Tom, Henry; Chan, Kenneth H.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2014-02-01

Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of near infrared (NIR) imaging for caries detection employing transillumination and reflectance imaging geometries. Three intra-oral NIR imaging probes were fabricated for the acquisition of in vivo, real time videos using a high definition InGaAs SWIR camera and near-IR broadband light sources. Two transillumination probes provide occlusal and interproximal images using 1300-nm light where water absorption is low and enamel manifests the highest transparency. A third reflectance probe utilizes cross polarization and operates at >1500-nm, where water absorption is higher which reduces the reflectivity of sound tissues, significantly increasing lesion contrast. These probes are being used in an ongoing clinical study to assess the diagnostic performance of NIR imaging for the detection of caries lesions in teeth scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons.

Hemodynamic (fNIRS) and EEG (N200) correlates of emotional inter-species interactions modulated by visual and auditory stimulation

PubMed Central

Balconi, Michela; Vanutelli, Maria Elide

2016-01-01

The brain activity, considered in its hemodynamic (optical imaging: functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, fNIRS) and electrophysiological components (event-related potentials, ERPs, N200) was monitored when subjects observed (visual stimulation, V) or observed and heard (visual + auditory stimulation, VU) situations which represented inter-species (human-animal) interactions, with an emotional positive (cooperative) or negative (uncooperative) content. In addition, the cortical lateralization effect (more left or right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, DLPFC) was explored. Both ERP and fNIRS showed significant effects due to emotional interactions which were discussed at light of cross-modal integration effects. The significance of inter-species effect for the emotional behavior was considered. In addition, hemodynamic and EEG consonant results and their value as integrated measures were discussed at light of valence effect. PMID:26976052

Building Computer Free Sorting Devices Based on Reflection of Visible and NIR Wavelengths

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

NIR and visible light reflection from food products has long been the basis of scientific research for the detection of defects and contaminants as well as food quality attributes. Most of the research in this area reports derived calibration equations that indicate the potential of using the techno...

Digital micromirror based near-infrared illumination system for plasmonic photothermal neuromodulation

PubMed Central

Jung, Hyunjun; Kang, Hongki; Nam, Yoonkey

2017-01-01

Light-mediated neuromodulation techniques provide great advantages to investigate neuroscience due to its high spatial and temporal resolution. To generate a spatial pattern of neural activity, it is necessary to develop a system for patterned-light illumination to a specific area. Digital micromirror device (DMD) based patterned illumination system have been used for neuromodulation due to its simple configuration and design flexibility. In this paper, we developed a patterned near-infrared (NIR) illumination system for region specific photothermal manipulation of neural activity using NIR-sensitive plasmonic gold nanorods (GNRs). The proposed system had high power transmission efficiency for delivering power density up to 19 W/mm2. We used a GNR-coated microelectrode array (MEA) to perform biological experiments using E18 rat hippocampal neurons and showed that it was possible to inhibit neural spiking activity of specific area in neural circuits with the patterned NIR illumination. This patterned NIR illumination system can serve as a promising neuromodulation tool to investigate neuroscience in a wide range of physiological and clinical applications. PMID:28663912

Light responsive hybrid nanofibres for on-demand therapeutic drug and cell delivery.

PubMed

Li, Yan-Fang; Slemming-Adamsen, Peter; Wang, Jing; Song, Jie; Wang, Xueqin; Yu, Ying; Dong, Mingdong; Chen, Chunying; Besenbacher, Flemming; Chen, Menglin

2017-08-01

Smart materials for on-demand delivery of therapeutically active agents are challenging in pharmaceutical and biomaterials science. In the present study, we report hybrid nanofibres capable of being reversibly controlled to pulsatile deliver both therapeutic drugs and cells on-demand of near-infrared (NIR) light. The nanofibres, fabricated by co-electrospinning of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide), silica-coated gold nanorods and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquinoxanes have, for the first time, demonstrated rapid, reversible large-volume changes of 83% on-demand with NIR stimulation, with retained nanofibrous morphology. Combining with the extracellular matrix-mimicking fibrillary properties, the nanofibres achieved accelerated release of model drug or cells on demand with NIR triggering. The release of the model drug doxorubicin demonstrated normal anti-cancer efficacy by reducing the viability of human cervical cancer HeLa cells by 97% in 48 h. In parallel, the fibres allowed model cell NIH3T3 fibroblast entrapment, adhesion, proliferation, differentiation and, upon NIR irradiation, cell release with undisturbed cellular function. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Applegate, Matthew B.; Alonzo, Carlo; Georgakoudi, Irene

High resolution three-dimensional voids can be directly written into transparent silk fibroin hydrogels using ultrashort pulses of near-infrared (NIR) light. Here, we propose a simple finite-element model that can be used to predict the size and shape of individual features under various exposure conditions. We compare predicted and measured feature volumes for a wide range of parameters and use the model to determine optimum conditions for maximum material removal. The simplicity of the model implies that the mechanism of multiphoton induced void creation in silk is due to direct absorption of light energy rather than diffusion of heat or othermore » photoproducts, and confirms that multiphoton absorption of NIR light in silk is purely a 3-photon process.« less

Synthesis and Applications of Multimodal Hybrid Albumin Nanoparticles for Chemotherapeutic Drug Delivery and Photothermal Therapy Platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peralta, Donna V.

Progress has been made in using human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSAPs) as carrier systems for targeted treatment of cancer. Human serum albumin (HSA), the most abundant human blood protein, can form HSAPs via a desolvation and crosslinking method, with the size of the HSAPs having crucial importance for drug loading and in vivo performance. Gold nanoparticles have also gained medicinal attention due to their ability to absorb near-infrared (NIR) light. These relatively non-toxic particles offer combinational therapy via imaging and photothermal therapy (PPTT) capabilities. A desolvation and crosslinking approach was employed to encapsulate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), hollow gold nanoshells (AuNSs), and gold nanorods (AuNRs), into efficiently sized HSAPs for future tumor heat ablation via PPTT. The AuNR-HSAPs, AuNP-HSAPs and AuNS-HSAPs had average particle diameters of 222 +/- 5, 195 +/- 9 and 156 +/- 15, respectively. We simultaneously encapsulated AuNRs and the anticancer drug paclitaxel (PAC), forming PAC-AuNR-HSAPs with overall average particle size of 299 +/- 6 nm. Loading of paclitaxel into PAC-AuNR-HSAPs reached 3microg PAC/mg HSA. PAC-AuNR-HSAPs experienced photothermal heating of 46 °C after 15 minutes of NIR laser exposure; the temperature necessary to cause severe cellular hyperthermia. There was a burst release of paclitaxel up to 188 ng caused by the irradiation session, followed by a temporal drug release. AuNR-HSAPs were tested for ablation of renal cell carcinoma using NIR irradiation in vitro. Particles created with the same amount of AuNRs, but varying HSA (1, 5 or 20 mg) showed overall particle size diameters 409 +/- 224, 294 +/- 83 and 167 +/- 4 nm, respectively. Increasing HSAPs causes more toxicity under non-irradiated treatment conditions: AuNR-HSAPs with 20 mg versus 5 mg HSA caused cell viability of 64.5% versus 87%, respectively. All AuNR-HSAPs batches experienced photothermal heating above 42 °C. Coumarin-6, was used to visualize the cellular uptake of AuNR-HSAPs via fluorescence microscopy. Finally, camptothecin (CPT) an antineoplastic agent and BACPT (7-butyl-10-aminocamptothecin) were loaded into HSAPs to combat their aqueous insolubility. BACPT-HSAPs loaded up to 5.25 micrograms BACPT/ mg of HSA. CPT encapsulation could not be determined. BACPT-HSAPs and CPT-HSAPs showed cytotoxicity to human sarcoma cells in vitro. Key words: Hybrid Nanoparticles, Photothermal Therapy, Gold Nanomaterials, Drug Delivery, Combinational Cancer Therapies, Materials, Human Serum Albumin, Colloidal Carriers.

Simulation of a fast diffuse optical tomography system based on radiative transfer equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motevalli, S. M.; Payani, A.

2016-12-01

Studies show that near-infrared (NIR) light (light with wavelength between 700nm and 1300nm) undergoes two interactions, absorption and scattering, when it penetrates a tissue. Since scattering is the predominant interaction, the calculation of light distribution in the tissue and the image reconstruction of absorption and scattering coefficients are very complicated. Some analytical and numerical methods, such as radiative transport equation and Monte Carlo method, have been used for the simulation of light penetration in tissue. Recently, some investigators in the world have tried to develop a diffuse optical tomography system. In these systems, NIR light penetrates the tissue and passes through the tissue. Then, light exiting the tissue is measured by NIR detectors placed around the tissue. These data are collected from all the detectors and transferred to the computational parts (including hardware and software), which make a cross-sectional image of the tissue after performing some computational processes. In this paper, the results of the simulation of an optical diffuse tomography system are presented. This simulation involves two stages: a) Simulation of the forward problem (or light penetration in the tissue), which is performed by solving the diffusion approximation equation in the stationary state using FEM. b) Simulation of the inverse problem (or image reconstruction), which is performed by the optimization algorithm called Broyden quasi-Newton. This method of image reconstruction is faster compared to the other Newton-based optimization algorithms, such as the Levenberg-Marquardt one.

Drug "Pent-Up" in Hollow Magnetic Prussian Blue Nanoparticles for NIR-Induced Chemo-Photothermal Tumor Therapy with Trimodal Imaging.

PubMed

Li, Jinghua; Zhang, Fengshou; Hu, Zhigang; Song, Weidong; Li, Guangda; Liang, Gaofeng; Zhou, Jun; Li, Ke; Cao, Yang; Luo, Zhong; Cai, Kaiyong

2017-07-01

The study reports a biocompatible smart drug delivery system based on a doxorubicin (DOX) blending phase-change material of 1-pentadecanol loaded hollow magnetic Prussian blue nanoparticles, resulting in HMNP-PB@Pent@DOX. The system possesses concentration-dependent high thermogenesis (>50 °C) when applying a near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation only for 5 min. Furthermore, the system realizes near "zero release" of drug and is efficiently triggered by NIR for drug delivery in an "on" and "off" manner, thus inducing cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the system clearly indicates tumor site with trimodal imaging of magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic tomography imaging, and infrared thermal imaging. Furthermore, the system achieves efficient chemo-photothermal combined tumor therapy in vivo with 808 nm laser irradiation for 5 min at 1.2 W cm -2 , revealing the good tumor inhibition effect comparing with those of chemotherapy or photothermal therapy alone. The system is also confirmed to be biocompatible in regard to the mortality rate. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

PEDOT nanocomposites mediated dual-modal photodynamic and photothermal targeted sterilization in both NIR I and II window.

PubMed

Li, Luoyuan; Liu, Yuxin; Hao, Panlong; Wang, Zhangguo; Fu, Limin; Ma, Zhanfang; Zhou, Jing

2015-02-01

PEDOT nanoparticles with a suitable nanosize of 17.2 nm, broad adsorption from 700 to 1250 nm, and photothermal conversion efficiency (η) of 71.1%, were synthesized using an environmentally friendly hydrothermal method. Due to the electrostatic attraction between indocyanine green (ICG) and PEDOT, the stability of ICG in aqueous solution was effectively improved. The PEDOT nanoparticles modified with glutaraldehyde (GTA) targeted bacteria directly, and MTT experiments demonstrated the low toxicity of PEDOT:ICG@PEG-GTA in different bacteria and cells. Pathogenic bacteria were effectively killed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) with PEDOT:ICG@PEG-GTA in the presence of near-infrared (NIR) irradiation (808 nm for PDT, and 1064 nm for PTT). The combination of the two different bacteriostatic methods was significantly more effective than PTT or PDT alone. The obtained PEDOT:ICG@PEG-GTA may be used as a novel synergistic agent in combination photodynamic and photothermal therapy to inactivate pathogenic bacteria in both the NIR I and II window. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hot electron induced NIR detection in CdS films.

PubMed

Sharma, Alka; Kumar, Rahul; Bhattacharyya, Biplab; Husale, Sudhir

2016-03-11

We report the use of random Au nanoislands to enhance the absorption of CdS photodetectors at wavelengths beyond its intrinsic absorption properties from visible to NIR spectrum enabling a high performance visible-NIR photodetector. The temperature dependent annealing method was employed to form random sized Au nanoparticles on CdS films. The hot electron induced NIR photo-detection shows high responsivity of ~780 mA/W for an area of ~57 μm(2). The simulated optical response (absorption and responsivity) of Au nanoislands integrated in CdS films confirms the strong dependence of NIR sensitivity on the size and shape of Au nanoislands. The demonstration of plasmon enhanced IR sensitivity along with the cost-effective device fabrication method using CdS film enables the possibility of economical light harvesting applications which can be implemented in future technological applications.

Biofilm Growth and Near-Infrared Radiation-Driven Photosynthesis of the Chlorophyll d-Containing Cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina

PubMed Central

Behrendt, Lars; Schrameyer, Verena; Qvortrup, Klaus; Lundin, Luisa; Sørensen, Søren J.; Larkum, Anthony W. D.

2012-01-01

The cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina is the only known phototroph harboring chlorophyll (Chl) d. It is easy to cultivate it in a planktonic growth mode, and A. marina cultures have been subject to detailed biochemical and biophysical characterization. In natural situations, A. marina is mainly found associated with surfaces, but this growth mode has not been studied yet. Here, we show that the A. marina type strain MBIC11017 inoculated into alginate beads forms dense biofilm-like cell clusters, as in natural A. marina biofilms, characterized by strong O2 concentration gradients that change with irradiance. Biofilm growth under both visible radiation (VIS, 400 to 700 nm) and near-infrared radiation (NIR, ∼700 to 730 nm) yielded maximal cell-specific growth rates of 0.38 per day and 0.64 per day, respectively. The population doubling times were 1.09 and 1.82 days for NIR and visible light, respectively. The photosynthesis versus irradiance curves showed saturation at a photon irradiance of Ek (saturating irradiance) >250 μmol photons m−2 s−1 for blue light but no clear saturation at 365 μmol photons m−2 s−1 for NIR. The maximal gross photosynthesis rates in the aggregates were ∼1,272 μmol O2 mg Chl d−1 h−1 (NIR) and ∼1,128 μmol O2 mg Chl d−1 h−1 (VIS). The photosynthetic efficiency (α) values were higher in NIR-irradiated cells [(268 ± 0.29) × 10−6 m2 mg Chl d−1 (mean ± standard deviation)] than under blue light [(231 ± 0.22) × 10−6 m2 mg Chl d−1]. A. marina is well adapted to a biofilm growth mode under both visible and NIR irradiance and under O2 conditions ranging from anoxia to hyperoxia, explaining its presence in natural niches with similar environmental conditions. PMID:22467501

Measuring the Hubble constant with Type Ia supernovae as near-infrared standard candles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dhawan, Suhail; Jha, Saurabh W.; Leibundgut, Bruno

2018-01-01

The most precise local measurements of H0 rely on observations of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) coupled with Cepheid distances to SN Ia host galaxies. Recent results have shown tension comparing H0 to the value inferred from CMB observations assuming ΛCDM, making it important to check for potential systematic uncertainties in either approach. To date, precise local H0 measurements have used SN Ia distances based on optical photometry, with corrections for light curve shape and colour. Here, we analyse SNe Ia as standard candles in the near-infrared (NIR), where luminosity variations in the supernovae and extinction by dust are both reduced relative to the optical. From a combined fit to 9 nearby calibrator SNe with host Cepheid distances from Riess et al. (2016) and 27 SNe in the Hubble flow, we estimate the absolute peak J magnitude MJ = -18.524 ± 0.041 mag and H0 = 72.8 ± 1.6 (statistical) ±2.7 (systematic) km s-1 Mpc-1. The 2.2% statistical uncertainty demonstrates that the NIR provides a compelling avenue to measuring SN Ia distances, and for our sample the intrinsic (unmodeled) peak J magnitude scatter is just 0.10 mag, even without light curve shape or colour corrections. Our results do not vary significantly with different sample selection criteria, though photometric calibration in the NIR may be a dominant systematic uncertainty. Our findings suggest that tension in the competing H0 distance ladders is likely not a result of supernova systematics that could be expected to vary between optical and NIR wavelengths, like dust extinction. We anticipate further improvements in H0 with a larger calibrator sample of SNe Ia with Cepheid distances, more Hubble flow SNe Ia with NIR light curves, and better use of the full NIR photometric data set beyond simply the peak J-band magnitude.

A new optical method coupling light polarization and Vis-NIR spectroscopy to improve the measured absorbance signal's quality of soil samples.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gobrecht, Alexia; Bendoula, Ryad; Roger, Jean-Michel; Bellon-Maurel, Véronique

2014-05-01

Visible - Near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIRS) is now commonly used to measure different physical and chemical parameters of soils, including carbon content. However, prediction model accuracy is insufficient for Vis-NIRS to replace routine laboratory analysis. One of the biggest issues this technique is facing up to is light scattering due to soil particles. It causes departure in the assumed linear relationship between the Absorbance spectrum and the concentration of the chemicals of interest as stated by Beer-Lambert's Law, which underpins the calibration models. Therefore it becomes essential to improve the metrological quality of the measured signal in order to optimize calibration as light/matter interactions are at the basis of the resulting linear modeling. Optics can help to mitigate scattering effect on the signal. We put forward a new optical setup coupling linearly polarized light with a Vis-NIR spectrometer to free the measured spectra from multi-scattering effect. The corrected measured spectrum was then used to compute an Absorbance spectrum of the sample, using Dahm's Equation in the frame of the Representative Layer Theory. This method has been previously tested and validated on liquid (milk+ dye) and powdered (sand + dye) samples showing scattering (and absorbing) properties. The obtained Absorbance was a very good approximation of the Beer-Lambert's law absorbance. Here, we tested the method on a set of 54 soil samples to predict Soil Organic Carbon content. In order to assess the signal quality improvement by this method, we built and compared calibration models using Partial Least Square (PLS) algorithm. The prediction model built from new Absorbance spectrum outperformed the model built with the classical Absorbance traditionally obtained with Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance. This study is a good illustration of the high influence of signal quality on prediction model's performances.

Non-thermal near-infrared exposure photobiomodulates cellular responses to ionizing radiation in human full thickness skin models.

PubMed

König, Anke; Zöller, Nadja; Kippenberger, Stefan; Bernd, August; Kaufmann, Roland; Layer, Paul G; Heselich, Anja

2018-01-01

Ionizing and near-infrared radiation are both part of the therapeutic spectrum in cancer treatment. During cancer therapy ionizing radiation is typically used for non-invasive reduction of malignant tissue, while near-infrared photobiomodulation is utilized in palliative medical approaches, e.g. for pain reduction or impairment of wound healing. Furthermore, near-infrared is part of the solar wavelength spectrum. A combined exposure of these two irradiation qualities - either intentionally during medical treatment or unintentionally due to solar exposure - is therefore presumable for cancer patients. Several studies in different model organisms and cell cultures show a strong impact of near-infrared pretreatment on ionizing radiation-induced stress response. To investigate the risks of non-thermal near-infrared (NIR) pretreatment in patients, a human in vitro full thickness skin models (FTSM) was evaluated for radiation research. FTSM were pretreated with therapy-relevant doses of NIR followed by X-radiation, and then examined for DNA-double-strand break (DSB) repair, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Double-treated FTSM revealed a clear influence of NIR on X-radiation-induced stress responses in cells in their typical tissue environment. Furthermore, over a 24h time period, double-treated FTSM presented a significant persistence of DSBs, as compared to samples exclusively irradiated by X-rays. In addition, NIR pretreatment inhibited apoptosis induction of integrated fibroblasts, and counteracted the radiation-induced proliferation inhibition of basal keratinocytes. Our work suggests that cancer patients treated with X-rays should be prevented from uncontrolled NIR irradiation. On the other hand, controlled double-treatment could provide an alternative therapy approach, exposing the patient to less radiation. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Convolutional Sparse Coding for RGB+NIR Imaging.

PubMed

Hu, Xuemei; Heide, Felix; Dai, Qionghai; Wetzstein, Gordon

2018-04-01

Emerging sensor designs increasingly rely on novel color filter arrays (CFAs) to sample the incident spectrum in unconventional ways. In particular, capturing a near-infrared (NIR) channel along with conventional RGB color is an exciting new imaging modality. RGB+NIR sensing has broad applications in computational photography, such as low-light denoising, it has applications in computer vision, such as facial recognition and tracking, and it paves the way toward low-cost single-sensor RGB and depth imaging using structured illumination. However, cost-effective commercial CFAs suffer from severe spectral cross talk. This cross talk represents a major challenge in high-quality RGB+NIR imaging, rendering existing spatially multiplexed sensor designs impractical. In this work, we introduce a new approach to RGB+NIR image reconstruction using learned convolutional sparse priors. We demonstrate high-quality color and NIR imaging for challenging scenes, even including high-frequency structured NIR illumination. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated on a large data set of experimental captures, and simulated benchmark results which demonstrate that this work achieves unprecedented reconstruction quality.

Biocompatible near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles for macro and microscopic in vivo functional bioimaging

PubMed Central

Chu, Liliang; Wang, Shaowei; Li, Kanghui; Xi, Wang; Zhao, Xinyuan; Qian, Jun

2014-01-01

Near-infrared (NIR) imaging technology has been widely used for biomedical research and applications, since it can achieve deep penetration in biological tissues due to less absorption and scattering of NIR light. In our research, polymer nanoparticles with NIR fluorophores doped were synthesized. The morphology, absorption/emission features and chemical stability of the fluorescent nanoparticles were characterized, separately. NIR fluorescent nanoparticles were then utilized as bright optical probes for macro in vivo imaging of mice, including sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping, as well as distribution and excretion monitoring of nanoparticles in animal body. Furthermore, we applied the NIR fluorescent nanoparticles in in vivo microscopic bioimaging via a confocal microscope. Under the 635 nm-CW excitation, the blood vessel architecture in the ear and the brain of mice, which were administered with nanoparticles, was visualized very clearly. The imaging depth of our one-photon microscopy, which was assisted with NIR fluorescent nanoprobes, can reach as deep as 500 μm. Our experiments show that NIR fluorescent nanoparticles have great potentials in various deep-tissue imaging applications. PMID:25426331

Nitrite reductase expression is regulated at the post-transcriptional level by the nitrogen source in Nicotiana plumbaginifolia and Arabidopsis thaliana.

PubMed

Crété, P; Caboche, M; Meyer, C

1997-04-01

Higher plant nitrite reductase (NiR) is a monomeric chloroplastic protein catalysing the reduction of nitrite, the product of nitrate reduction, to ammonium. The expression of this enzyme is controlled at the transcriptional level by light and by the nitrogen source. In order to study the post-transcriptional regulation of NiR, Nicotiana plumbaginifolia and Arabidopsis thaliana were transformed with a chimaeric NiR construct containing the tobacco leaf NiR1 coding sequence driven by the CaMV 35S RNA promoter. Transformed plants did not show any phenotypic difference when compared with the wild-type, although they overexpressed NiR activity in the leaves. When these plants were grown in vitro on media containing either nitrate or ammonium as sole nitrogen source, NiR mRNA derived from transgene expression was constitutively expressed, whereas NiR activity and protein level were strongly reduced on ammonium-containing medium. These results suggest that, together with transcriptional control, post-transcriptional regulation by the nitrogen source is operating on NiR expression. This post-transcriptional regulation of tobacco leaf NiR1 expression was observed not only in the closely related species N. plumbaginifolia but also in the more distant species A. thaliana.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor induced growth factor receptor upregulation enhances the efficacy of near-infrared targeted photodynamic therapy in esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines.

PubMed

Hartmans, Elmire; Linssen, Matthijs D; Sikkens, Claire; Levens, Afra; Witjes, Max J H; van Dam, Gooitzen M; Nagengast, Wouter B

2017-05-02

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a global health problem, with disappointing 5-year survival rates of only 15-25%. Near-infrared targeted photodynamic therapy (NIR-tPDT) is a novel strategy in which cancer-targeted phototoxicity is able to selectively treat malignant cells. In this in vitro report we demonstrate the applicability of antibody-based NIR-tPDT in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), using the phototoxic compounds cetuximab-IRDye700DX and trastuzumab-IRDye700DX, targeting respectively epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (EGFR) and 2 (HER2). Furthermore, we demonstrate that NIR-tPDT can be made more effective by tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) induced growth receptor upregulation. Together, these results unveil a novel strategy for non-invasive EAC treatment, and by pretreatment-induced receptor upregulation its future clinical application may be optimized.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging using organic dye nanoparticles.

PubMed

Yu, Jia; Zhang, Xiujuan; Hao, Xiaojun; Zhang, Xiaohong; Zhou, Mengjiao; Lee, Chun-Sing; Chen, Xianfeng

2014-03-01

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging in the 700-1000 nm wavelength range has been very attractive for early detection of cancers. Conventional NIR dyes often suffer from limitation of low brightness due to self-quenching, insufficient photo- and bioenvironmental stability, and small Stokes shift. Herein, we present a strategy of using small-molecule organic dye nanoparticles (ONPs) to encapsulate NIR dyes to enable efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer to obtain NIR probes with remarkably enhanced performance for in vitro and in vivo imaging. In our design, host ONPs are used as not only carriers to trap and stabilize NIR dyes, but also light-harvesting agent to transfer energy to NIR dyes to enhance their brightness. In comparison with pure NIR dyes, our organic dye nanoparticles possess almost 50-fold increased brightness, large Stokes shifts (∼250 nm) and dramatically enhanced photostability. With surface modification, these NIR-emissive organic nanoparticles have water-dispersity and size- and fluorescence- stability over pH values from 2 to 10 for almost 60 days. With these superior advantages, these NIR-emissive organic nanoparticles can be used for highly efficient folic-acid aided specific targeting in vivo and ex vivo cellular imaging. Finally, during in vivo imaging, the nanoparticles show negligible toxicity. Overall, the results clearly display a potential application of using the NIR-emissive organic nanoparticles for in vitro and in vivo imaging. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Biodegradable Core-shell Dual-Metal-Organic-Frameworks Nanotheranostic Agent for Multiple Imaging Guided Combination Cancer Therapy

PubMed Central

Wang, Dongdong; Zhou, Jiajia; Shi, Ruohong; Wu, Huihui; Chen, Ruhui; Duan, Beichen; Xia, Guoliang; Xu, Pengping; Wang, Hui; Zhou, Shu; Wang, Chengming; Wang, Haibao; Guo, Zhen; Chen, Qianwang

2017-01-01

Metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) possess high porosity, large surface area, and tunable functionality are promising candidates for synchronous diagnosis and therapy in cancer treatment. Although large number of MOFs has been discovered, conventional MOF-based nanoplatforms are mainly limited to the sole MOF source with sole functionality. In this study, surfactant modified Prussian blue (PB) core coated by compact ZIF-8 shell (core-shell dual-MOFs, CSD-MOFs) has been reported through a versatile stepwise approach. With Prussian blue as core, CSD-MOFs are able to serve as both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence optical imaging (FOI) agents. We show that CSD-MOFs crystals loading the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) are efficient pH and near-infrared (NIR) dual-stimuli responsive drug delivery vehicles. After the degradation of ZIF-8, simultaneous NIR irradiation to the inner PB MOFs continuously generate heat that kill cancer cells. Their efficacy on HeLa cancer cell lines is higher compared with the respective single treatment modality, achieving synergistic chemo-thermal therapy efficacy. In vivo results indicate that the anti-tumor efficacy of CSD-MOFs@DOX+NIR was 7.16 and 5.07 times enhanced compared to single chemo-therapy and single thermal-therapy respectively. Our strategy opens new possibilities to construct multifunctional theranostic systems through integration of two different MOFs. PMID:29158848

Conjugated polymer and drug co-encapsulated nanoparticles for Chemo- and Photo-thermal Combination Therapy with two-photon regulated fast drug release

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Youyong; Wang, Zuyong; Cai, Pingqiang; Liu, Jie; Liao, Lun-De; Hong, Minghui; Chen, Xiaodong; Thakor, Nitish; Liu, Bin

2015-02-01

The spatial-temporal synchronization of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy is highly desirable for an efficient cancer treatment with synergistic effect. Herein, we developed a chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and photothermal conjugated polymer (CP) co-loaded nanoplatform using a near-infrared (NIR) laser responsive amphiphilic brush copolymer as the encapsulation matrix. The obtained nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit good monodispersity and excellent stability, which can efficiently convert laser energy into thermal energy for photothermal therapy. Moreover, the hydrophobic polymer matrix bearing a number of 2-diazo-1,2-naphthoquinones (DNQ) moieties could be transformed to a hydrophilic one upon NIR two-photon laser irradiation, which leads to fast drug release. Furthermore, the surface modification of the NPs with cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) tripeptide significantly enhances the accumulation of the NPs within integrin αvβ3 overexpressed cancer cells. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the combination therapy is 13.7 μg mL-1, while the IC50 for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy alone is 147.8 μg mL-1 and 36.2 μg mL-1, respectively. The combination index (C.I.) is 0.48 (<1), which indicates the synergistic effect for chemotherapy and PTT. These findings provide an excellent NIR laser regulated nanoplatform for combined cancer treatment with synergistic effect due to the synchronous chemo- and photo-thermal therapy.

A Retina-Like Dual Band Organic Photosensor Array for Filter-Free Near-Infrared-to-Memory Operations.

PubMed

Wang, Hanlin; Liu, Hongtao; Zhao, Qiang; Ni, Zhenjie; Zou, Ye; Yang, Jie; Wang, Lifeng; Sun, Yanqiu; Guo, Yunlong; Hu, Wenping; Liu, Yunqi

2017-08-01

Human eyes use retina photoreceptor cells to absorb and distinguish photons from different wavelengths to construct an image. Mimicry of such a process and extension of its spectral response into the near-infrared (NIR) is indispensable for night surveillance, retinal prosthetics, and medical imaging applications. Currently, NIR organic photosensors demand optical filters to reduce visible interference, thus making filter-free and anti-visible NIR imaging a challenging task. To solve this limitation, a filter-free and conformal, retina-inspired NIR organic photosensor is presented. Featuring an integration of photosensing and floating-gate memory modules, the device possesses an acute color distinguishing capability. In general, the retina-like photosensor transduces NIR (850 nm) into nonvolatile memory and acts as a dynamic photoswitch under green light (550 nm). In doing this, a filter-free but color-distinguishing photosensor is demonstrated that selectively converts NIR optical signals into nonvolatile memory. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

All-photonic drying and sintering process via flash white light combined with deep-UV and near-infrared irradiation for highly conductive copper nano-ink

PubMed Central

Hwang, Hyun-Jun; Oh, Kyung-Hwan; Kim, Hak-Sung

2016-01-01

We developed an ultra-high speed photonic sintering method involving flash white light (FWL) combined with near infrared (NIR) and deep UV light irradiation to produce highly conductive copper nano-ink film. Flash white light irradiation energy and the power of NIR/deep UV were optimized to obtain high conductivity Cu films. Several microscopic and spectroscopic characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the Cu nano-films. Optimally sintered Cu nano-ink films produced using a deep UV-assisted flash white light sintering technique had the lowest resistivity (7.62 μΩ·cm), which was only 4.5-fold higher than that of bulk Cu film (1.68 μΩ•cm). PMID:26806215

All-photonic drying and sintering process via flash white light combined with deep-UV and near-infrared irradiation for highly conductive copper nano-ink.

PubMed

Hwang, Hyun-Jun; Oh, Kyung-Hwan; Kim, Hak-Sung

2016-01-25

We developed an ultra-high speed photonic sintering method involving flash white light (FWL) combined with near infrared (NIR) and deep UV light irradiation to produce highly conductive copper nano-ink film. Flash white light irradiation energy and the power of NIR/deep UV were optimized to obtain high conductivity Cu films. Several microscopic and spectroscopic characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the Cu nano-films. Optimally sintered Cu nano-ink films produced using a deep UV-assisted flash white light sintering technique had the lowest resistivity (7.62 μΩ·cm), which was only 4.5-fold higher than that of bulk Cu film (1.68 μΩ•cm).

Dinuclear PhotoCORMs: Dioxygen-Assisted Carbon Monoxide Uncaging from Long-Wavelength-Absorbing Metal-Metal-Bonded Carbonyl Complexes.

PubMed

Li, Zhi; Pierri, Agustin E; Huang, Po-Ju; Wu, Guang; Iretskii, Alexei V; Ford, Peter C

2017-06-05

We describe a new strategy for triggering the photochemical release of caged carbon monoxide (CO) in aerobic media using long-wavelength visible and near-infrared (NIR) light. The dinuclear rhenium-manganese carbonyl complexes (CO) 5 ReMn(CO) 3 (L), where L = phenanthroline (1), bipyridine (2), biquinoline (3), or phenanthrolinecarboxaldehyde (4), each show a strong metal-metal-bond-to-ligand (σ MM → π L *) charge-transfer absorption band at longer wavelengths. Photolysis with deep-red (1 and 2) or NIR (3 and 4) light leads to homolytic cleavage of the Re-Mn bonds to give mononuclear metal radicals. In the absence of trapping agents, these radicals primarily recombine to reform dinuclear complexes. In oxygenated media, however, the radicals react with dioxygen to form species much more labile toward CO release via secondary thermal and/or photochemical reactions. Conjugation of 4, with an amine-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) oligomer, gives a water-soluble derivative with similar photochemistry. In this context, we discuss the potential applications of these dinuclear complexes as visible/NIR-light-photoactivated CO-releasing moieties (photoCORMs).

Low-level light therapy potentiates NPe6-mediated photodynamic therapy in a human osteosarcoma cell line via increased ATP.

PubMed

Tsai, Shang-Ru; Yin, Rui; Huang, Ying-Ying; Sheu, Bor-Ching; Lee, Si-Chen; Hamblin, Michael R

2015-03-01

Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is used to stimulate healing, reduce pain and inflammation, and preserve tissue from dying. LLLT has been shown to protect cells in culture from dying after various cytotoxic insults, and LLLT is known to increase the cellular ATP content. Previous studies have demonstrated that maintaining a sufficiently high ATP level is necessary for the efficient induction and execution of apoptosis steps after photodynamic therapy (PDT). We asked whether LLLT would protect cells from cytotoxicity due to PDT, or conversely whether LLLT would enhance the efficacy of PDT mediated by mono-l-aspartyl chlorin(e6) (NPe6). Increased ATP could lead to enhanced cell uptake of NPe6 by the energy dependent process of endocytosis, and also to more efficient apoptosis. In this study, human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63 was subjected to 1.5J/cm(2) of 810nm near infrared radiation (NIR) followed by addition of 10μM NPe6 and after 2h incubation by 1.5J/cm(2) of 652nm red light for PDT. PDT combined with LLLT led to higher cell death and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species compared to PDT alone. The uptake of NPe6 was moderately increased by LLLT, and cellular ATP was increased. The mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitor antimycin A abrogated the LLLT-induced increase in cytotoxicity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that LLLT potentiates NPe6-mediated PDT via increased ATP synthesis and is a potentially promising strategy that could be applied in clinical PDT. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Using near-infrared spectroscopy to resolve the species, gender, age, and the presence of Wolbachia infection in laboratory-reared Drosophila

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in determining species, gender, age and the presence of the common endosymbiont Wolbachia in laboratory reared Drosophila. NIRS measures absorption of light by organic molecules. Initially, a calibration model wa...

Nano-graphene oxide-mediated In vivo fluorescence imaging and bimodal photodynamic and photothermal destruction of tumors.

PubMed

Kalluru, Poliraju; Vankayala, Raviraj; Chiang, Chi-Shiun; Hwang, Kuo Chu

2016-07-01

Cancer is one of the major life-threatening diseases among human beings. Developing a simple, cost-effective and biocompatible approach to treat cancers using ultra-low doses of light is a grand challenge in clinical cancer treatments. In this study, we report for the first time that nano-sized graphene oxide (GO) exhibits single-photon excitation wavelength dependent photoluminescence in the visible and short near-infrared (NIR) region, suitable for in vivo multi-color fluorescence imaging. We also demonstrate in both in vitro and in vivo experiments to show that nano GO can sensitize the formation of singlet oxygen to exert combined nanomaterial-mediated photodynamic therapeutic (NmPDT) and photothermal therapy (NmPTT) effects on the destruction of B16F0 melanoma tumors in mice using ultra-low doses (∼0.36 W/cm(2)) of NIR (980 nm) light. The average half-life span of the mice treated by the GO-PEG-folate-mediated NmPDT effects is beyond 30 days, which is ∼1.8 times longer than the mice treated with doxorubicin (17 days). Overall, the current study points out a successful example of using GO-PEG-folate nanocomposite as a theranostic nanomedicine to exert simultaneously in vivo fluorescent imaging as well as combined NmPDT and NmPTT effects for clinical cancer treatments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Image-guided surgery using near-infrared fluorescent light: from bench to bedside

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boogerd, Leonora S. F.; Handgraaf, Henricus J. M.; van de Velde, Cornelis J. H.; Vahrmeijer, Alexander L.

2015-03-01

Due to its relatively high tissue penetration, near-infrared (NIR; 700-900 nm) fluorescent light has the potential to visualize structures that need to be resected (e.g. tumors, lymph nodes) and structures that need to be spared (e.g. nerves, ureters, bile ducts). Until now, most clinical trials have focused on suboptimal, non-targeted dyes. Although successful, a new era in image-guided surgery has begun by the introduction of tumor-targeted agents. In this paper, we will describe how tumor-targeted NIR fluorescent imaging can be applied in a clinical setting.

Emergence of two near-infrared windows for in vivo and intraoperative SERS.

PubMed

Lane, Lucas A; Xue, Ruiyang; Nie, Shuming

2018-04-06

Two clear windows in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum are of considerable current interest for in vivo molecular imaging and spectroscopic detection. The main rationale is that near-infrared light can penetrate biological tissues such as skin and blood more efficiently than visible light because these tissues scatter and absorb less light at longer wavelengths. The first clear window, defined as light wavelengths between 650nm and 950nm, has been shown to be far superior for in vivo and intraoperative optical imaging than visible light. The second clear window, operating in the wavelength range of 1000-1700nm, has been reported to further improve detection sensitivity, spatial resolution, and tissue penetration because tissue photon scattering and background interference are further reduced at longer wavelengths. Here we discuss recent advances in developing biocompatible plasmonic nanoparticles for in vivo and intraoperative surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in both the first and second NIR windows. In particular, a new class of 'broad-band' plasmonic nanostructures is well suited for surface Raman enhancement across a broad range of wavelengths allowing a direct comparison of detection sensitivity and tissue penetration between the two NIR window. Also, optimized and encoded SERS nanoparticles are generally nontoxic and are much brighter than near-infrared quantum dots (QDs), raising new possibilities for ultrasensitive detection of microscopic tumors and image-guided precision surgery. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Near-IR-induced dissociation of thermally-sensitive star polymers.

PubMed

Dai, Yuqiong; Sun, Hao; Pal, Sunirmal; Zhang, Yunlu; Park, Sangwoo; Kabb, Christopher P; Wei, Wei David; Sumerlin, Brent S

2017-03-01

Responsive systems sensitive to near-infrared (NIR) light are promising for triggered release due to efficient deep tissue penetration of NIR irradiation relative to higher energy sources ( e.g. , UV), allowing for spatiotemporal control over triggering events with minimal potential for tissue damage. Herein, we report star polymers containing thermally-labile azo linkages that dissociate during conventional heating or during localized heating via the photothermal effect upon NIR irradiation. Controlled release during conventional heating was investigated for the star polymers loaded with a model dye, with negligible release being observed at 25 °C and >80% release at 90 °C. Star polymers co-loaded with NIR-responsive indocyanine green showed rapid dye release upon NIR irradiation ( λ ≥ 715 nm) due to the photothermally-induced degradation of azo linkages within the cores of the star polymers. This approach provides access to a new class of delivery and release systems that can be triggered by noninvasive external stimulation.

Reflectance-mode interferometric near-infrared spectroscopy quantifies brain absorption, scattering, and blood flow index in vivo.

PubMed

Borycki, Dawid; Kholiqov, Oybek; Srinivasan, Vivek J

2017-02-01

Interferometric near-infrared spectroscopy (iNIRS) is a new technique that measures time-of-flight- (TOF-) resolved autocorrelations in turbid media, enabling simultaneous estimation of optical and dynamical properties. Here, we demonstrate reflectance-mode iNIRS for noninvasive monitoring of a mouse brain in vivo. A method for more precise quantification with less static interference from superficial layers, based on separating static and dynamic components of the optical field autocorrelation, is presented. Absolute values of absorption, reduced scattering, and blood flow index (BFI) are measured, and changes in BFI and absorption are monitored during a hypercapnic challenge. Absorption changes from TOF-resolved iNIRS agree with absorption changes from continuous wave NIRS analysis, based on TOF-integrated light intensity changes, an effective path length, and the modified Beer-Lambert Law. Thus, iNIRS is a promising approach for quantitative and noninvasive monitoring of perfusion and optical properties in vivo.

Sub-Band Gap Turn-On Near-Infrared-to-Visible Up-Conversion Device Enabled by an Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite Photovoltaic Absorber.

PubMed

Yu, By Hyeonggeun; Cheng, Yuanhang; Li, Menglin; Tsang, Sai-Wing; So, Franky

2018-05-09

Direct integration of an infrared (IR) photodetector with an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) enables low-cost, pixel-free IR imaging. However, the operation voltage of the resulting IR-to-visible up-conversion is large because of the series device architecture. Here, we report a low-voltage near-IR (NIR)-to-visible up-conversion device using formamidinium lead iodide as a NIR absorber integrated with a phosphorescent OLED. Because of the efficient photocarrier injection from the hybrid perovskite layer to the OLED, we observed a sub-band gap turn-on of the OLED under NIR illumination. The device showed a NIR-to-visible up-conversion efficiency of 3% and a luminance on/off ratio of 10 3 at only 5 V. Finally, we demonstrate pixel-free NIR imaging using the up-conversion device.

Near-infrared luminescent and antireflective in SiO2/YVO4:Yb3+ bilayer films for c-Si solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, Yingjie; Liu, Jie; Zhang, Kun; Luo, Hui; Li, Jihong; Xu, Bo; Han, Lixian; Li, Xiaojuan; Yu, Xibin

2011-09-01

We demonstrate a facile approach for the architecture of a multifunctional bilayer thin films which show both antireflection and near-infrared (NIR) luminescence. NIR luminescence YVO4:Yb3+ transparent film and nanoporous SiO2 film were successively built on slide glass. Intense NIR emission around 900-1100 nm has been obtained, which is assigned to the electronic transition 2F7/2→2F5/2 of Yb3+, meanwhile, the maximum transmittance reached as high as ˜95%, whereas that of the glass substrate is ˜91%. It is the sought candidate material for c-Si solar cell by downconversion of UV light to NIR photons and increasing photon transmission.

NIR-induced spatiotemporally controlled gene silencing by upconversion nanoparticle-based siRNA nanocarrier.

PubMed

Chen, Guojun; Ma, Ben; Xie, Ruosen; Wang, Yuyuan; Dou, Kefeng; Gong, Shaoqin

2017-12-27

Spatiotemporal control over the release or activation of biomacromolecules such as siRNA remains a significant challenge. Light-controlled release has gained popularity in recent years; however, a major limitation is that most photoactivable compounds/systems respond only to UV irradiation, but not near-infrared (NIR) light that offers a deeper tissue penetration depth and better biocompatibility. This paper reports a simple NIR-to-UV upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based siRNA nanocarrier for NIR-controlled gene silencing. siRNA is complexed onto a NaYF 4 :Yb/Tm/Er UCNP through an azobenzene (Azo)-cyclodextrin (CD) host-guest interaction. The UV emission generated by the NIR-activated UCNP effectively triggers the trans-to-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene, thus leading to the release of siRNA due to unmatched host-guest pairs. The UCNP-siRNA complexes are also functionalized with PEG (i.e., UCNP-(CD/Azo)-siRNA/PEG NPs), targeting ligands (i.e., EGFR-specific GE11 peptide), acid-activatable cell-penetrating peptides (i.e., TH peptide), and imaging probes (i.e., Cy5 fluorophore). The UCNP-(CD/Azo)-siRNA/PEG NPs with both GE11 and TH peptides display a high level of cellular uptake and an excellent endosomal/lysosomal escape capability. More importantly, NIR-controlled spatiotemporal knockdown of GFP expression is successfully achieved in both a 2D monolayer cell model and a 3D multicellular tumor spheroid model. Thus, this simple and versatile nanoplatform has great potential for the selective activation or release of various biomacromolecules. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Tissue oxygenation and haemodynamics measurement with spatially resolved NIRS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y.; Scopesi, F.; Serra, G.; Sun, J. W.; Rolfe, P.

2010-08-01

We describe the use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for the non-invasive investigation of changes in haemodynamics and oxygenation of human peripheral tissues. The goal was to measure spatial variations of tissue NIRS oxygenation variables, namely deoxy-haemoglobin (HHb), oxy-haemoglobin (HbO2), total haemoglobin (HbT), and thereby to evaluate the responses of the peripheral circulation to imposed physiological challenges. We present a skinfat- muscle heterogeneous tissue model with varying fat thickness up to 15mm and a Monte Carlo simulation of photon transport within this model. The mean partial path length and the mean photon visit depth in the muscle layer were derived for different source-detector spacing. We constructed NIRS instrumentation comprising of light-emitting diodes (LED) as light sources at four wavelengths, 735nm, 760nm, 810nm and 850nm and sensitive photodiodes (PD) as the detectors. Source-detector spacing was varied to perform measurements at different depths within forearm tissue. Changes in chromophore concentration in response to venous and arterial occlusion were calculated using the modified Lambert-Beer Law. Studies in fat and thin volunteers indicated greater sensitivity in the thinner subjects for the tissue oxygenation measurement in the muscle layer. These results were consistent with those found using Monte Carlo simulation. Overall, the results of this investigation demonstrate the usefulness of the NIRS instrument for deriving spatial information from biological tissues.

Nondestructive Clinical Assessment of Occlusal Caries Lesions using Near-IR Imaging Methods

PubMed Central

Staninec, Michal; Douglas, Shane M.; Darling, Cynthia L.; Chan, Kenneth; Kang, Hobin; Lee, Robert C.; Fried, Daniel

2011-01-01

Objective Enamel is highly transparent in the near-IR (NIR) at wavelengths near 1300-nm, and stains are not visible. The purpose of this study was to use NIR transillumination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to estimate the severity of caries lesions on occlusal surfaces both in vivo and on extracted teeth. Methods Extracted molars with suspected occlusal lesions were examined with OCT and polarization sensitive OCT (PS-OCT), and subsequently sectioned and examined with polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR). Teeth in test subjects with occlusal caries lesions that were not cavitated or visible on radiographs were examined using NIR transillumination at 1310 nm using a custom built probe attached to an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) camera and a linear OCT scanner. After imaging, cavities were prepared using dye staining to guide caries removal and physical impressions of the cavities were taken. Results The lesion severity determined from OCT and PS-OCT scans in vitro correlated with the depth determined using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR). Occlusal caries lesions appeared in NIR images with high contrast in vivo. OCT scans showed that most of the lesions penetrated to dentin and spread laterally below the sound enamel. Conclusion This study demonstrates that both NIR transillumination and OCT are promising new methods for the clinical diagnosis of occlusal caries. PMID:22109697

Platinum(iv) prodrug conjugated Pd@Au nanoplates for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Saige; Chen, Xiaolan; Wei, Jingping; Huang, Yizhuan; Weng, Jian; Zheng, Nanfeng

2016-03-01

Owing to the excellent near infrared (NIR) light absorption and efficient passive targeting toward tumor tissue, two-dimensional (2D) core-shell PEGylated Pd@Au nanoplates have great potential in both photothermal therapy and drug delivery systems. In this work, we successfully conjugate Pd@Au nanoplates with a platinum(iv) prodrug c,c,t-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2(O2CCH2CH2CO2H)2] to obtain a nanocomposite (Pd@Au-PEG-Pt) for combined photothermal-chemotherapy. The prepared Pd@Au-PEG-Pt nanocomposite showed excellent stability in physiological solutions and efficient Pt(iv) prodrug loading. Once injected into biological tissue, the Pt(iv) prodrug was easily reduced by physiological reductants (e.g. ascorbic acid or glutathione) into its cytotoxic and hydrophilic Pt(ii) form and released from the original nanocomposite, and the NIR laser irradiation could accelerate the release of Pt(ii) species. More importantly, Pd@Au-PEG-Pt has high tumor accumulation (29%ID per g), which makes excellent therapeutic efficiency at relatively low power density possible. The in vivo results suggested that, compared with single therapy the combined thermo-chemotherapy treatment with Pd@Au-PEG-Pt resulted in complete destruction of the tumor tissue without recurrence, while chemotherapy using Pd@Au-PEG-Pt without irradiation or photothermal treatment using Pd@Au-PEG alone did not. Our work highlights the prospects of a feasible drug delivery strategy of the Pt prodrug by using 2D Pd@Au nanoplates as drug delivery carriers for multimode cancer treatment.Owing to the excellent near infrared (NIR) light absorption and efficient passive targeting toward tumor tissue, two-dimensional (2D) core-shell PEGylated Pd@Au nanoplates have great potential in both photothermal therapy and drug delivery systems. In this work, we successfully conjugate Pd@Au nanoplates with a platinum(iv) prodrug c,c,t-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2(O2CCH2CH2CO2H)2] to obtain a nanocomposite (Pd@Au-PEG-Pt) for combined photothermal-chemotherapy. The prepared Pd@Au-PEG-Pt nanocomposite showed excellent stability in physiological solutions and efficient Pt(iv) prodrug loading. Once injected into biological tissue, the Pt(iv) prodrug was easily reduced by physiological reductants (e.g. ascorbic acid or glutathione) into its cytotoxic and hydrophilic Pt(ii) form and released from the original nanocomposite, and the NIR laser irradiation could accelerate the release of Pt(ii) species. More importantly, Pd@Au-PEG-Pt has high tumor accumulation (29%ID per g), which makes excellent therapeutic efficiency at relatively low power density possible. The in vivo results suggested that, compared with single therapy the combined thermo-chemotherapy treatment with Pd@Au-PEG-Pt resulted in complete destruction of the tumor tissue without recurrence, while chemotherapy using Pd@Au-PEG-Pt without irradiation or photothermal treatment using Pd@Au-PEG alone did not. Our work highlights the prospects of a feasible drug delivery strategy of the Pt prodrug by using 2D Pd@Au nanoplates as drug delivery carriers for multimode cancer treatment. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Synthesis process of Pt(iv) prodrug, mass data and FT-IR spectra of the intermediate product and Pt(iv) prodrug, TEM images of Pd@Au and Au NPs, thermal gravimetric analysis of nanoparticles, dispersion stability of Pd@Au-PEG-Pt NSs in different solutions, chemical reduction of Pt(ii) in a water bath, viability of different cell lines incubated with different concentrations of materials, uptake of different drugs by HeLa cells, size distribution of nanoparticles, tissue distribution by measuring the Pt amounts and zeta potential information of prodrug function nanomaterials. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr09120a

NIR emission using Ce3+→Nd3+ energy transfer in Ba3Ce(PO4)3:Nd3+ phosphor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tumram, P. V.; Moharil, S. V.

2018-05-01

In the System CePO4-Ba3(PO4)2, the intermediate compound Ba3Ce(PO4)3, is well known. In recent years, luminescence of rare earths has been studied in this host. However, there are no reports on the NIR emission in Ba3Ce(PO4)3. Here, NIR emission resulting from Ce3+→Nd3+ energy transfer in Ba3Ce(PO4)3 host is reported. This could be relevant for applications in bioimaging, telecommunication, solar photovoltaics, Photodynamic therapy, photostimulated localized hyperthermia, etc.

Responsive polymer-fluorescent carbon nanoparticle hybrid nanogels for optical temperature sensing, near-infrared light-responsive drug release, and tumor cell imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Hui; Ke, Fuyou; Mararenko, Anton; Wei, Zengyan; Banerjee, Probal; Zhou, Shuiqin

2014-06-01

Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (FCNPs) have been successfully immobilized into poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) [poly(NIPAM-AAm)] nanogels based on one-pot precipitation copolymerization of NIPAM monomers with hydrogen bonded FCNP-AAm complex monomers in water. The resultant poly(NIPAM-AAm)-FCNP hybrid nanogels can combine functions from each building block for fluorescent temperature sensing, cell imaging, and near-infrared (NIR) light responsive drug delivery. The FCNPs in the hybrid nanogels not only emit bright and stable photoluminescence (PL) and exhibit up-conversion PL properties, but also increase the loading capacity of the nanogels for curcumin drug molecules. The reversible thermo-responsive swelling/shrinking transition of the poly(NIPAM-AAm) nanogel can not only modify the physicochemical environment of the FCNPs to manipulate the PL intensity for sensing the environmental temperature change, but also regulate the releasing rate of the loaded anticancer drug. In addition, the FCNPs embedded in the nanogels can convert the NIR light to heat, thus an exogenous NIR irradiation can further accelerate the drug release and enhance the therapeutic efficacy. The hybrid nanogels can overcome cellular barriers to enter the intracellular region and light up the mouse melanoma B16F10 cells upon laser excitation. The demonstrated hybrid nanogels with nontoxic and optically active FCNPs immobilized in responsive polymer nanogels are promising for the development of a new generation of multifunctional materials for biomedical applications.Fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (FCNPs) have been successfully immobilized into poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) [poly(NIPAM-AAm)] nanogels based on one-pot precipitation copolymerization of NIPAM monomers with hydrogen bonded FCNP-AAm complex monomers in water. The resultant poly(NIPAM-AAm)-FCNP hybrid nanogels can combine functions from each building block for fluorescent temperature sensing, cell imaging, and near-infrared (NIR) light responsive drug delivery. The FCNPs in the hybrid nanogels not only emit bright and stable photoluminescence (PL) and exhibit up-conversion PL properties, but also increase the loading capacity of the nanogels for curcumin drug molecules. The reversible thermo-responsive swelling/shrinking transition of the poly(NIPAM-AAm) nanogel can not only modify the physicochemical environment of the FCNPs to manipulate the PL intensity for sensing the environmental temperature change, but also regulate the releasing rate of the loaded anticancer drug. In addition, the FCNPs embedded in the nanogels can convert the NIR light to heat, thus an exogenous NIR irradiation can further accelerate the drug release and enhance the therapeutic efficacy. The hybrid nanogels can overcome cellular barriers to enter the intracellular region and light up the mouse melanoma B16F10 cells upon laser excitation. The demonstrated hybrid nanogels with nontoxic and optically active FCNPs immobilized in responsive polymer nanogels are promising for the development of a new generation of multifunctional materials for biomedical applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Fig. S1-S5. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr01030b

Red-edge position of habitable exoplanets around M-dwarfs.

PubMed

Takizawa, Kenji; Minagawa, Jun; Tamura, Motohide; Kusakabe, Nobuhiko; Narita, Norio

2017-08-08

One of the possible signs of life on distant habitable exoplanets is the red-edge, which is a rise in the reflectivity of planets between visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. Previous studies suggested the possibility that the red-edge position for habitable exoplanets around M-dwarfs may be shifted to a longer wavelength than that for Earth. We investigated plausible red-edge position in terms of the light environment during the course of the evolution of phototrophs. We show that phototrophs on M-dwarf habitable exoplanets may use visible light when they first evolve in the ocean and when they first colonize the land. The adaptive evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis may eventually also use NIR radiation, by one of two photochemical reaction centers, with the other center continuing to use visible light. These "two-color" reaction centers can absorb more photons, but they will encounter difficulty in adapting to drastically changing light conditions at the boundary between land and water. NIR photosynthesis can be more productive on land, though its evolution would be preceded by the Earth-type vegetation. Thus, the red-edge position caused by photosynthetic organisms on habitable M-dwarf exoplanets could initially be similar to that on Earth and later move to a longer wavelength.

NIR laser pointer for in vivo photothermal therapy of murine LM3 tumor using intratumoral China ink as a photothermal agent.

PubMed

Blázquez-Castro, Alfonso; Colombo, Lucas L; Vanzulli, Silvia I; Stockert, Juan C

2018-03-16

The photothermal effect is one of the most promising photonic procedures currently under development to successfully treat several clinical disorders, none the least some kinds of cancer. At present, this field is undergoing a renewed interest due to advances in both photothermal materials and better-suited light sources. However, scientific studies in this area are sometimes hampered by the relative unavailability of state-of-art materials or the complexity of setting up a dedicated optical facility. Here, we present a simple and affordable approach to do research in the photothermal field that relies on a commercial NIR laser pointer and a readily available everyday pigment: China ink. A proof-of-concept study is presented in which mice bearing intradermal LM3 mammary adenocarcinoma tumors were successfully treated in vivo employing China ink and the laser pointer. TUNEL and Ki-67 post-treatment tissue assessment clearly indicates the deleterious action of the photothermal treatment on the tumor. Therefore, the feasibility of this simple approach has been demonstrated, which may inspire other groups to implement simple procedures to further explore the photothermal effect.

Co-delivery of cisplatin and CJM-126 via photothermal conversion nanoparticles for enhanced synergistic antitumor efficacy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Chaoqun; Wu, Hongshuai; Wang, Mingxin; Gao, Zhiguo; Zhang, Xiangyang; Sun, Baiwang

2018-01-01

Polymeric biomaterials that can be smartly disassembled through the cleavage of the covalent bonds in a controllable way upon an environmental stimulus such as pH change, redox, special enzymes, temperature, or ultrasound, as well as light irradiation, but are otherwise stable under normal physiological conditions have attracted great attention in recent decades. The 2-(4-aminophenyl) benzothiazole molecule (CJM-126), as one of the benzothiazole derivatives, has exhibited a synergistic effect with cisplatin (CDDP) and restrains the bioactivities of a series of human breast cancer cell lines. In our study, novel NIR-responsive targeted binary-drug-loaded nanoparticles encapsulating indocyanine green (ICG) dye were prepared as a new co-delivery and combined therapeutic vehicle. The prepared drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (TNPs/CDDP-ICG) are stable under normal physiological conditions, while burst drugs release upon NIR laser irradiation in a mild acidic environment. The results further confirmed that the designed co-delivery platform showed higher cytotoxicity than the single free CDDP due to the synergistic treatment of CJM-126 and CDDP in vitro. Taken together, the work might provide a promising approach for effective site-specific antitumor therapy.

Real-time monitoring of hemodynamic changes in tumor vessels during photoimmunotherapy using optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Chia-Pin; Nakajima, Takahito; Watanabe, Rira; Sato, Kazuhide; Choyke, Peter L.; Chen, Yu; Kobayashi, Hisataka

2014-09-01

Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) is a cell-specific cancer therapy based on an armed antibody conjugate that induces rapid and highly selective cancer cell necrosis after exposure to near-infrared (NIR) light. The PIT treatment also induces the superenhanced permeability and retention effect, which allows high concentrations of nanoparticles to accumulate in the tumor bed. In our pilot studies, optical coherence tomography (OCT) reveals dramatic hemodynamic changes during PIT. We developed and applied speckle variance analysis, Doppler flow measurement, bulk motion removal, and automatic region of interest selection to quantify vessel diameter and blood velocity within tumors in vivo. OCT imaging reveals that blood velocity in peripheral tumor vessels quickly drops below the detection limit while the vessel lumen remains open (4 vessels from 3 animals). On the other hand, control tumor vessels (receive NIR illumination but no PIT drug) do not show the sustained blood velocity drop (5 vessels from 3 animals). Ultraslow blood velocity could result in a long drug circulation time in tumor. Increase of the blood pool volume within the central tumor (shown in histology) may be the leading cause of the periphery blood velocity drop and could also increase the drug pool volume in tumor vessels.

Using Plasmonic Copper Sulfide Nanocrystals as Smart Light-Driven Sterilants.

PubMed

Liu, Zhen; Liu, Xianjun; Du, Yingda; Ren, Jinsong; Qu, Xiaogang

2015-10-27

As an efficient route to control pet overpopulation and develop neutered experimental animals, male sterilization via surgical techniques, chemical injections, and antifertility vaccines has brought particular attention recently. However, these traditional ways usually induce long-term adverse reactions, immune suppression, and serious infection and pain. To overcome the above limitations, we developed a platform in the present study by using plasmonic copper sulfide nanocrystals (Cu2-xS NCs) as intelligent light-driven sterilants with ideal outcomes. Upon NIR laser irradiation, these well-prepared Cu2-xS NCs can possess NIR-induced hyperthermia and generate high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Due to the cooperation of photothermal and photodynamic effects, these nanocrystals exhibited NIR-mediated toxicity toward Sertoli cells both in vitro and in vivo in a mild manner. We attribute the potential mechanism of cellular injury to the apoptosis-related death and denaturation of protein in the testicles. Furthermore, the possible metabolism route and long-term toxicity of these nanocrystals after testicular injection indicate their high biocompatibility. Taking together, our study on the NIR-induced toxicity of Cu2-xS NCs provides keen insights for the usage of plasmonic nanomaterials in biomedicine.

Continuous wave optical spectroscopic system for use in magnetic resonance imaging scanners for the measurement of changes in hemoglobin oxygenation states in humans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hulvershorn, Justin; Bloy, Luke; Leigh, John S.; Elliott, Mark A.

2003-09-01

A continuous wave near infrared three-wavelength laser diode spectroscopic (NIRS) system designed for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners is described. This system measures in vivo changes in the concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (Hb) in humans. An algorithm is implemented to map changes in light intensity to changes in the concentrations of Hb and HbO. The system's signal to noise ratio is 3.4×103 per wavelength on an intralipid phantom with 10 Hz resolution. To demonstrate the system's performance in vivo, data taken on the human forearm during arterial occlusion, as well as data taken on the forehead during extended breath holds, are presented. The results show that the instrument is an extremely sensitive detector of hemodynamic changes in human tissue at high temporal resolution. NIRS directly measures changes in the concentrations of hemoglobin species. For this reason, NIRS will be useful in determining the sources of MRI signal changes in the body due to hemodynamic causes, while the precise anatomic information provided by MRI will aid in localizing NIRS contrast and improving the accuracy of models of light transport through tissue.

Near-infared hyperspectral imaging of teeth for dental caries detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakian, Christian; Pretty, Iain; Ellwood, Roger

2009-11-01

Near-infrared (NIR) is preferred for caries detection compared to visible light imaging because it exhibits low absorption by stain and deeper penetration into teeth. Hyperspectral images from 1000 to 2500 nm have been obtained for a total of 12 extracted teeth (premolars and molars) with different degrees of natural lesion. Analysis of the reflectance spectra suggests that light scattering by porous enamel and absorption by water in dentin can be used to quantify the lesion severity and generate a NIR caries score. Teeth were ground for histological examination after the measurements. The NIR caries score obtained correlates significantly (Spearman's correlation of 0.89, p<0.01) with the corresponding histological score. Results yield a sensitivity of >99% and a specificity of 87.5% for enamel lesions and a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity >99% for dentine lesions. The nature of the technique offers significant advantages, including the ability to map the lesion distribution rather than obtaining single-point measurements, it is also noninvasive, noncontact, and stain insensitive. These results suggest that NIR spectral imaging is a potential clinical technique for quantitative caries diagnosis and can determine the presence of occlusal enamel and dentin lesions.

Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging of teeth for dental caries detection.

PubMed

Zakian, Christian; Pretty, Iain; Ellwood, Roger

2009-01-01

Near-infrared (NIR) is preferred for caries detection compared to visible light imaging because it exhibits low absorption by stain and deeper penetration into teeth. Hyperspectral images from 1000 to 2500 nm have been obtained for a total of 12 extracted teeth (premolars and molars) with different degrees of natural lesion. Analysis of the reflectance spectra suggests that light scattering by porous enamel and absorption by water in dentin can be used to quantify the lesion severity and generate a NIR caries score. Teeth were ground for histological examination after the measurements. The NIR caries score obtained correlates significantly (Spearman's correlation of 0.89, p<0.01) with the corresponding histological score. Results yield a sensitivity of >99% and a specificity of 87.5% for enamel lesions and a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity >99% for dentine lesions. The nature of the technique offers significant advantages, including the ability to map the lesion distribution rather than obtaining single-point measurements, it is also noninvasive, noncontact, and stain insensitive. These results suggest that NIR spectral imaging is a potential clinical technique for quantitative caries diagnosis and can determine the presence of occlusal enamel and dentin lesions.

Effects of Near Infrared Radiation on DNA. DLS and ATR-FTIR Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szymborska-Małek, Katarzyna; Komorowska, Małgorzata; Gąsior-Głogowska, Marlena

2018-01-01

We presume that the primary effect of Near Infrared (NIR) radiation on aqueous solutions of biological molecules concerns modification of hydrogen bonded structures mainly the global and the hydration shell water molecules. Since water has a significant influence on the DNA structure, we expect that the thermal stability of DNA could be modified by NIR radiation. The herring sperm DNA was exposed to NIR radiation (700-1100 nm) for 5, 10, and 20 min periods. The temperature dependent infrared measurements were done for the thin films formed on the diamond ATR crystal from evaporated DNA solutions exposed and unexposed to NIR radiation. For the NIR-treated samples (at room temperature) the B form was better conserved than in the control sample independently of the irradiation period. Above 50 °C a considerable increase in the A form was only observed for 10 min NIR exposed samples. The hydrodynamic radius, (Rh), studied by the dynamic light scattering, showed drastic decrease with the increasing irradiation time. Principal components analysis (PCA) allowed to detect the spectral features correlated with the NIR effect and thermal stability of the DNA films. Obtained results strongly support the idea that the photoionization of water by NIR radiation in presence of DNA molecules is the main factor influencing on its physicochemical properties.

Accelerometer-based method for correcting signal baseline changes caused by motion artifacts in medical near-infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virtanen, Jaakko; Noponen, Tommi; Kotilahti, Kalle; Virtanen, Juha; Ilmoniemi, Risto J.

2011-08-01

In medical near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), movements of the subject often cause large step changes in the baselines of the measured light attenuation signals. This prevents comparison of hemoglobin concentration levels before and after movement. We present an accelerometer-based motion artifact removal (ABAMAR) algorithm for correcting such baseline motion artifacts (BMAs). ABAMAR can be easily adapted to various long-term monitoring applications of NIRS. We applied ABAMAR to NIRS data collected in 23 all-night sleep measurements and containing BMAs from involuntary movements during sleep. For reference, three NIRS researchers independently identified BMAs from the data. To determine whether the use of an accelerometer improves BMA detection accuracy, we compared ABAMAR to motion detection based on peaks in the moving standard deviation (SD) of NIRS data. The number of BMAs identified by ABAMAR was similar to the number detected by the humans, and 79% of the artifacts identified by ABAMAR were confirmed by at least two humans. While the moving SD of NIRS data could also be used for motion detection, on average 2 out of the 10 largest SD peaks in NIRS data each night occurred without the presence of movement. Thus, using an accelerometer improves BMA detection accuracy in NIRS.

Core/Shell NaGdF4:Nd3+/NaGdF4 Nanocrystals with Efficient Near-Infrared to Near-Infrared Downconversion Photoluminescence for Bioimaging Applications

PubMed Central

Chen, Guanying; Ohulchanskyy, Tymish Y.; Liu, Sha; Law, Wing-Cheung; Wu, Fang; Swihart, Mark T.; Ågren, Hans; Prasad, Paras N.

2012-01-01

We have synthesized core/shell NaGdF4:Nd3+/NaGdF4 nanocrystals with an average size of 15 nm and exceptionally high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield. When excited at 740 nm, the nanocrystals manifest spectrally distinguished, near infrared to near infrared (NIR-to-NIR) downconversion PL peaked at ~900, ~1050, and ~1300 nm. The absolute quantum yield of NIR-to-NIR PL reached 40% for core-shell nanoparticles dispersed in hexane. Time-resolved PL measurements revealed that this high quantum yield was achieved through suppression of nonradiative recombination originating from surface states and cross relaxations between dopants. NaGdF4:Nd3+/NaGdF4 nanocrystals, synthesized in organic media, were further converted to be water-dispersible by eliminating the capping ligand of oleic acid. NIR-to-NIR PL bioimaging was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo through visualization of the NIR-to-NIR PL at ~900 nm under incoherent lamp light excitation. The fact that both excitation and the PL of these nanocrystals are in the biological window of optical transparency, combined with their high quantum efficiency, spectral sharpness and photostability, makes these nanocrystals extremely promising as optical biomaging probes. PMID:22401578

Therapeutic effect of forearm low level light treatment on blood flow, oxygenation, and oxygen consumption

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Pengbo; Sun, Jiajing; Meng, Lingkang; Li, Zebin; Li, Ting

2018-02-01

Low level light/laser therapy (LLLT) is considered as a novel, non-invasive, and potential therapy in a variety of psychological and physical conditions, due to its effective intricate photobiomodulation. The mechanism of LLLT is that when cells are stimulated by photons, mitochondria produce a large quantity of ATP, which accelerates biochemical responses in the cell. It is of great significance to gain a clear insight into the change or interplay of various physiological parameters. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and venous-occlusion plethysmography to measure the LLLT-induced changes in blood flow, oxygenation, and oxygen consumption in human forearms in vivo. Six healthy human participants (4 males and 2 females) were administered with 810-nm light emitted by LED array in ten minutes and blood flow, oxygenation and oxygen consumption were detected in the entire experiment. We found that LLLT induced an increase of blood flow and oxygen consumption on the treated site. Meanwhile, LLLT took a good role in promoting oxygenation of regional tissue, which was indicated by a significant increase of oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbO2]), a nearly invariable deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration (Δ[Hb]) and a increase of differential hemoglobin concentration (Δ[HbD] = Δ[HbO2] - Δ[Hb]). These results not only demonstrate enormous potential of LLLT, but help to figure out mechanisms of photobiomodulation.

Erythrocyte-derived optical nano-vesicles as theranostic agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mac, Jenny T.; Nunez, Vicente; Bahmani, Baharak; Guerrero, Yadir; Tang, Jack; Vullev, Valentine I.; Anvari, Bahman

2015-07-01

We have engineered nano-vesicles, derived from erythrocytes, which can be doped with various near infrared (NIR) organic chromophores, including the FDA-approved indocyanine green (ICG). We refer to these vesicles as NIR erythrocyte-mimicking transducers (NETS) since in response to NIR photo-excitation they can generate heat or emit fluorescent light. Using biochemical methods based on reduction amination, we have functionalized the surface of NET with antibodies to target specific biomolecules. We present results that demonstrate the effectiveness of NETs in targeted imaging of cancer cells that over-express the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2).

A novel method to measure regional muscle blood flow continuously using NIRS kinetics information

PubMed Central

Nioka, Shoko; Kime, Ryotaro; Sunar, Ulas; Im, Joohee; Izzetoglu, Meltem; Zhang, Jun; Alacam, Burak; Chance, Britton

2006-01-01

Background This article introduces a novel method to continuously monitor regional muscle blood flow by using Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). We demonstrate the feasibility of the new method in two ways: (1) by applying this new method of determining blood flow to experimental NIRS data during exercise and ischemia; and, (2) by simulating muscle oxygenation and blood flow values using these newly developed equations during recovery from exercise and ischemia. Methods Deoxy (Hb) and oxyhemoglobin (HbO2), located in the blood ofthe skeletal muscle, carry two internal relationships between blood flow and oxygen consumption. One is a mass transfer principle and the other describes a relationship between oxygen consumption and Hb kinetics in a two-compartment model. To monitor blood flow continuously, we transfer these two relationships into two equations and calculate the blood flow with the differential information of HbO2 and Hb. In addition, these equations are used to simulate the relationship between blood flow and reoxygenation kinetics after cuff ischemia and a light exercise. Nine healthy subjects volunteered for the cuff ischemia, light arm exercise and arm exercise with cuff ischemia for the experimental study. Results Analysis of experimental data of both cuff ischemia and light exercise using the new equations show greater blood flow (four to six times more than resting values) during recovery, agreeing with previous findings. Further, the simulation and experimental studies of cuff ischemia and light exercise agree with each other. Conclusion We demonstrate the accuracy of this new method by showing that the blood flow obtained from the method agrees with previous data as well as with simulated data. We conclude that this novel continuous blood flow monitoring method can provide blood flow information non-invasively with NIRS. PMID:16704736

Near-infrared laser-induced fluorescence detection in capillary electrophoresis.

PubMed

McWhorter, S; Soper, S A

2000-04-01

As capillary electrophoresis continues to focus on miniaturization, either through reducing column dimensions or situating entire electrophoresis systems on planar chips, advances in detection become necessary to meet the challenges posed by these electrophoresis platforms. The challenges result from the fact that miniaturization requires smaller load volumes, demanding highly sensitive detection. In addition, many times multiple targets must be analyzed simultaneously (multiplexed applications), further complicating detection. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence offers an attractive alternative to visible fluorescence for critical applications in capillary electrophoresis due to the impressive limits of detection that can be generated, in part resulting from the low background levels that are observed in the NIR. Advances in instrumentation and fluorogenic labels appropriate for NIR monitoring have led to a growing number of examples of the use of NIR fluorescence in capillary electrophoresis. In this review, we will cover instrumental components used to construct ultrasensitive NIR fluorescence detectors, including light sources and photon transducers. In addition, we will discuss various types of labeling dyes appropriate for NIR fluorescence and finally, we will present several applications that have used NIR fluorescence in capillary electrophoresis, especially for DNA sequencing and fragment analysis.

Development of an oxygen saturation measuring system by using near-infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kono, K.; Nakamachi, E.; Morita, Y.

2017-08-01

Recently, the hypoxia imaging has been recognized as the advanced technique to detect cancers because of a strong relationship with the biological characterization of cancer. In previous studies, hypoxia imaging systems for endoscopic diagnosis have been developed. However, these imaging technologies using the visible light can observe only blood vessels in gastric mucous membrane. Therefore, they could not detect scirrhous gastric cancer which accounts for 10% of all gastric cancers and spreads rapidly into submucous membrane. To overcome this problem, we developed a measuring system of blood oxygen saturation in submucous membrane by using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. NIR, which has high permeability for bio-tissues and high absorbency for hemoglobin, can image and observe blood vessels in submucous membrane. NIR system with LED lights and a CCD camera module was developed to image blood vessels. We measured blood oxygen saturation using the optical density ratio (ODR) of two wavelengths, based on Lambert-Beer law. To image blood vessel clearly and measure blood oxygen saturation accurately, we searched two optimum wavelengths by using a multilayer human gastric-like phantom which has same optical properties as human gastric one. By using Monte Carlo simulation of light propagation, we derived the relationship between the ODR and blood oxygen saturation and elucidated the influence of blood vessel depth on measuring blood oxygen saturation. The oxygen saturation measuring methodology was validated with experiments using our NIR system. Finally, it was confirmed that our system can detect oxygen saturation in various depth blood vessels accurately.

Hyaluronic Acid Conjugated Magnetic Prussian Blue@Quantum Dot Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics

PubMed Central

Yang, Yongbo; Jing, Lijia; Li, Xiaoda; Lin, Li; Yue, Xiuli; Dai, Zhifei

2017-01-01

A multifunctional nanotheranostic agent was developed by conjugating both hyaluronic acid and bovine serum albumin coated CuInS2-ZnS quantum dots onto the surface of magnetic Prussian blue nanoparticles. The obtained nanoagent could serve as an efficient contrast agent to simultaneously enhance near infrared (NIR) fluorescence and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging greatly. The coexistence of magnetic core and CD44 ligand hyaluronic acid was found to largely improve the specific uptake of the nanoagent by CD44 overexpressed HeLa cells upon applying an external magnetic field. Both NIR fluorescence and MR imaging in vivo proved high accumulation of the nanoagent at tumor site due to its excellent CD44 receptor/magnetic dual targeting capability. After intravenous injection of the nanoagent and treatment of external magnetic field, the tumor in nude mice was efficiently ablated upon NIR laser irradiation and the tumor growth inhibition was more than 89.95%. Such nanotheranostic agent is of crucial importance for accurately identifying the size and location of the tumor before therapy, monitoring the photothermal treatment procedure in real-time during therapy, assessing the effectiveness after therapy. PMID:28255343

Targeting single-walled carbon nanotubes for the treatment of breast cancer using photothermal therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neves, Luís F. F.; Krais, John J.; Van Rite, Brent D.; Ramesh, Rajagopal; Resasco, Daniel E.; Harrison, Roger G.

2013-09-01

This paper focuses on the targeting of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) for the treatment of breast cancer with minimal side effects using photothermal therapy. The human protein annexin V (AV) binds specifically to anionic phospholipids expressed externally on the surface of tumour cells and endothelial cells that line the tumour vasculature. A 2 h incubation of the SWNT-AV conjugate with proliferating endothelial cells followed by washing and near-infrared (NIR) irradiation at a wavelength of 980 nm was enough to induce significant cell death; there was no significant cell death with irradiation or the conjugate alone. Administration of the same conjugate i.v. in BALB/c female mice with implanted 4T1 murine mammary at a dose of 0.8 mg SWNT kg-1 and followed one day later by NIR irradiation of the tumour at a wavelength of 980 nm led to complete disappearance of implanted 4T1 mouse mammary tumours for the majority of the animals by 11 days since the irradiation. The combination of the photothermal therapy with the immunoadjuvant cyclophosphamide resulted in increased survival. The in vivo results suggest the SWNT-AV/NIR treatment is a promising approach to treat breast cancer.

Clinical and Genetic Characteristics of Non-Insulin-Requiring Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD) Autoantibody-Positive Diabetes: A Nationwide Survey in Japan

PubMed Central

Yasui, Junichi; Kawasaki, Eiji; Tanaka, Shoichiro; Awata, Takuya; Ikegami, Hiroshi; Imagawa, Akihisa; Uchigata, Yasuko; Osawa, Haruhiko; Kajio, Hiroshi; Kawabata, Yumiko; Shimada, Akira; Takahashi, Kazuma; Yasuda, Kazuki; Yasuda, Hisafumi; Hanafusa, Toshiaki; Kobayashi, Tetsuro

2016-01-01

Aims Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADAb) differentiate slowly progressive insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus (SPIDDM) from phenotypic type 2 diabetes, but many GADAb-positive patients with diabetes do not progress to insulin-requiring diabetes. To characterize GADAb-positive patients with adult-onset diabetes who do not require insulin therapy for >5 years (NIR-SPIDDM), we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Japan. Methods We collected 82 GADAb-positive patients who did not require insulin therapy for >5 years (NIR-SPIDDM) and compared them with 63 patients with insulin-requiring SPIDDM (IR-SPIDDM). Clinical and biochemical characteristics, HLA-DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes, and predictive markers for progression to insulin therapy were investigated. Results Compared with the IR-SPIDDM group, the NIR-SPIDDM patients showed later diabetes onset, higher body mass index, longer duration before diagnosis, and less frequent hyperglycemic symptoms at onset. In addition, C-peptide, LDL-cholesterol, and TG were significantly higher in the NIR-SPIDDM compared to IR-SPIDDM patients. The NIR-SPIDDM group had lower frequency of susceptible HLA-DRB1*04:05-DQB1*04:01 and a higher frequency of resistant HLA-DRB1*15:01-DQB1*06:02 haplotype compared to IR-SPIDDM. A multivariable analysis showed that age at diabetes onset (OR = 0.82), duration before diagnosis of GADAb-positive diabetes (OR = 0.82), higher GADAb level (≥10.0 U/ml) (OR = 20.41), and fasting C-peptide at diagnosis (OR = 0.07) were independent predictive markers for progression to insulin-requiring diabetes. An ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off points for discriminating two groups was the GADAb level of 13.6 U/ml, age of diabetes onset of 47 years, duration before diagnosis of 5 years, and fasting C-peptide of 0.65 ng/ml. Conclusions Clinical, biochemical and genetic characteristics of patients with NIR-SPIDDM are different from those of IR-SPIDDM patients. Age of diabetes onset, duration before GADAb-positivity, GADAb level, and fasting C-peptide at diagnosis must be carefully considered in planning prevention trials for SPIDDM. PMID:27177031

Tuning the sensitivity of lanthanide-activated NIR nanothermometers in the biological windows.

PubMed

Cortelletti, P; Skripka, A; Facciotti, C; Pedroni, M; Caputo, G; Pinna, N; Quintanilla, M; Benayas, A; Vetrone, F; Speghini, A

2018-02-01

Lanthanide-activated SrF 2 nanoparticles with a multishell architecture were investigated as optical thermometers in the biological windows. A ratiometric approach based on the relative changes in the intensities of different lanthanide (Nd 3+ and Yb 3+ ) NIR emissions was applied to investigate the thermometric properties of the nanoparticles. It was found that an appropriate doping with Er 3+ ions can increase the thermometric properties of the Nd 3+ -Yb 3+ coupled systems. In addition, a core containing Yb 3+ and Tm 3+ can generate light in the visible and UV regions upon near-infrared (NIR) laser excitation at 980 nm. The multishell structure combined with the rational choice of dopants proves to be particularly important to control and enhance the performance of nanoparticles as NIR nanothermometers.

Hollow mesoporous carbon as a near-infrared absorbing carrier compared with mesoporous carbon nanoparticles for chemo-photothermal therapy.

PubMed

Li, Xian; Yan, Yue; Lin, Yuanzhe; Jiao, Jian; Wang, Da; Di, Donghua; Zhang, Ying; Jiang, Tongying; Zhao, Qinfu; Wang, Siling

2017-05-15

In this study, hollow mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (HMCN) and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (MCN) were used as near-infrared region (NIR) nanomaterials and drug nanocarriers were prepared using different methods. A comparison between HMCN and MCN was performed with regard to the NIR-induced photothermal effect and drug loading efficiency. The results of NIR-induced photothermal effect test demonstrated that HMCN-COOH had a better photothermal conversion efficacy than MCN-COOH. Given the prominent photothermal effect of HMCN-COOH in vitro, the chemotherapeutic drug DOX was chosen as a model drug to further evaluate the drug loading efficiencies and NIR-triggered drug release behaviors of the nanocarriers. The drug loading efficiency of DOX/HMCN-COOH was found to be up to 76.9%, which was higher than that of DOX/MCN-COOH. In addition, the use of an 808nm NIR laser markedly increased the release of DOX from both carbon carriers in pH 5.0 PBS and pH 7.4 PBS. Cellular photothermal tests involving A549 cells demonstrated that HMCN-COOH had a much higher photothermal efficacy than MCN-COOH. Cell viability experiments and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of DOX/HMCN-COOH and the results obtained demonstrated that DOX/HMCN-COOH had a synergistic therapeutic effect in cancer treatment involving a combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nanoparticle-enabled, image-guided treatment planning of target specific RNAi therapeutics in an orthotopic prostate cancer model.

PubMed

Lin, Qiaoya; Jin, Cheng S; Huang, Huang; Ding, Lili; Zhang, Zhihong; Chen, Juan; Zheng, Gang

2014-08-13

The abilities to deliver siRNA to its intended action site and assess the delivery efficiency are challenges for current RNAi therapy, where effective siRNA delivery will join force with patient genetic profiling to achieve optimal treatment outcome. Imaging could become a critical enabler to maximize RNAi efficacy in the context of tracking siRNA delivery, rational dosimetry and treatment planning. Several imaging modalities have been used to visualize nanoparticle-based siRNA delivery but rarely did they guide treatment planning. We report a multimodal theranostic lipid-nanoparticle, HPPS(NIR)-chol-siRNA, which has a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent core, enveloped by phospholipid monolayer, intercalated with siRNA payloads, and constrained by apoA-I mimetic peptides to give ultra-small particle size (<30 nm). Using fluorescence imaging, we demonstrated its cytosolic delivery capability for both NIR-core and dye-labeled siRNAs and its structural integrity in mice through intravenous administration, validating the usefulness of NIR-core as imaging surrogate for non-labeled therapeutic siRNAs. Next, we validated the targeting specificity of HPPS(NIR)-chol-siRNA to orthotopic tumor using sequential four-steps (in vivo, in situ, ex vivo and frozen-tissue) fluorescence imaging. The image co-registration of computed tomography and fluorescence molecular tomography enabled non-invasive assessment and treatment planning of siRNA delivery into the orthotopic tumor, achieving efficacious RNAi therapy. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Artesunate-modified nano-graphene oxide for chemo-photothermal cancer therapy

PubMed Central

Pang, Yilin; Mai, Zihao; Wang, Bin; Wang, Lu; Wu, Liping; Wang, Xiaoping; Chen, Tongsheng

2017-01-01

Poor water-solubility of artesunate (ARS) hampers its clinical application. We here covalently linked ARS to PEGylated nanographene oxide (nGO-PEG) to obtain ARS-modified nGO-PEG (nGO-PEG-ARS) with excellent photothermal effect and dispersibility in physiological environment. nGO-PEG-ARS induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite (ONOO─) generations. Although nGO-PEG with near-infrared (NIR) irradiation did not induce cytotoxicity, the photothermal effect of nGO-PEG under NIR irradiation enhanced not only cell uptake but also ONOO─ generation of nGO-PEG-ARS, resulting in the synergistic chemo-photothermal effect of nGO-PEG-ARS in killing HepG2 cells. Pretreatment with Fe(III) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrinato chloride (FeTTPS, a ONOO─ scavenger) instead of antioxidant N-Acetyle-Cysteine (NAC, an ROS scavenger) significantly blocked the cytotoxicity of nGO-PEG-ARS with or without NIR irradiation, demonstrating that ONOO─ instead of ROS dominated the synergistic chemo-photothermal anti-cancer action of nGO-PEG-ARS. nGO-PEG-ARS with NIR irradiation resulted in a complete tumor cure within 15 days earlier than other treatment groups, and did not induce apparent histological lesion for the mice treated with nGO-PEG-ARS with or without NIR irradiation for 30 days, further proving the synergistic chemo-photothermal anti-cancer effect of nGO-PEG-ARS. Collectively, nGO-PEG-ARS is a versatile nano-platform for multi-modal synergistic cancer therapy. PMID:29212190

In vivo near-IR imaging of approximal dental decay at 1,310 nm.

PubMed

Staninec, Michal; Lee, Chulsung; Darling, Cynthia L; Fried, Daniel

2010-04-01

The high transparency of dental enamel in the near-IR (NIR) light at 1,310-nm can be exploited for imaging dental caries without the use of ionizing radiation (X-rays). We present the results of the first in vivo imaging study in which NIR images were acquired of approximal contact surfaces. NIR imaging hand-pieces were developed and attached to a compact InGaAs focal plane array and subsequently used to acquire in vivo NIR images of 33 caries lesions on 18 test subjects. The carious lesions were discernible on bitewing radiographs, but were not visible upon clinical examination. NIR images were acquired in vivo from three directions and the majority of lesions examined were too small to require restoration, based on accepted bitewing radiograph criteria. All but one of the 33 lesions examined were successfully imaged from at least one direction. This first in vivo study of imaging at the 1,310-nm wavelength region shows that NIR imaging has great potential as a screening tool for the detection of approximal lesions without the use of ionizing radiation. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging of atherosclerotic plaque in WHHLMI rabbit artery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishii, Katsunori; Kitayabu, Akiko; Omiya, Kota; Honda, Norihiro; Awazu, Kunio

2013-03-01

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) of rabbit atherosclerotic plaque in near-infrared (NIR) range from 1150 to 2400 nm was demonstrated. A method to identify vulnerable plaques that are likely to cause acute coronary events has been required. The object of this study is identifying vulnerable plaques by NIR-HSI for an angioscopic application. In this study, we observed the hyperspectral images of the atherosclerotic plaque in WHHLMI rabbit (atherosclerotic rabbit) artery under simulated angioscopic conditions by NIR-HSI. NIR-HSI system was constructed by a NIR super continuum light and a mercury-cadmium-telluride camera. Spectral absorbance values (log (1/R) data) were obtained in the wavelength range from 1150 to 2400 nm at 10 nm intervals. The hyperspectral images were constructed with spectral angle mapper algorithm. As a result, the detections of atherosclerotic plaque under angioscopic observation conditions were achieved especially in the wavelength around 1200 nm, which corresponds to the second overtone of CH stretching vibration mode. The NIR-HSI was considered to serve as an angioscopic diagnosis technique to identify vulnerable plaques without clamping and saline injection.

Hyperspectral imaging with near-infrared-enabled mobile phones for tissue oximetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Jonathan L.; Ghassemi, Pejhman; Chen, Yu; Pfefer, Joshua

2018-02-01

Hyperspectral reflectance imaging (HRI) is an emerging clinical tool for characterizing spatial and temporal variations in blood perfusion and oxygenation for applications such as burn assessment, wound healing, retinal exams and intraoperative tissue viability assessment. Since clinical HRI-based oximeters often use near-infrared (NIR) light, NIR-enabled mobile phones may provide a useful platform for future point-of-care devices. Furthermore, quantitative NIR imaging on mobile phones may dramatically increase the availability and accessibility of medical diagnostics for low-resource settings. We have evaluated the potential for phone-based NIR oximetry imaging and elucidated factors affecting performance using devices from two different manufacturers, as well as a scientific CCD. A broadband light source and liquid crystal tunable filter were used for imaging at 10 nm bands from 650 to 1000 nm. Spectral sensitivity measurements indicated that mobile phones with standard NIR blocking filters had minimal response beyond 700 nm, whereas one modified phone showed sensitivity to 800 nm and another to 1000 nm. Red pixel channels showed the greatest sensitivity up to 800 nm, whereas all channels provided essentially equivalent sensitivity at longer wavelengths. Referencing of blood oxygenation levels was performed with a CO-oximeter. HRI measurements were performed using cuvettes filled with hemoglobin solutions of different oxygen saturation levels. Good agreement between absorbance spectra measured with mobile phone and a CCD cameras were seen for wavelengths below 900 nm. Saturation estimates showed root-mean-squared-errors of 5.2% and 4.5% for the CCD and phone, respectively. Overall, this work provides strong evidence of the potential for mobile phones to provide quantitative spectral imaging in the NIR for applications such as oximetry, and generates practical insights into factors that impact performance as well as test methods for performance assessment.

On-Demand Drug Delivery System Using Micro-organogels with Gold Nanorods

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

In this study, we designed a biocompatible drug carrier: micro-organogels prepared by emulsification using vegetable oils and self-assembled gelator fibers. Flurbiprofen was chosen as a hydrophobic model drug and is classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In the absence of NIR light, flurbiprofen encapsulated in micro-organogels with gold nanorods (GNRs) was released slowly, while release was accelerated in the presence of NIR light due to the increase in the temperature surrounding the GNRs that transforms the gels into liquid. These results suggest that our system can be efficiently used as a versatile scaffold for on-demand drug delivery systems. PMID:27994743

Handheld detector using NIR for bottled liquid explosives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itozaki, Hideo; Sato-Akaba, Hideo

2014-10-01

A handheld bottle checker for detection of liquid explosives is developed using near infrared technology. In order to make it compact, a LED light was used as a light source and a novel circuit board was developed for the device control instead of using a PC. This enables low power consumption and this handheld detector can be powered by a Li-ion battery without an AC power supply. This checker works well to analyze liquids, even using limited bandwidth of NIR by the LED. It is expected that it can be applied not only to airport security but also to wider applications because of its compactness and portability.

Biodegradable near-infrared-photoresponsive shape memory implants based on black phosphorus nanofillers.

PubMed

Xie, Hanhan; Shao, Jundong; Ma, Yufei; Wang, Jiahong; Huang, Hao; Yang, Na; Wang, Huaiyu; Ruan, Changshun; Luo, Yanfeng; Wang, Qu-Quan; Chu, Paul K; Yu, Xue-Feng

2018-05-01

In this paper, we propose a new shape memory polymer (SMP) composite with excellent near-infrared (NIR)-photoresponsive shape memory performance and biodegradability. The composite is fabricated by using piperazine-based polyurethane (PU) as thermo-responsive SMP incorporated with black-phosphorus (BP) sheets as NIR photothermal nanofillers. Under 808 nm light irradiation, the incorporated BP sheets with concentration of only 0.08 wt% enable rapid temperature increase over the glass temperature of PU and trigger the shape change of the composite with shape recovery rate of ∼100%. The in vitro and in vivo toxicity examinations demonstrate the good biocompatibility of the PU/BP composite, and it degrades naturally into non-toxic carbon dioxide and water from PU and non-toxic phosphate from BP. By implanting PU/BP columns into back subcutis and vagina of mice, they exhibit excellent shape memory activity to change their shape quickly under moderate 808 nm light irradiaiton. Such SMP composite enable the development of intelligent implantable devices, which can be easily controlled by the remote NIR light and degrade gradually after performing the designed functions in the body. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Near-infrared continuous-wave light driving a two-photon photochromic reaction with the assistance of localized surface plasmon.

PubMed

Tsuboi, Yasuyuki; Shimizu, Ryosuke; Shoji, Tatsuya; Kitamura, Noboru

2009-09-09

We demonstrate that a photochromic reaction can be driven by irradiation from a weak, near-infrared continuous-wave (NIR-CW) laser light. A two-photon ring-opening photochromic reaction of a diarylethene (DE) derivative can be induced by irradiation with a NIR-CW laser light (lambda = 808 nm). An ultrathin polymer film doped with DE in its closed form was coated onto a gold-nanoparticle-integrated glass substrate. Upon irradiation of the sample with a CW laser at low fluence (0.1-4.0 W/cm(2)), we could clearly observe bleaching of the DE (ring-opening reaction). Following the IR irradiation, the bleached absorption could be reversibly recovered by applying UV irradiation (ring-closing reaction). We verified that the yield of the photochromic ring-opening reaction of the DE was proportional to the square of the irradiation fluence. The origin of this NIR-CW-induced two-photon photochromic reaction is an "enhancing effect" that acts on the electromagnetic field (localized surface plasmon) of the gold nanoparticles. The DE interacts with the surface plasmon and receives energy from two photons, which excites it to a state from which the ring-opening reaction can be initiated.

Use of a night vision intensifier for direct visualization by eye of far-red and near-infrared fluorescence through an optical microscope.

PubMed

Siddiqi, M A; Kilduff, G M; Gearhart, J D

2003-11-01

We describe the design, construction and testing of a prototype device that allows the direct visualization by eye of far-red and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence through an optical microscope. The device incorporates a gallium arsenide (GaAs) image intensifier, typically utilized in low-light or 'night vision' applications. The intensifier converts far-red and NIR light into electrons and then into green light, which is visible to the human eye. The prototype makes possible the direct, real-time viewing by eye of normally invisible far-red and NIR fluorescence from a wide variety of fluorophores, using the full field of view of the microscope to which it is applied. The high sensitivity of the image intensifier facilitates the viewing of a wide variety of photosensitive specimens, including live cells and embryos, at vastly reduced illumination levels in both fluorescence and bright-field microscopy. Modifications to the microscope are not required in order to use the prototype, which is fully compatible with all current fluorescence techniques. Refined versions of the prototype device will have broad research and clinical applications.

Near-Infrared to Visible Organic Upconversion Devices Based on Organic Light-Emitting Field Effect Transistors.

PubMed

Li, Dongwei; Hu, Yongsheng; Zhang, Nan; Lv, Ying; Lin, Jie; Guo, Xiaoyang; Fan, Yi; Luo, Jinsong; Liu, Xingyuan

2017-10-18

The near-infrared (NIR) to visible upconversion devices have attracted great attention because of their potential applications in the fields of night vision, medical imaging, and military security. Herein, a novel all-organic upconversion device architecture has been first proposed and developed by incorporating a NIR absorption layer between the carrier transport layer and the emission layer in heterostructured organic light-emitting field effect transistors (OLEFETs). The as-prepared devices show a typical photon-to-photon upconversion efficiency as high as 7% (maximum of 28.7% under low incident NIR power intensity) and millisecond-scale response time, which are the highest upconversion efficiency and one of the fastest response time among organic upconversion devices as referred to the previous reports up to now. The high upconversion performance mainly originates from the gain mechanism of field-effect transistor structures and the unique advantage of OLEFETs to balance between the photodetection and light emission. Meanwhile, the strategy of OLEFETs also offers the advantage of high integration so that no extra OLED is needed in the organic upconversion devices. The results would pave way for low-cost, flexible and portable organic upconversion devices with high efficiency and simplified processing.

Probing reionization with the cross-power spectrum of 21 cm and near-infrared radiation backgrounds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mao, Xiao-Chun, E-mail: xcmao@bao.ac.cn

2014-08-01

The cross-correlation between the 21 cm emission from the high-redshift intergalactic medium and the near-infrared (NIR) background light from high-redshift galaxies promises to be a powerful probe of cosmic reionization. In this paper, we investigate the cross-power spectrum during the epoch of reionization. We employ an improved halo approach to derive the distribution of the density field and consider two stellar populations in the star formation model: metal-free stars and metal-poor stars. The reionization history is further generated to be consistent with the electron-scattering optical depth from cosmic microwave background measurements. Then, the intensity of the NIR background is estimatedmore » by collecting emission from stars in first-light galaxies. On large scales, we find that the 21 cm and NIR radiation backgrounds are positively correlated during the very early stages of reionization. However, these two radiation backgrounds quickly become anti-correlated as reionization proceeds. The maximum absolute value of the cross-power spectrum is |Δ{sub 21,NIR}{sup 2}|∼10{sup −4} mK nW m{sup –2} sr{sup –1}, reached at ℓ ∼ 1000 when the mean fraction of ionized hydrogen is x-bar{sub i}∼0.9. We find that Square Kilometer Array can measure the 21 cm-NIR cross-power spectrum in conjunction with mild extensions to the existing CIBER survey, provided that the integration time independently adds up to 1000 and 1 hr for 21 cm and NIR observations, and that the sky coverage fraction of the CIBER survey is extended from 4 × 10{sup –4} to 0.1. Measuring the cross-correlation signal as a function of redshift provides valuable information on reionization and helps confirm the origin of the 'missing' NIR background.« less

A Donor-Acceptor Conjugated Polymer with Alternating Isoindigo Derivative and Bithiophene Units for Near-Infrared Modulated Cancer Thermo-Chemotherapy.

PubMed

Li, Dong-Dong; Wang, Jun-Xia; Ma, Yan; Qian, Hai-Sheng; Wang, Dong; Wang, Li; Zhang, Guobing; Qiu, Longzhen; Wang, Yu-Cai; Yang, Xian-Zhu

2016-08-03

Conjugated polymers containing alternating donor/acceptor units have strong and sharp absorbance peaks in near-infrared (NIR) region, which could be suitable for photothermal therapy. However, these polymers as photothermal transducers are rarely reported because of their water insolubility, which limits their applications for cancer therapy. Herein, we report the donor-acceptor conjugated polymer PBIBDF-BT with alternating isoindigo derivative (BIBDF) and bithiophene (BT) units as a novel photothermal transducer, which exhibited strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance due to its low band gap (1.52 eV). To stabilize the conjugated polymer physiological environments, we utilized an amphiphilic copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(hexyl ethylene phosphate) (mPEG-b-PHEP), to stabilize PBIBDF-BT-based nanoparticles (PBIBDF-BT@NPPPE) through a single emulsion method. The obtained nanoparticles PBIBDF-BT@NPPPE showed great stability in physiological environments and excellent photostability. Moreover, the PBIBDF-BT@NPPPE exhibited high photothermal conversion efficiency, reaching 46.7%, which is relatively high compared with those of commonly used materials for photothermal therapy. Accordingly, in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that PBIBDF-BT@NPPPE exhibits efficient photothermal anticancer efficacy. More importantly, PBIBDF-BT@NPPPE could simultaneously encapsulate other types of therapeutic agents though hydrophobic interactions with the PHEP core and achieve NIR-triggered intracellular drug release and a synergistic combination therapy of thermo-chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.

Bright up-conversion white light emission from Er3+ doped lithium fluoro zinc borate glasses for photonic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vijayalakshmi, L.; Naveen Kumar, K.; Rao, K. Srinivasa; Hwang, Pyung

2018-03-01

Various concentrations of Er3+ (0.3, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mol %) doped lithium fluoro zinc borate glasses were synthesized by a traditional melt quenching method. XRD, FTIR and FESEM have been employed to analyze the structural, compositional and morphological analysis respectively. Judd-Ofelt theory has been employed to analyze the intensity parameters (Ωλ, λ = 2, 4 and 6) which can be used to estimate the radiative properties of fluorescent levels of Er3+. We have been observed a strong NIR emission peak at 1.53 μm (4I13/2 → 4I15/2) under the excitation of 980 nm from Er3+: LBZ glasses. Nevertheless, the NIR emission is remarkably enhanced by increasing the Er3+ ions concentration until the optimized concentration of 0.5 mol%. The lifetime of the excited level of 4I13/2 in the NIR emission transition is evaluated and it is found to be1.22 ms from the decay analysis of 0.5 mol% Er3+: LBZ glass. Apart from the NIR emission, a bright up-conversion green emission is observed at 544 nm (4S3/2 → 4I15/2) along with an intense red emission at 659 nm (4F9/2 → 4I15/2) and a weak blue emission (2H9/2 → 4I15/2) under the excitation of 980 nm. Up-conversion emission features were significantly enhanced with increasing the Er3+ concentration up to 1.0 mol%. The combination of the obtained up-conversion emission colors of green, red and blue could generate white light emission. The cool white-light emission from the optimized glass sample has been confirmed from the Commission International de I'Echairage (CIE) 1931 chromaticity diagram analysis and their correlated color temperature (CCT) values. Based on the NIR and up-conversion emission features, Er3+: LBZ glasses could be suggested as promising candidates for optical amplifiers, optical telecommunication windows and white light photonic applications.

Infant brain activity while viewing facial movement of point-light displays as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).

PubMed

Ichikawa, Hiroko; Kanazawa, So; Yamaguchi, Masami K; Kakigi, Ryusuke

2010-09-27

Adult observers can quickly identify specific actions performed by an invisible actor from the points of lights attached to the actor's head and major joints. Infants are also sensitive to biological motion and prefer to see it depicted by a dynamic point-light display. In detecting biological motion such as whole body and facial movements, neuroimaging studies have demonstrated the involvement of the occipitotemporal cortex, including the superior temporal sulcus (STS). In the present study, we used the point-light display technique and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to examine infant brain activity while viewing facial biological motion depicted in a point-light display. Dynamic facial point-light displays (PLD) were made from video recordings of three actors making a facial expression of surprise in a dark room. As in Bassili's study, about 80 luminous markers were scattered over the surface of the actor's faces. In the experiment, we measured infant's hemodynamic responses to these displays using NIRS. We hypothesized that infants would show different neural activity for upright and inverted PLD. The responses were compared to the baseline activation during the presentation of individual still images, which were frames extracted from the dynamic PLD. We found that the concentration of oxy-Hb increased in the right temporal area during the presentation of the upright PLD compared to that of the baseline period. This is the first study to demonstrate that infant's brain activity in face processing is induced only by the motion cue of facial movement depicted by dynamic PLD. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evolution of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan.

PubMed

Mohamad, Osama; Makishima, Hirokazu; Kamada, Tadashi

2018-03-06

Charged particles can achieve better dose distribution and higher biological effectiveness compared to photon radiotherapy. Carbon ions are considered an optimal candidate for cancer treatment using particles. The National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in Chiba, Japan was the first radiotherapy hospital dedicated for carbon ion treatments in the world. Since its establishment in 1994, the NIRS has pioneered this therapy with more than 69 clinical trials so far, and hundreds of ancillary projects in physics and radiobiology. In this review, we will discuss the evolution of carbon ion radiotherapy at the NIRS and some of the current and future projects in the field.

Combined magnetic resonance and optical imaging of head and neck tumor xenografts using Gadolinium-labelled phosphorescent polymeric nanomicelles

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The overall objective of this study was to develop a nanoparticle formulation for dual modality imaging of head and neck cancer. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of polymeric phospholipid-based nanomicelles encapsulating near-infrared (NIR) phosphorescent molecules of Pt(II)-tetraphenyltetranaphthoporphyrin [Pt(TPNP)] and surface functionalized with gadolinium [Pt(TPNP)-Gd] for combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NIR optical imaging applications. Methods Dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, optical spectroscopy and MR relaxometric measurements were performed to characterize the optical and magnetic properties of nanoparticles in vitro. Subsequently, in vivo imaging experiments were carried out using nude mice bearing primary patient tumor-derived human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenografts. Results The nanomicelles were ~100 nm in size and stable in aqueous suspension. T1-weighted MRI and relaxation rate (R1 = 1/T1) measurements carried out at 4.7 T revealed enhancement in the tumor immediately post injection with nanomicelles, particularly in the tumor periphery which persisted up to 24 hours post administration. Maximum intensity projections (MIPs) generated from 3D T1-weighted images also demonstrated visible enhancement in contrast within the tumor, liver and blood vessels. NIR optical imaging performed (in vivo and ex vivo) following completion of MRI at the 24 h time point confirmed tumor localization of the nanoparticles. The large spectral separation between the Pt(TPNP) absorption (~700 nm) and phosphorescence emission (~900 nm) provided a dramatic decrease in the level of background, resulting in high contrast optical (NIR phosphorescence) imaging. Conclusions In conclusion, Pt(TPNP)-Gd nanomicelles exhibit a high degree of tumor-avidity and favorable imaging properties that allow for combined MR and optical imaging of head and neck tumors. Further investigation into the potential of Pt(TPNP)-Gd nanomicelles for combined imaging and therapy of cancer is currently underway. PMID:21110873

Autofluorescence Imaging With Near-Infrared Excitation:Normalization by Reflectance to Reduce Signal From Choroidal Fluorophores

PubMed Central

Cideciyan, Artur V.; Swider, Malgorzata; Jacobson, Samuel G.

2015-01-01

Purpose. We previously developed reduced-illuminance autofluorescence imaging (RAFI) methods involving near-infrared (NIR) excitation to image melanin-based fluorophores and short-wavelength (SW) excitation to image lipofuscin-based flurophores. Here, we propose to normalize NIR-RAFI in order to increase the relative contribution of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fluorophores. Methods. Retinal imaging was performed with a standard protocol holding system parameters invariant in healthy subjects and in patients. Normalized NIR-RAFI was derived by dividing NIR-RAFI signal by NIR reflectance point-by-point after image registration. Results. Regions of RPE atrophy in Stargardt disease, AMD, retinitis pigmentosa, choroideremia, and Leber congenital amaurosis as defined by low signal on SW-RAFI could correspond to a wide range of signal on NIR-RAFI depending on the contribution from the choroidal component. Retinal pigment epithelium atrophy tended to always correspond to high signal on NIR reflectance. Normalizing NIR-RAFI reduced the choroidal component of the signal in regions of atrophy. Quantitative evaluation of RPE atrophy area showed no significant differences between SW-RAFI and normalized NIR-RAFI. Conclusions. Imaging of RPE atrophy using lipofuscin-based AF imaging has become the gold standard. However, this technique involves bright SW lights that are uncomfortable and may accelerate the rate of disease progression in vulnerable retinas. The NIR-RAFI method developed here is a melanin-based alternative that is not absorbed by opsins and bisretinoid moieties, and is comfortable to view. Further development of this method may result in a nonmydriatic and comfortable imaging method to quantify RPE atrophy extent and its expansion rate. PMID:26024124

Near-Infrared 1064 nm Laser Modulates Migratory Dendritic Cells To Augment the Immune Response to Intradermal Influenza Vaccine.

PubMed

Morse, Kaitlyn; Kimizuka, Yoshifumi; Chan, Megan P K; Shibata, Mai; Shimaoka, Yusuke; Takeuchi, Shu; Forbes, Benjamin; Nirschl, Christopher; Li, Binghao; Zeng, Yang; Bronson, Roderick T; Katagiri, Wataru; Shigeta, Ayako; Sîrbulescu, Ruxandra F; Chen, Huabiao; Tan, Rhea Y Y; Tsukada, Kosuke; Brauns, Timothy; Gelfand, Jeffrey; Sluder, Ann; Locascio, Joseph J; Poznansky, Mark C; Anandasabapathy, Niroshana; Kashiwagi, Satoshi

2017-08-15

Brief exposure of skin to near-infrared (NIR) laser light has been shown to augment the immune response to intradermal vaccination and thus act as an immunologic adjuvant. Although evidence indicates that the NIR laser adjuvant has the capacity to activate innate subsets including dendritic cells (DCs) in skin as conventional adjuvants do, the precise immunological mechanism by which the NIR laser adjuvant acts is largely unknown. In this study we sought to identify the cellular target of the NIR laser adjuvant by using an established mouse model of intradermal influenza vaccination and examining the alteration of responses resulting from genetic ablation of specific DC populations. We found that a continuous wave (CW) NIR laser adjuvant broadly modulates migratory DC (migDC) populations, specifically increasing and activating the Lang + and CD11b - Lang - subsets in skin, and that the Ab responses augmented by the CW NIR laser are dependent on DC subsets expressing CCR2 and Langerin. In comparison, a pulsed wave NIR laser adjuvant showed limited effects on the migDC subsets. Our vaccination study demonstrated that the efficacy of the CW NIR laser is significantly better than that of the pulsed wave laser, indicating that the CW NIR laser offers a desirable immunostimulatory microenvironment for migDCs. These results demonstrate the unique ability of the NIR laser adjuvant to selectively target specific migDC populations in skin depending on its parameters, and highlight the importance of optimization of laser parameters for desirable immune protection induced by an NIR laser-adjuvanted vaccine. Copyright © 2017 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

Validation of brain-derived signals in near-infrared spectroscopy through multivoxel analysis of concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Moriguchi, Yoshiya; Noda, Takamasa; Nakayashiki, Kosei; Takata, Yohei; Setoyama, Shiori; Kawasaki, Shingo; Kunisato, Yoshihiko; Mishima, Kazuo; Nakagome, Kazuyuki; Hanakawa, Takashi

2017-10-01

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a convenient and safe brain-mapping tool. However, its inevitable confounding with hemodynamic responses outside the brain, especially in the frontotemporal head, has questioned its validity. Some researchers attempted to validate NIRS signals through concurrent measurements with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but, counterintuitively, NIRS signals rarely correlate with local fMRI signals in NIRS channels, although both mapping techniques should measure the same hemoglobin concentration. Here, we tested a novel hypothesis that different voxels within the scalp and the brain tissues might have substantially different hemoglobin absorption rates of near-infrared light, which might differentially contribute to NIRS signals across channels. Therefore, we newly applied a multivariate approach, a partial least squares regression, to explain NIRS signals with multivoxel information from fMRI within the brain and soft tissues in the head. We concurrently obtained fMRI and NIRS signals in 9 healthy human subjects engaging in an n-back task. The multivariate fMRI model was quite successfully able to predict the NIRS signals by cross-validation (interclass correlation coefficient = ∼0.85). This result confirmed that fMRI and NIRS surely measure the same hemoglobin concentration. Additional application of Monte-Carlo permutation tests confirmed that the model surely reflects temporal and spatial hemodynamic information, not random noise. After this thorough validation, we calculated the ratios of the contributions of the brain and soft-tissue hemodynamics to the NIRS signals, and found that the contribution ratios were quite different across different NIRS channels in reality, presumably because of the structural complexity of the frontotemporal regions. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5274-5291, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Multifunctional nanosheets based on hyaluronic acid modified graphene oxide for tumor-targeting chemo-photothermal therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Lin; Feng, Qianhua; Wang, Yating; Zhang, Huijuan; Jiang, Guixiang; Yang, Xiaomin; Ren, Junxiao; Zhu, Xiali; Shi, Yuyang; Zhang, Zhenzhong

2015-03-01

Graphene oxide (GO) with strong optical absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region has shown great potential both in photothermal therapy and drug delivery. In this work, hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized GO (HA-GO) was successfully synthesized and controlled loading of mitoxantrone (MIT) onto HA-GO via π- π stacking interaction was investigated. The results revealed that drug-loaded nanosheets with high loading efficiency of 45 wt% exhibited pH-sensitive responses to tumor environment. Owing to the receptor-mediated endocytosis, cellular uptake analysis of HA-GO showed enhanced internalization. In vivo optical imaging test demonstrated that HA-GO nanosheets could enhance the targeting ability and residence time in tumor site. Moreover, the anti-tumor activity of free MIT, MIT/GO, and MIT/HA-GO in combination with NIR laser was investigated using human MCF-7 cells. In vitro cytotoxicity study revealed that HA-GO could stand as a biocompatible nanocarrier and MIT/HA-GO demonstrated remarkably higher toxicity than free MIT and MIT/GO, with IC50 of 0.79 µg ml-1. Tumor cell-killing potency was enhanced when MIT/HA-GO were combined with NIR irradiation, and the IC50 of MIT/HA-GO plus laser irradiation was 0.38 µg ml-1. In vivo, MIT/HA-GO plus NIR laser irradiation with the tumor growth inhibition of 93.52 % displayed greater anti-tumor effect compared with free MIT and MIT/GO with or without laser irradiation. Therefore, the MIT/HA-GO nanosheets may potentially be useful for further development of synergistic cancer therapy.

Near-infrared light–responsive dynamic wrinkle patterns

PubMed Central

Hou, Honghao; Yin, Jie

2018-01-01

Dynamic micro/nanopatterns provide an effective approach for on-demand tuning of surface properties to realize a smart surface. We report a simple yet versatile strategy for the fabrication of near-infrared (NIR) light–responsive dynamic wrinkles by using a carbon nanotube (CNT)–containing poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomer as the substrate for the bilayer systems, with various functional polymers serving as the top stiff layers. The high photon-to-thermal energy conversion of CNT leads to the NIR-controlled thermal expansion of the elastic CNT-PDMS substrate, resulting in dynamic regulation of the applied strain (ε) of the bilayer system by the NIR on/off cycle to obtain a reversible wrinkle pattern. The switchable surface topological structures can transfer between the wrinkled state and the wrinkle-free state within tens of seconds via NIR irradiation. As a proof-of-concept application, this type of NIR-driven dynamic wrinkle pattern was used in smart displays, dynamic gratings, and light control electronics. PMID:29740615

Reflectance-mode interferometric near-infrared spectroscopy quantifies brain absorption, scattering, and blood flow index in vivo

PubMed Central

Borycki, Dawid; Kholiqov, Oybek; Srinivasan, Vivek J.

2017-01-01

Interferometric near-infrared spectroscopy (iNIRS) is a new technique that measures time-of-flight- (TOF-) resolved autocorrelations in turbid media, enabling simultaneous estimation of optical and dynamical properties. Here, we demonstrate reflectance-mode iNIRS for noninvasive monitoring of a mouse brain in vivo. A method for more precise quantification with less static interference from superficial layers, based on separating static and dynamic components of the optical field autocorrelation, is presented. Absolute values of absorption, reduced scattering, and blood flow index (BFI) are measured, and changes in BFI and absorption are monitored during a hypercapnic challenge. Absorption changes from TOF-resolved iNIRS agree with absorption changes from continuous wave NIRS analysis, based on TOF-integrated light intensity changes, an effective path length, and the modified Beer–Lambert Law. Thus, iNIRS is a promising approach for quantitative and non-invasive monitoring of perfusion and optical properties in vivo. PMID:28146535

Narrowband light detection via internal quantum efficiency manipulation of organic photodiodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Armin, Ardalan; Jansen-van Vuuren, Ross D.; Kopidakis, Nikos; Burn, Paul L.; Meredith, Paul

2015-02-01

Spectrally selective light detection is vital for full-colour and near-infrared (NIR) imaging and machine vision. This is not possible with traditional broadband-absorbing inorganic semiconductors without input filtering, and is yet to be achieved for narrowband absorbing organic semiconductors. We demonstrate the first sub-100 nm full-width-at-half-maximum visible-blind red and NIR photodetectors with state-of-the-art performance across critical response metrics. These devices are based on organic photodiodes with optically thick junctions. Paradoxically, we use broadband-absorbing organic semiconductors and utilize the electro-optical properties of the junction to create the narrowest NIR-band photoresponses yet demonstrated. In this context, these photodiodes outperform the encumbent technology (input filtered inorganic semiconductor diodes) and emerging technologies such as narrow absorber organic semiconductors or quantum nanocrystals. The design concept allows for response tuning and is generic for other spectral windows. Furthermore, it is material-agnostic and applicable to other disordered and polycrystalline semiconductors.

FluoSTIC: miniaturized fluorescence image-guided surgery system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gioux, Sylvain; Coutard, Jean-Guillaume; Berger, Michel; Grateau, Henri; Josserand, Véronique; Keramidas, Michelle; Righini, Christian; Coll, Jean-Luc; Dinten, Jean-Marc

2012-10-01

Over the last few years, near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has witnessed rapid growth and is already used in clinical trials for various procedures. However, most clinically compatible imaging systems are optimized for large, open-surgery procedures. Such systems cannot be employed during head and neck oncologic surgeries because the system is not able to image inside deep cavities or allow the surgeon access to certain tumors due to the large footprint of the system. We describe a miniaturized, low-cost, NIR fluorescence system optimized for clinical use during oral oncologic surgeries. The system, termed FluoSTIC, employs a miniature, high-quality, consumer-grade lipstick camera for collecting fluorescence light and a novel custom circular optical fiber array for illumination that combines both white light and NIR excitation. FluoSTIC maintains fluorescence imaging quality similar to that of current large-size imaging systems and is 22 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height and weighs less than 200 g.

Using NIR spatial illumination for detection and mapping chromophore changes during cerebral edema

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abookasis, David; Mathews, Marlon S.; Owen, Christopher M.; Binder, Devin K.; Linskey, Mark E.; Frostig, Ron D.; Tromberg, Bruce J.

2008-02-01

We used spatially modulated near-infrared (NIR) light to detect and map chromophore changes during cerebral edema in the rat neocortex. Cerebral edema was induced by intraperitoneal injections of free water (35% of body weight). Intracranial pressure (ICP) was measured with an optical fiber based Fabry-Perot interferometer sensor inserted into the parenchyma of the right frontal lobe during water administration. Increase in ICP from a baseline value of 10 cm-water to 145 cm-water was observed. Following induction of cerebral edema, there was a 26+/-1.7% increase in tissue concentration of deoxyhemoglobin and a 47+/-4.7%, 17+/-3% and 37+/-3.7% decrease in oxyhemoglobin, total hemoglobin concentration and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation levels, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the use of NIR spatial modulation of light for detecting and mapping changes in tissue concentrations of physiologic chromophores over time in response to cerebral edema.

Vacancy-Rich Monolayer BiO 2-x as a Highly Efficient UV, Visible, and Near-Infrared Responsive Photocatalyst

DOE PAGES

Li, Jun; Wu, Xiaoyong; Pan, Wenfeng; ...

2017-09-08

Here in this paper, a full-spectrum responsive vacancy-rich monolayer BiO 2-x has been synthesized. The increased density of states at the conduction band (CB) minimum in the monolayer BiO 2-x is responsible for the enhanced photon response and photo-absorption, which were confirmed by UV/Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photocurrent measurements. Compared to bulk BiO 2-x, monolayer BiO 2-x has exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B and phenol removal under UV, visible, and near-infrared light (NIR) irradiation, which can be attributed to the vacancy VBi-O"' as confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The presence of V Bi-O"' defects inmore » monolayer BiO 2-x promoted the separation of electrons and holes. This finding provides an atomic level understanding for developing highly efficient UV, visible, and NIR light responsive photocatalysts.« less

Narrowband Light Detection via Internal Quantum Efficiency Manipulation of Organic Photodiodes

DOE PAGES

Armin, A.; Jansen-van Vuuren, R. D.; Kopidakis, N.; ...

2015-02-01

Spectrally selective light detection is vital for full-colour and near-infrared (NIR) imaging and machine vision. This is not possible with traditional broadband-absorbing inorganic semiconductors without input filtering, and is yet to be achieved for narrowband absorbing organic semiconductors. We demonstrate the first sub-100 nm full-width-at-half-maximum visible-blind red and NIR photodetectors with state-of-the-art performance across critical response metrics. These devices are based on organic photodiodes with optically thick junctions. Paradoxically, we use broadband-absorbing organic semiconductors and utilize the electro-optical properties of the junction to create the narrowest NIR-band photoresponses yet demonstrated. In this context, these photodiodes outperform the encumbent technology (inputmore » filtered inorganic semiconductor diodes) and emerging technologies such as narrow absorber organic semiconductors or quantum nanocrystals. The design concept allows for response tuning and is generic for other spectral windows. Furthermore, it is materialagnostic and applicable to other disordered and polycrystalline semiconductors.« less

Vacancy-Rich Monolayer BiO 2-x as a Highly Efficient UV, Visible, and Near-Infrared Responsive Photocatalyst

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Jun; Wu, Xiaoyong; Pan, Wenfeng

Here in this paper, a full-spectrum responsive vacancy-rich monolayer BiO 2-x has been synthesized. The increased density of states at the conduction band (CB) minimum in the monolayer BiO 2-x is responsible for the enhanced photon response and photo-absorption, which were confirmed by UV/Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and photocurrent measurements. Compared to bulk BiO 2-x, monolayer BiO 2-x has exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B and phenol removal under UV, visible, and near-infrared light (NIR) irradiation, which can be attributed to the vacancy VBi-O"' as confirmed by the positron annihilation spectra. The presence of V Bi-O"' defects inmore » monolayer BiO 2-x promoted the separation of electrons and holes. This finding provides an atomic level understanding for developing highly efficient UV, visible, and NIR light responsive photocatalysts.« less

A filterless, visible-blind, narrow-band, and near-infrared photodetector with a gain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Liang; Zhang, Yang; Bai, Yang; Zheng, Xiaopeng; Wang, Qi; Huang, Jinsong

2016-06-01

In many applications of near-infrared (NIR) light detection, a band-pass filter is needed to exclude the noise caused by visible light. Here, we demonstrate a filterless, visible-blind, narrow-band NIR photodetector with a full-width at half-maximum of <50 nm for the response spectrum. These devices have a thick (>4 μm) nanocomposite absorbing layers made of polymer-fullerene:lead sulfide (PbS) quantum dots (QDs). The PbS QDs yield a photoconductive gain due to their hole-trapping effect, which effectively enhances both the responsivity and the visible rejection ratio of the external quantum efficiency by >10 fold compared to those without PbS QDs. Encouragingly, the inclusion of the PbS QDs does not increase the device noise. We directly measured a noise equivalent power (NEP) of 6.1 pW cm-2 at 890 nm, and a large linear dynamic range (LDR) over 11 orders of magnitude. The highly sensitive visible-blind NIR narrow-band photodetectors may find applications in biomedical engineering.

Enhanced near-infrared to visible upconversion nanoparticles of Ho³⁺-Yb³⁺-F⁻ tri-doped TiO₂ and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells with 37% improvement in power conversion efficiency.

PubMed

Yu, Jia; Yang, Yulin; Fan, Ruiqing; Liu, Danqing; Wei, Liguo; Chen, Shuo; Li, Liang; Yang, Bin; Cao, Wenwu

2014-08-04

New near-infrared (NIR)-to-green upconversion nanoparticles of Ho(3+)-Yb(3+)-F(-) tridoped TiO2 (UC-F-TiO2) were designed and fabricated via the hydrosol-hydrothermal method. Under 980 nm NIR excitation, UC-F-TiO2 emit strong green upconversion fluorescence with three emission bands at 543, 644, and 751 nm and convert the NIR light in situ to the dye-sensitive visible light that could effectively reduce the distance between upconversion materials and sensitizers; thus, they minimize the loss of the converted light. Our results show that this UC-F-TiO2 offers excellent opportunities for the other types of solar cells applications, such as organic solar cells, c-Si solar cells, multijunction solar cells, and so on. When integrating the UC-F-TiO2 into dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), superior total energy conversion efficiency was achieved. Under AM1.5G light, open-circuit voltage reached 0.77 ± 0.01 V, short-circuit current density reached 21.00 ± 0.69 mA cm(-2), which resulted in an impressive overall energy conversion efficiency of 9.91 ± 0.30%, a 37% enhancement compared to DSSCs with pristine TiO2 photoanode.

Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging of atherosclerotic tissue phantom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishii, K.; Nagao, R.; Kitayabu, A.; Awazu, K.

2013-06-01

A method to identify vulnerable plaques that are likely to cause acute coronary events has been required. The object of this study is identifying vulnerable plaques by hyperspectral imaging in near-infrared range (NIR-HSI) for an angioscopic application. In this study, NIR-HSI of atherosclerotic tissue phantoms was demonstrated under simulated angioscopic conditions. NIR-HSI system was constructed by a NIR super continuum light and a mercury-cadmium-telluride camera. Spectral absorbance values were obtained in the wavelength range from 1150 to 2400 nm at 10 nm intervals. The hyperspectral images were constructed with spectral angle mapper algorithm. As a result, detections of the lipid area in the atherosclerotic tissue phantom under angioscopic observation conditions were achieved especially in the wavelength around 1200 nm, which corresponds to the second overtone of CH stretching vibration mode.

In vivo trans-rectal ultrasound coupled trans-rectal near-infrared optical tomography of canine prostate bearing transmissible venereal tumor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Zhen; Holyoak, G. Reed; Bartels, Kenneth E.; Ritchey, Jerry W.; Xu, Guan; Bunting, Charles F.; Slobodov, Gennady; Krasinski, Jerzy S.; Piao, Daqing

2009-02-01

In vivo trans-rectal near-infrared (NIR) optical tomography is conducted on a tumor-bearing canine prostate with the assistance of trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS). The canine prostate tumor model is made possible by a unique round cell neoplasm of dogs, transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) that can be transferred from dog to dog regardless of histocompatibility. A characterized TVT cell line was homogenized and passed twice in subcutaneous tissue of NOD/SCID mice. Following the second passage, the tumor was recovered, homogenized and then inoculated by ultrasound guidance into the prostate gland of a healthy dog. The dog was then imaged with a combined trans-rectal NIR and TRUS imager using an integrated trans-rectal NIR/US applicator. The image was taken by NIR and US modalities concurrently, both in sagittal view. The trans-rectal NIR imager is a continuous-wave system that illuminates 7 source channels sequentially by a fiber switch to deliver sufficient light power to the relatively more absorbing prostate tissue and samples 7 detection channels simultaneously by a gated intensified high-resolution CCD camera. This work tests the feasibility of detecting prostate tumor by trans-rectal NIR optical tomography and the benefit of augmenting TRUS with trans-rectal NIR imaging.

Thermal consequences of colour and near-infrared reflectance.

PubMed

Stuart-Fox, Devi; Newton, Elizabeth; Clusella-Trullas, Susana

2017-07-05

The importance of colour for temperature regulation in animals remains controversial. Colour can affect an animal's temperature because all else being equal, dark surfaces absorb more solar energy than do light surfaces, and that energy is converted into heat. However, in reality, the relationship between colour and thermoregulation is complex and varied because it depends on environmental conditions and the physical properties, behaviour and physiology of the animal. Furthermore, the thermal effects of colour depend as much on absorptance of near-infrared ((NIR), 700-2500 nm) as visible (300-700 nm) wavelengths of direct sunlight; yet the NIR is very rarely considered or measured. The few available data on NIR reflectance in animals indicate that the visible reflectance is often a poor predictor of NIR reflectance. Adaptive variation in animal coloration (visible reflectance) reflects a compromise between multiple competing functions such as camouflage, signalling and thermoregulation. By contrast, adaptive variation in NIR reflectance should primarily reflect thermoregulatory requirements because animal visual systems are generally insensitive to NIR wavelengths. Here, we assess evidence and identify key research questions regarding the thermoregulatory function of animal coloration, and specifically consider evidence for adaptive variation in NIR reflectance.This article is part of the themed issue 'Animal coloration: production, perception, function and application'. © 2017 The Author(s).

Interferometric Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (iNIRS) for determination of optical and dynamical properties of turbid media

PubMed Central

Borycki, Dawid; Kholiqov, Oybek; Chong, Shau Poh; Srinivasan, Vivek J.

2016-01-01

We introduce and implement interferometric near-infrared spectroscopy (iNIRS), which simultaneously extracts optical and dynamical properties of turbid media through analysis of a spectral interference fringe pattern. The spectral interference fringe pattern is measured using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a frequency-swept narrow linewidth laser. Fourier analysis of the detected signal is used to determine time-of-flight (TOF)-resolved intensity, which is then analyzed over time to yield TOF-resolved intensity autocorrelations. This approach enables quantification of optical properties, which is not possible in conventional, continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Furthermore, iNIRS quantifies scatterer motion based on TOF-resolved autocorrelations, which is a feature inaccessible by well-established diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) techniques. We prove this by determining TOF-resolved intensity and temporal autocorrelations for light transmitted through diffusive fluid phantoms with optical thicknesses of up to 55 reduced mean free paths (approximately 120 scattering events). The TOF-resolved intensity is used to determine optical properties with time-resolved diffusion theory, while the TOF-resolved intensity autocorrelations are used to determine dynamics with diffusing wave spectroscopy. iNIRS advances the capabilities of diffuse optical methods and is suitable for in vivo tissue characterization. Moreover, iNIRS combines NIRS and DCS capabilities into a single modality. PMID:26832264

Imaging and Selective Elimination of Glioblastoma Stem Cells with Theranostic Near-Infrared-Labeled CD133-Specific Antibodies.

PubMed

Jing, Hua; Weidensteiner, Claudia; Reichardt, Wilfried; Gaedicke, Simone; Zhu, Xuekai; Grosu, Anca-Ligia; Kobayashi, Hisataka; Niedermann, Gabriele

2016-01-01

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT), which employs monoclonal antibody (mAb)-phototoxic phthalocyanine dye IR700 conjugates, permits the specific, image-guided and spatiotemporally controlled elimination of tumor cells. Here, we report the highly efficient NIR-PIT of human tumor xenografts initiated from patient-derived cancer stem cells (CSCs). Using glioblastoma stem cells (GBM-SCs) expressing the prototypic CSC marker AC133/CD133, we also demonstrate here for the first time that NIR-PIT is highly effective against brain tumors. The intravenously injected theranostic AC133 mAb conjugate enabled the non-invasive detection of orthotopic gliomas by NIR fluorescence imaging, and reached AC133+ GBM-SCs at the invasive tumor front. AC133-targeted NIR-PIT induced the rapid cell death of AC133+ GBM-SCs and thereby strong shrinkage of both subcutaneous and invasively growing brain tumors. A single round of NIR-PIT extended the overall survival of mice with established orthotopic gliomas by more than a factor of two, even though the harmless NIR light was applied through the intact skull. Humanised versions of this theranostic agent may facilitate intraoperative imaging and histopathological evaluation of tumor borders and enable the highly specific and efficient eradication of CSCs.

Commentary on the statistical properties of noise and its implication on general linear models in functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Huppert, Theodore J

2016-01-01

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive neuroimaging technique that uses low levels of light to measure changes in cerebral blood oxygenation levels. In the majority of NIRS functional brain studies, analysis of this data is based on a statistical comparison of hemodynamic levels between a baseline and task or between multiple task conditions by means of a linear regression model: the so-called general linear model. Although these methods are similar to their implementation in other fields, particularly for functional magnetic resonance imaging, the specific application of these methods in fNIRS research differs in several key ways related to the sources of noise and artifacts unique to fNIRS. In this brief communication, we discuss the application of linear regression models in fNIRS and the modifications needed to generalize these models in order to deal with structured (colored) noise due to systemic physiology and noise heteroscedasticity due to motion artifacts. The objective of this work is to present an overview of these noise properties in the context of the linear model as it applies to fNIRS data. This work is aimed at explaining these mathematical issues to the general fNIRS experimental researcher but is not intended to be a complete mathematical treatment of these concepts.

Synthesis of Dual NIR Two-photon Absorptive [60]fullerenyl Multiadducts for Nonlinear Light-transmittance Reduction Application

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-01

INTRODUCTION Nonlinear optical characteristics of [60] fullerene -derived C60-(antenna)x nanostructure conjugates are based on excited singlet state...two-photon absorption (2PA) processes in the NIR region [3]. Fullerene cages exhibit high electronegativity and electron-accepting characteristics...photoenergy by the donor DPAF-Cn antenna was able to undergo efficient intramolecular electron- or energy-transfer to the fullerene acceptor moiety in

Multiwavelength Photometric and Spectropolarimetric Analysis of the FSRQ 3C 279

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patiño-Álvarez, V. M.; Fernandes, S.; Chavushyan, V.; López-Rodríguez, E.; León-Tavares, J.; Schlegel, E. M.; Carrasco, L.; Valdés, J.; Carramiñana, A.

2018-06-01

In this paper, we present light curves for 3C 279 over a time period of six years; from 2008 to 2014. Our multiwavelength data comprise 1 mm to gamma-rays, with additional optical polarimetry. Based on the behaviour of the gamma-ray light curve with respect to other bands, we identified three different activity periods. One of the activity periods shows anomalous behaviour with no gamma-ray counterpart associated with optical and NIR flares. Another anomalous activity period shows a flare in gamma-rays, 1 mm and polarization degree, however, it does not have counterparts in the UV continuum, optical and NIR bands. We find a significant overall correlation of the UV continuum emission, the optical and NIR bands. This correlation suggests that the NIR to UV continuum is co-spatial. We also find a correlation between the UV continuum and the 1 mm data, which implies that the dominant process in producing the UV continuum is synchrotron emission. The gamma-ray spectral index shows statistically significant variability and an anti-correlation with the gamma-ray luminosity. We demonstrate that the dominant gamma-ray emission mechanism in 3C 279 changes over time. Alternatively, the location of the gamma-ray emission zone itself may change depending on the activity state of the central engine.

Near Infrared Imaging As a Method of Studying Tsetse Fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) Pupal Development

PubMed Central

Moran, Zelda R.; Parker, Andrew G.

2016-01-01

Abstract Near infrared (NIR) photography and video was investigated as a method for observing and recording intrapuparial development in the tsetse fly Glossina palpalis gambiensis and other Muscomorpha (Cyclorrhapha) Diptera. We showed that NIR light passes through the puparium, permitting images of the true pupae and pharate adult to be captured. Various wavelengths of NIR light from 880 to 1060 nm were compared to study the development of tsetse fly pupae from larviposition to emergence, using time-lapse videos and photographs. This study was carried out to advance our understanding of tsetse pupal development, specifically with the goal of improving a sorting technique which could separate male from female tsetse flies several days before emergence. Separation of the sexes at this stage is highly desirable for operational tsetse sterile insect technique control programmes, as it would permit the easy retention of females for the colony while allowing the males to be handled, irradiated and shipped in the pupal stage when they are less sensitive to vibration. In addition, it presents a new methodology for studying the pupal stage of many coarctate insects for many applications. NIR imaging permits observation of living pupae, allowing the entire development process to be observed without disruption. PMID:27402791

Using near infrared light to manage symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome.

PubMed

Guffey, J Stephen; Motts, Susan; Barymon, Deanna; Wooten, Amber; Clough, Tim; Payne, Emily; Henderson, McCall; Tice, Neal

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the application of near infrared (NIR) light could positively modulate symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Twenty-one subjects with RLS were treated with NIR three times weekly for four weeks. Baseline measures of: (1) international restless legs syndrome rating scale (IRLSRS) score; (2) Semmes Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test; (3) visual analog pain scale (VAS); (4) ankle-brachial index (ABI); and (5) sonographic imaging of the popliteal and posterior tibial arteries were compared to post-treatment values. NIR (850 nm) was delivered transcutaneously at 8 J/cm(2) to four locations on each leg and the plantar surface of each foot. A pre-test-post-test one group design was employed. Baseline and post-treatment measures were compared using either a dependent t-test when data were normal or the Wilcoxon signed rank test in the absence of normality. A significant improvement in IRLSRS scores was observed. Sensation improved from less than protective in 16.6% of sites tested at the baseline to 13.4% post-intervention. There was a significant improvement in ABI scores. VAS and sonographic imaging measures other than ABI remained unchanged. The use of NIR to modulate symptoms associated with RLS was supported by the data.

Acute Zonal Cone Photoreceptor Outer Segment Loss.

PubMed

Aleman, Tomas S; Sandhu, Harpal S; Serrano, Leona W; Traband, Anastasia; Lau, Marisa K; Adamus, Grazyna; Avery, Robert A

2017-05-01

The diagnostic path presented narrows down the cause of acute vision loss to the cone photoreceptor outer segment and will refocus the search for the cause of similar currently idiopathic conditions. To describe the structural and functional associations found in a patient with acute zonal occult photoreceptor loss. A case report of an adolescent boy with acute visual field loss despite a normal fundus examination performed at a university teaching hospital. Results of a complete ophthalmic examination, full-field flash electroretinography (ERG) and multifocal ERG, light-adapted achromatic and 2-color dark-adapted perimetry, and microperimetry. Imaging was performed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), near-infrared (NIR) and short-wavelength (SW) fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and NIR reflectance (REF). The patient was evaluated within a week of the onset of a scotoma in the nasal field of his left eye. Visual acuity was 20/20 OU, and color vision was normal in both eyes. Results of the fundus examination and of SW-FAF and NIR-FAF imaging were normal in both eyes, whereas NIR-REF imaging showed a region of hyporeflectance temporal to the fovea that corresponded with a dense relative scotoma noted on light-adapted static perimetry in the left eye. Loss in the photoreceptor outer segment detected by SD-OCT co-localized with an area of dense cone dysfunction detected on light-adapted perimetry and multifocal ERG but with near-normal rod-mediated vision according to results of 2-color dark-adapted perimetry. Full-field flash ERG findings were normal in both eyes. The outer nuclear layer and inner retinal thicknesses were normal. Localized, isolated cone dysfunction may represent the earliest photoreceptor abnormality or a distinct entity within the acute zonal occult outer retinopathy complex. Acute zonal occult outer retinopathy should be considered in patients with acute vision loss and abnormalities on NIR-REF imaging, especially if multimodal imaging supports an intact retinal pigment epithelium and inner retina but an abnormal photoreceptor outer segment.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Using a Supercontinuum Laser: Application to Long Wavelength Transmission Spectra of Barley Endosperm and Oil.

PubMed

Ringsted, Tine; Dupont, Sune; Ramsay, Jacob; Jespersen, Birthe Møller; Sørensen, Klavs Martin; Keiding, Søren Rud; Engelsen, Søren Balling

2016-07-01

The supercontinuum laser is a new type of light source, which combines the collimation and intensity of a laser with the broad spectral region of a lamp. Using such a source therefore makes it possible to focus the light onto small sample areas without losing intensity and thus facilitate either rapid or high-intensity measurements. Single seed transmission analysis in the long wavelength (LW) near-infrared (NIR) region is one area that might benefit from a brighter light source such as the supercontinuum laser. This study is aimed at building an experimental spectrometer consisting of a supercontinuum laser source and a dispersive monochromator in order to investigate its capability to measure the barley endosperm using transmission experiments in the LW NIR region. So far, barley and wheat seeds have only been studied using NIR transmission in the short wavelength region up to 1100 nm. However, the region in the range of 2260-2380 nm has previously shown to be particularly useful in differentiating barley phenotypes using NIR spectroscopy in reflectance mode. In the present study, 350 seeds (consisting of 70 seeds from each of five barley genotypes) in 1 mm slices were measured by NIR transmission in the range of 2235-2381 nm and oils from the same five barley genotypes were measured in a cuvette with a 1 mm path length in the range of 2003-2497 nm. The spectra of the barley seeds could be classified according to genotypes by principal component analysis; and spectral covariances with reference analysis of moisture, β-glucan, starch, protein and lipid were established. The spectral variations of the barley oils were compared to the fatty acid compositions as measured using gas chromotography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). © The Author(s) 2016.

Real-time navigation system for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients using projection mapping with indocyanine green fluorescence.

PubMed

Takada, Masahiro; Takeuchi, Megumi; Suzuki, Eiji; Sato, Fumiaki; Matsumoto, Yoshiaki; Torii, Masae; Kawaguchi-Sakita, Nobuko; Nishino, Hiroto; Seo, Satoru; Hatano, Etsuro; Toi, Masakazu

2018-05-09

Inability to visualize indocyanine green fluorescence images in the surgical field limits the application of current near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIR) systems for real-time navigation during sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the Medical Imaging Projection System (MIPS), which uses active projection mapping, for SLN biopsy. A total of 56 patients (59 procedures) underwent SLN biopsy using the MIPS between March 2016 and November 2017. After SLN biopsy using the MIPS, residual SLNs were removed using a conventional NIR camera and/or radioisotope method. The primary endpoint of this study was identification rate of SLNs using the MIPS. In all procedures, at least one SLN was detected by the MIPS, giving an SLN identification rate of 100% [95% confidence interval (CI) 94-100%]. SLN biopsy was successfully performed without operating lights in all procedures. In total, 3 positive SLNs were excised using MIPS, but were not included in the additional SLNs excised by other methods. The median number of SLNs excised using the MIPS was 3 (range 1-7). Of procedures performed after preoperative systemic therapy, the median number of SLNs excised using the MIPS was 3 (range 2-6). The MIPS is effective in detecting SLNs in patients with breast cancer, providing continuous and accurate projection of fluorescence signals in the surgical field, without need for operating lights, and could be useful in real-time navigation surgery for SLN biopsy.

Near infrared laser-tissue welding using nanoshells as an exogenous absorber.

PubMed

Gobin, Andre M; O'Neal, D Patrick; Watkins, Daniel M; Halas, Naomi J; Drezek, Rebekah A; West, Jennifer L

2005-08-01

Gold nanoshells are a new class of nanoparticles that can be designed to strongly absorb light in the near infrared (NIR). These particles provide much larger absorption cross-sections and efficiency than can be achieved with currently used chemical chromophores without photobleaching. In these studies, we have investigated the use of gold nanoshells as exogenous NIR absorbers to facilitate NIR laser-tissue welding. Gold nanoshells with peak extinction matching the NIR wavelength of the laser being used were manufactured and suspended in an albumin solder. Optimization work was performed on ex vivo muscle samples and then translated into testing in an in vivo rat skin wound-healing model. Mechanical testing of the muscle samples was immediately performed and compared to intact tissue mechanical properties. In the in vivo study, full thickness incisions in the dorsal skin of rats were welded, and samples of skin were excised at 0, 5, 10, 21, and 32 days for analysis of strength and wound healing response. Mechanical testing of nanoshell-solder welds in muscle revealed successful fusion of tissues with tensile strengths of the weld site equal to the uncut tissue. No welding was accomplished with this light source when using solder formulations without nanoshells. Mechanical testing of the skin wounds showed sufficient strength for closure and strength increased over time. Histological examination showed good wound-healing response in the soldered skin. The use of nanoshells as an exogenous absorber allows the usage of light sources that are minimally absorbed by tissue components, thereby, minimizing damage to surrounding tissue and allowing welding of thicker tissues. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Molecular imaging-guided photothermal/photodynamic therapy against tumor by iRGD-modified indocyanine green nanoparticles.

PubMed

Yan, Fei; Wu, Hao; Liu, Hongmei; Deng, Zhiting; Liu, Hong; Duan, Wanlu; Liu, Xin; Zheng, Hairong

2016-02-28

Multifunctional near-infrared (NIR) nanoparticles demonstrate great potential in tumor theranostic applications. To achieve the sensitive detection and effective phototherapy in the early stage of tumor genesis, it is highly desirable to improve the targeting of NIR theranostic agents to biomarkers and to enhance their accumulation in tumor. Here we report a novel targeted multifunctional theranostic nanoparticle, internalized RGD (iRGD)-modified indocyanine green (ICG) liposomes (iRGD-ICG-LPs), for molecular imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) therapy against breast tumor. The iRGD peptides with high affinity to αvβ3 integrin and effective tumor-internalized property were firstly used to synthesize iRGD-PEG2000-DSPE lipopeptides, which were further utilized to fabricate the targeted ICG liposomes. The results indicated that iRGD-ICG-LPs exhibited excellent stability and could provide an accurate and sensitive detection of breast tumor through NIR fluorescence molecular imaging. We further employed this nanoparticle for tumor theranostic application, demonstrating significantly higher tumor accumulation and tumor inhibition efficacy through PTT/PDT effects. Histological analysis further revealed much more apoptotic cells, confirming the advantageous anti-tumor effect of iRGD-ICG-LPs over non-targeted ICG-LPs. Notably, the targeting therapy mediated by iRGD provides almost equivalent anti-tumor efficacy at a 12.5-fold lower drug dose than that by monoclonal antibody, and no tumor recurrence and obvious treatment-induced toxicity were observed in our study. Our study provides a promising strategy to realize the sensitive detection and effective treatment of tumors by integrating molecular imaging into PTT/PDT therapy. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Engineering of near infrared fluorescent proteinoid-poly(L-lactic acid) particles for in vivo colon cancer detection.

PubMed

Kolitz-Domb, Michal; Grinberg, Igor; Corem-Salkmon, Enav; Margel, Shlomo

2014-08-12

The use of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging techniques has gained great interest for early detection of cancer owing to the negligible absorption and autofluorescence of water and other intrinsic biomolecules in this region. The main aim of the present study is to synthesize and characterize novel NIR fluorescent nanoparticles based on proteinoid and PLLA for early detection of colon tumors. The present study describes the synthesis of new proteinoid-PLLA copolymer and the preparation of NIR fluorescent nanoparticles for use in diagnostic detection of colon cancer. These fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared by a self-assembly process in the presence of the NIR dye indocyanine green (ICG), a FDA-approved NIR fluorescent dye. Anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody (anti-CEA), a specific tumor targeting ligand, was covalently conjugated to the P(EF-PLLA) nanoparticles through the surface carboxylate groups using the carbodiimide activation method. The P(EF-PLLA) nanoparticles are stable in different conditions, no leakage of the encapsulated dye into PBS containing 4% HSA was detected. The encapsulation of the NIR fluorescent dye within the P(EF-PLLA) nanoparticles improves significantly the photostability of the dye. The fluorescent nanoparticles are non-toxic, and the biodistribution study in a mouse model showed they evacuate from the body over 24 h. Specific colon tumor detection in a chicken embryo model and a mouse model was demonstrated for anti-CEA-conjugated NIR fluorescent P(EF-PLLA) nanoparticles. The results of this study suggest a significant advantage of NIR fluorescence imaging using NIR fluorescent P(EF-PLLA) nanoparticles over colonoscopy. In future work we plan to broaden this study by encapsulating cancer drugs such as paclitaxel and/or doxorubicin, within these biodegradable NIR fluorescent P(EF-PLLA) nanoparticles, for both detection and therapy of colon cancer.

Flower-like PEGylated MoS2 nanoflakes for near-infrared photothermal cancer therapy

PubMed Central

Feng, Wei; Chen, Liang; Qin, Ming; Zhou, Xiaojun; Zhang, Qianqian; Miao, Yingke; Qiu, Kexin; Zhang, Yanzhong; He, Chuanglong

2015-01-01

Photothermal cancer therapy has attracted considerable interest for cancer treatment in recent years, but the effective photothermal agents remain to be explored before this strategy can be applied clinically. In this study, we therefore develop flower-like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflakes and investigate their potential for photothermal ablation of cancer cells. MoS2 nanoflakes are synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and then modified with lipoic acid-terminated polyethylene glycol (LA-PEG), endowing the obtained nanoflakes with high colloidal stability and very low cytotoxicity. Upon irradiation with near infrared (NIR) laser at 808 nm, the nanoflakes showed powerful ability of inducing higher temperature, good photothermal stability and high photothermal conversion efficiency. The in vitro photothermal effects of MoS2-PEG nanoflakes with different concentrations were also evaluated under various power densities of NIR 808-nm laser irradiation, and the results indicated that an effective photothermal killing of cancer cells could be achieved by a low concentration of nanoflakes under a low power NIR 808-nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, cancer cell in vivo could be efficiently destroyed via the photothermal effect of MoS2-PEG nanoflakes under the irradiation. These results thus suggest that the MoS2-PEG nanoflakes would be as promising photothermal agents for future photothermal cancer therapy. PMID:26632249

Flower-like PEGylated MoS2 nanoflakes for near-infrared photothermal cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Wei; Chen, Liang; Qin, Ming; Zhou, Xiaojun; Zhang, Qianqian; Miao, Yingke; Qiu, Kexin; Zhang, Yanzhong; He, Chuanglong

2015-12-01

Photothermal cancer therapy has attracted considerable interest for cancer treatment in recent years, but the effective photothermal agents remain to be explored before this strategy can be applied clinically. In this study, we therefore develop flower-like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoflakes and investigate their potential for photothermal ablation of cancer cells. MoS2 nanoflakes are synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and then modified with lipoic acid-terminated polyethylene glycol (LA-PEG), endowing the obtained nanoflakes with high colloidal stability and very low cytotoxicity. Upon irradiation with near infrared (NIR) laser at 808 nm, the nanoflakes showed powerful ability of inducing higher temperature, good photothermal stability and high photothermal conversion efficiency. The in vitro photothermal effects of MoS2-PEG nanoflakes with different concentrations were also evaluated under various power densities of NIR 808-nm laser irradiation, and the results indicated that an effective photothermal killing of cancer cells could be achieved by a low concentration of nanoflakes under a low power NIR 808-nm laser irradiation. Furthermore, cancer cell in vivo could be efficiently destroyed via the photothermal effect of MoS2-PEG nanoflakes under the irradiation. These results thus suggest that the MoS2-PEG nanoflakes would be as promising photothermal agents for future photothermal cancer therapy.

New Triplet Sensitization Routes for Photon Upconversion: Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Molecules, Inorganic Nanocrystals, and Singlet-to-Triplet Absorption.

PubMed

Yanai, Nobuhiro; Kimizuka, Nobuo

2017-10-17

Photon upconversion based on triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA-UC) has attracted much interest because of its possible applications to renewable energy production and biological fields. In particular, the UC of near-infrared (NIR) light to visible (vis) light is imperative to overcome the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction photovoltaic cells, and the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production from water can also be improved with the aid of vis-to-ultraviolet (UV) UC. However, both processes have met limitations in the wavelength range, efficiency, and sensitivity for weak incident light. This Account describes recent breakthroughs that solve these major problems, new triplet sensitization routes to significantly enlarge the range of conversion wavelength by minimizing the energy loss during intersystem crossing (ISC) of triplet sensitizers or bypassing the ISC process. The photochemical processes of TTA-UC in general start with the absorption of longer wavelength incident light by triplet sensitizers, which generate the triplet states via ISC. This ISC inevitably accompanies the energy loss of hundreds of millielectronvolts, which significantly limits the TTA-UC with large anti-Stokes shifts. The small S 1 -T 1 gap of molecules showing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) allows the sensitization of emitters with the highest T 1 and S 1 energy levels ever employed in TTA-UC, which results in efficient vis-to-UV UC. As alternatives to molecular sensitizers in the NIR region, inorganic nanocrystals with broad NIR absorption bands have recently been shown to work as effective sensitizers for NIR-to-vis TTA-UC. Their small exchange splitting minimizes the energy loss during triplet sensitization. The modification of nanocrystal surfaces with organic acceptors via coordination bonds allows efficient energy transfer between the components and succeeding TTA processes. To remove restrictions on the energy loss during ISC, molecules with direct singlet-to-triplet (S-T) excitation are employed as triplet sensitizers. Although the S-T absorption is spin forbidden, large spin-orbital coupling occurs for appropriately designed metal complexes, which allow S-T absorption in the NIR region with large absorption coefficients. While the triplet lifetime of such S-T absorption sensitizers is often short (less than microsecond), the integration of the molecular sensitizers with emitter assemblies allows facile Dexter energy transfer to the surrounding emitter molecules, leading to efficient NIR-to-vis UC emission through triplet energy migration (TEM) in the condensed state. By judicious modification of the chromophore structures, the first example of NIR-to-blue UC has also been achieved. It is essential to combine these new triplet sensitization routes with an upconverted energy collection (UPCON) approach in molecular assemblies to effectively populate emitter triplets and to overcome remaining issues including back energy transfer. We propose two overall materials designs for the TEM-UPCON strategy, core-shell-shell structures and trilayer structures composed of triplet donor, acceptor, and energy collector. The fusion between triplet science and chemistry of self-assembly would overcome previous difficulties of NIR-to-vis and vis-to-UV TTA-UC toward real-world applications ranging from energy to biology.

Polydopamine-functionalized nanographene oxide: a versatile nanocarrier for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xinyuan; Nan, Xu; Shi, Wei; Sun, Yanan; Su, Huiling; He, Yuan; Liu, Xin; Zhang, Zhong; Ge, Dongtao

2017-07-01

For releasing both drug and heat to selected sites, a combination of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in one system is a more effective way to destroy cancer cells than monotherapy. Graphene oxide (GO) with high drug-loading efficiency and near-infrared (NIR) absorbance has great potential in drug delivery and photothermal therapy, but it is difficult to load drugs with high solubility. Herein, we develop a versatile drug delivery nanoplatform based on GO for integrated chemotherapy and photothermal therapy by a facile method of simultaneous reduction and surface functionalization of GO with poly(dopamine) (PDA). Due to the excellent adhesion of PDA, both low and high solubility drugs can be encapsulated in the PDA-functionalized GO nanocomposite (rGO-PDA). The fabricated nanocomposite exhibits good biocompatibility, excellent photothermal performance, high drug loading capacity, an outstanding sustained release property, and efficient endocytosis. Moreover, NIR laser irradiation facilitates the release of loaded drugs from rGO-PDA. These features make the rGO-PDA nanocomposite achieve excellent in vivo synergistic antitumor therapeutic efficacy.

Investigation on laser-assisted tissue repair with NIR millisecond-long light pulses and Indocyanine Green-biopolymeric patches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matteini, Paolo; Banchelli, Martina; Cottat, Maximilien; Osticioli, Iacopo; de Angelis, Marella; Rossi, Francesca; Pini, Roberto

2016-03-01

In previous works a minimally invasive laser-assisted technique for vascular repair was presented. The technique rests on the photothermal adhesion of a biocompatible and bioresorbable patch containing Indocyanine Green that is brought into contact with the site to be repaired. Afterward the use of NIR millisecond-long light pulses generates a strong welding effect between the patch and the underlying tissue and in turn the repair of the wound. This technique was shown to be effective in animal model and provides several advantages over conventional suturing methods. Here we investigate and discuss the optical stability of the ICG-biopolymeric patches and the photothermal effects induced to the irradiated tissue.

Visible and Near-Infrared Properties of Optical Fibers Coupled to the Pathfinder High-Resolution NIR Spectrograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCoy, K.; Ramsey, L.

2011-09-01

The Penn State Astronomy and Astrophysics Department’s Pathfinder instrument is a fiber-fed, warm-bench echelle spectrograph designed to explore technical issues that must be resolved in order to measure precise radial velocities that will allow the detection of exoplanets in the near-infrared (NIR). In May 2010, Pathfinder demonstrated 10-20 m/s radial-velocity precision in the NIR at the 9 meter Hobby-Eberly Telescope. To attain even higher precision, we are investigating the NIR properties of the optical fibers that transmit light from the telescope to Pathfinder. We conducted a series of modal noise tests with visible and NIR laser diodes on a 200 micron diameter, fused-silica, multimode optical fiber as the preliminary step in analyzing the degrading effects of modal noise on radial-velocity precision. We report these test results and comment on our future tests to reduce the negative effects of modal noise and focal ratio degradation (FRD). The lessons learned from this research and the Pathfinder prototype will be used in Pathfinder II, which will aim to achieve better than 5 m/s in the NIR.

Nondestructive assessment of the severity of occlusal caries lesions with near-infrared imaging at 1310 nm.

PubMed

Lee, Chulsung; Lee, Dustin; Darling, Cynthia L; Fried, Daniel

2010-01-01

The high transparency of dental enamel in the near-infrared (NIR) at 1310 nm can be exploited for imaging dental caries without the use of ionizing radiation. The objective of this study is to determine whether the lesion contrast derived from NIR imaging in both transmission and reflectance can be used to estimate lesion severity. Two NIR imaging detector technologies are investigated: a new Ge-enhanced complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based NIR imaging camera, and an InGaAs focal plane array (FPA). Natural occlusal caries lesions are imaged with both cameras at 1310 nm, and the image contrast between sound and carious regions is calculated. After NIR imaging, teeth are sectioned and examined using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR) to determine lesion severity. Lesions are then classified into four categories according to lesion severity. Lesion contrast increases significantly with lesion severity for both cameras (p<0.05). The Ge-enhanced CMOS camera equipped with the larger array and smaller pixels yields higher contrast values compared with the smaller InGaAs FPA (p<0.01). Results demonstrate that NIR lesion contrast can be used to estimate lesion severity.

Nondestructive assessment of the severity of occlusal caries lesions with near-infrared imaging at 1310 nm

PubMed Central

Lee, Chulsung; Lee, Dustin; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2010-01-01

The high transparency of dental enamel in the near-infrared (NIR) at 1310 nm can be exploited for imaging dental caries without the use of ionizing radiation. The objective of this study is to determine whether the lesion contrast derived from NIR imaging in both transmission and reflectance can be used to estimate lesion severity. Two NIR imaging detector technologies are investigated: a new Ge-enhanced complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based NIR imaging camera, and an InGaAs focal plane array (FPA). Natural occlusal caries lesions are imaged with both cameras at 1310 nm, and the image contrast between sound and carious regions is calculated. After NIR imaging, teeth are sectioned and examined using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR) to determine lesion severity. Lesions are then classified into four categories according to lesion severity. Lesion contrast increases significantly with lesion severity for both cameras (p<0.05). The Ge-enhanced CMOS camera equipped with the larger array and smaller pixels yields higher contrast values compared with the smaller InGaAs FPA (p<0.01). Results demonstrate that NIR lesion contrast can be used to estimate lesion severity. PMID:20799842

Nondestructive assessment of the severity of occlusal caries lesions with near-infrared imaging at 1310 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Chulsung; Lee, Dustin; Darling, Cynthia L.; Fried, Daniel

2010-07-01

The high transparency of dental enamel in the near-infrared (NIR) at 1310 nm can be exploited for imaging dental caries without the use of ionizing radiation. The objective of this study is to determine whether the lesion contrast derived from NIR imaging in both transmission and reflectance can be used to estimate lesion severity. Two NIR imaging detector technologies are investigated: a new Ge-enhanced complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-based NIR imaging camera, and an InGaAs focal plane array (FPA). Natural occlusal caries lesions are imaged with both cameras at 1310 nm, and the image contrast between sound and carious regions is calculated. After NIR imaging, teeth are sectioned and examined using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR) to determine lesion severity. Lesions are then classified into four categories according to lesion severity. Lesion contrast increases significantly with lesion severity for both cameras (p<0.05). The Ge-enhanced CMOS camera equipped with the larger array and smaller pixels yields higher contrast values compared with the smaller InGaAs FPA (p<0.01). Results demonstrate that NIR lesion contrast can be used to estimate lesion severity.

In-line and real-time process monitoring of a freeze drying process using Raman and NIR spectroscopy as complementary process analytical technology (PAT) tools.

PubMed

De Beer, T R M; Vercruysse, P; Burggraeve, A; Quinten, T; Ouyang, J; Zhang, X; Vervaet, C; Remon, J P; Baeyens, W R G

2009-09-01

The aim of the present study was to examine the complementary properties of Raman and near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as PAT tools for the fast, noninvasive, nondestructive and in-line process monitoring of a freeze drying process. Therefore, Raman and NIR probes were built in the freeze dryer chamber, allowing simultaneous process monitoring. A 5% (w/v) mannitol solution was used as model for freeze drying. Raman and NIR spectra were continuously collected during freeze drying (one Raman and NIR spectrum/min) and the spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate curve resolution (MCR). Raman spectroscopy was able to supply information about (i) the mannitol solid state throughout the entire process, (ii) the endpoint of freezing (endpoint of mannitol crystallization), and (iii) several physical and chemical phenomena occurring during the process (onset of ice nucleation, onset of mannitol crystallization). NIR spectroscopy proved to be a more sensitive tool to monitor the critical aspects during drying: (i) endpoint of ice sublimation and (ii) monitoring the release of hydrate water during storage. Furthermore, via NIR spectroscopy some Raman observations were confirmed: start of ice nucleation, end of mannitol crystallization and solid state characteristics of the end product. When Raman and NIR monitoring were performed on the same vial, the Raman signal was saturated during the freezing step caused by reflected NIR light reaching the Raman detector. Therefore, NIR and Raman measurements were done on a different vial. Also the importance of the position of the probes (Raman probe above the vial and NIR probe at the bottom of the sidewall of the vial) in order to obtain all required critical information is outlined. Combining Raman and NIR spectroscopy for the simultaneous monitoring of freeze drying allows monitoring almost all critical freeze drying process aspects. Both techniques do not only complement each other, they also provided mutual confirmation of specific conclusions.

Near-infrared imaging of secondary caries lesions around composite restorations at wavelengths from 1300-1700-nm.

PubMed

Simon, Jacob C; A Lucas, Seth; Lee, Robert C; Darling, Cynthia L; Staninec, Michal; Vaderhobli, Ram; Pelzner, Roger; Fried, Daniel

2016-04-01

Current clinical methods for diagnosing secondary caries are unreliable for identifying the early stages of decay around restorative materials. The objective of this study was to access the integrity of restoration margins in natural teeth using near-infrared (NIR) reflectance and transillumination images at wavelengths between 1300 and 1700-nm and to determine the optimal NIR wavelengths for discriminating composite materials from dental hard tissues. Twelve composite margins (n=12) consisting of class I, II and V restorations were chosen from ten extracted teeth. The samples were imaged in vitro using NIR transillumination and reflectance, polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and a high-magnification digital microscope. Samples were serially sectioned into 200-μm slices for histological analysis using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR). Two independent examiners evaluated the presence of demineralization at the sample margin using visible detection with 10× magnification and NIR images presented digitally. Composite restorations were placed in sixteen sound teeth (n=16) and imaged at multiple NIR wavelengths ranging from λ=1300 to 1700-nm using NIR transillumination. The image contrast was calculated between the composite and sound tooth structure. Intensity changes in NIR images at wavelengths ranging from 1300 to 1700-nm correlate with increased mineral loss measured using TMR. NIR reflectance and transillumination at wavelengths coincident with increased water absorption yielded significantly higher (P<0.001) contrast between sound enamel and adjacent demineralized enamel. In addition, NIR reflectance exhibited significantly higher (P<0.01) contrast between sound enamel and adjacent composite restorations than visible reflectance. This study shows that NIR imaging is well suited for the rapid screening of secondary caries lesions. Copyright © 2016 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In vivo real time non invasive monitoring of brain penetration of chemicals with near-infrared spectroscopy: Concomitant PK/PD analysis.

PubMed

Crespi, Francesco; Cattini, Stefano; Donini, Maurizio; Bandera, Andrea; Rovati, Luigi

2016-01-30

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a non-invasive technique that monitors changes in oxygenation of haemoglobin. The absorption spectra of near-infrared light differ for the oxygenation-deoxygenation states of haemoglobin (oxygenate (HbO2) and deoxygenate (Hb), respectively) so that these two states can be directly monitored. Different methodologies report different basal values of HbO2 and Hb absolute concentrations in brain. Here, we attempt to calculate basal HbO2 levels in rat CNS via evaluation of the influence of exogenous oxygen or exogenous carbon dioxide on the NIRS parameters measured in vivo. Furthermore the possibility that changes of haemoglobin oxygenation in rat brain as measured by NIRS might be a useful index of brain penetration of chemical entities has been investigated. Different compounds from different chemical classes were selected on the basis of parallel ex vivo and in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK/PD) studies of brain penetration and overall pharmacokinetic profile. It appeared that NIRS might contribute to assess brain penetration of chemical entities, i.e. significant changes in NIRS signals could be related to brain exposure, conversely the lack of significant changes in relevant NIRS parameters could be indicative of low brain exposure. This work is proposing a further innovation on NIRS preclinical applications i.e. a "chemical" NIRS [chNIRS] approach for determining penetration of drugs in animal brain. Therefore, chNIRS could became a non invasive methodology for studies on neurobiological processes and psychiatric diseases in preclinical but also a translational strategy from preclinical to clinical investigations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Near-infrared Imaging of Secondary Caries Lesions around Composite Restorations at Wavelengths from 1300–1700-nm

PubMed Central

Simon, Jacob C.; Lucas, Seth; Lee, Robert; Darling, Cynthia L.; Staninec, Michal; Vanderhobli, Ram; Pelzner, Roger; Fried, Daniel

2016-01-01

Background and Objectives Current clinical methods for diagnosing secondary caries are unreliable for identifying the early stages of decay around restorative materials. The objective of this study was to access the integrity of restoration margins in natural teeth using near-infrared (NIR) reflectance and transillumination images at wavelengths between 1300–1700-nm and to determine the optimal NIR wavelengths for discriminating composite materials from dental hard tissues. Materials and Methods Twelve composite margins (n=12) consisting of class I, II & V restorations were chosen from ten extracted teeth. The samples were imaged in vitro using NIR transillumination and reflectance, polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) and a high-magnification digital microscope. Samples were serially sectioned into 200–μm slices for histological analysis using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and transverse microradiography (TMR). Two independent examiners evaluated the presence of demineralization at the sample margin using visible detection with 10× magnification and NIR images presented digitally. Composite restorations were placed in sixteen sound teeth (n=16) and imaged at multiple NIR wavelengths ranging from λ=1300–1700-nm using NIR transillumination. The image contrast was calculated between the composite and sound tooth structure. Results Intensity changes in NIR images at wavelengths ranging from 1300–1700-nm correlate with increased mineral loss measured using TMR. NIR reflectance and transillumination at wavelengths coincident with increased water absorption yielded significantly higher (P<0.001) contrast between sound enamel and adjacent demineralized enamel. In addition, NIR reflectance exhibited significantly higher (P<0.01) contrast between sound enamel and adjacent composite restorations than visible reflectance. Significance This study shows that NIR imaging is well suited for the rapid screening of secondary caries lesions. PMID:26876234

Hemodynamic signal changes during saliva and water swallowing: a near-infrared spectroscopy study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kober, Silvia Erika; Wood, Guilherme

2018-01-01

Here, we compared the hemodynamic response observed during swallowing of water or saliva using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Sixteen healthy adults swallowed water or saliva in a randomized order. Relative concentration changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin during swallowing were assessed. Both swallowing tasks led to the strongest NIRS signal change over the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus. Water swallowing led to a stronger activation over the right hemisphere while the activation focus for saliva swallowing was stronger left lateralized. The NIRS time course also differed between both swallowing tasks especially at the beginning of the tasks, which might be a sign of differences in task effort. Our results show that NIRS is a sensitive measure to reveal differences in the topographical distribution and time course of the hemodynamic response between distinct swallowing tasks and might be therefore an adequate diagnostic and therapy tool for swallowing difficulties.

Evolution of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences in Japan

PubMed Central

Mohamad, Osama; Makishima, Hirokazu; Kamada, Tadashi

2018-01-01

Charged particles can achieve better dose distribution and higher biological effectiveness compared to photon radiotherapy. Carbon ions are considered an optimal candidate for cancer treatment using particles. The National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in Chiba, Japan was the first radiotherapy hospital dedicated for carbon ion treatments in the world. Since its establishment in 1994, the NIRS has pioneered this therapy with more than 69 clinical trials so far, and hundreds of ancillary projects in physics and radiobiology. In this review, we will discuss the evolution of carbon ion radiotherapy at the NIRS and some of the current and future projects in the field. PMID:29509684

Thrombolytic therapeutic effect monitoring based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Boan; Wang, Pengbo; Li, Yaoxian; Gao, Yuan; Li, Ting

2017-02-01

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is of serious mortality and morbidity, which often happens in inpatients and especially with the postoperative population [1]. The golden standard to diagnose DVT is venography, which relies on complicated imaging modalities requiring to be injected in a vein below the clot invasively and ionizing procedures that employing xray imaging to show where and how the DVT blocks. The near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is recently found to be an intriguing and potential method detecting DVT in clinics. It has been reported recently that employing NIRS to diagnose DVT. Arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), local extremities manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis, usually cause thrombosis and the reduction of distal blood flow. Thrombolytic therapy is to use exogenous activator to activate the dissolution system, which can dissolve intracoronary thrombus. Here we attempt to monitor the DVT and ASO patients during the whole procedure of thrombolytic treatment, then compare the data with those DVT and ASO patients did not take treatments and normal population. 8 DVT and 9 ASO patients and 12 normal subjects were recruited to take the measurements of concentration variation of oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobins (Δ[HbO2] and Δ[Hb]) by NIRS-based thrombosis monitor. Thereinto, 5 DVT and 6 ASO patients has taken the thrombolytic treatment, and the data for the periods before treatment, during treatment, and after treatment were extracted for analysis. We found that Δ[HbO2] fluctuates and even decreases in DVT and ASO patients. After the thrombolytic therapy, Δ[HbO2] increases about 45% and converge to the curves of normal subjects. And the Δ[Hb] emerges the similar trends, except for the rising trend in the beginning and the downtrend after thrombolytic therapy. The findings indicated NIRS has big potential in clinical monitoring of DVT and ASO patients and offering reliable and quantitative evaluation of thrombolytic therapy outcomes.

Safety and efficacy of targeted hyperthermia treatment utilizing gold nanorod therapy in spontaneous canine neoplasia.

PubMed

Schuh, Elizabeth M; Portela, Roberta; Gardner, Heather L; Schoen, Christian; London, Cheryl A

2017-10-02

Hyperthermia is an established anti-cancer treatment but is limited by tolerance of adjacent normal tissues. Parenteral administration of gold nanorods (NRs) as a photosensitizer amplifies the effects of hyperthermia treatment while sparing normal tissues. This therapy is well tolerated and has demonstrated anti-tumor effects in mouse models. The purpose of this phase 1 study was to establish the safety and observe the anti-tumor impact of gold NR enhanced (plasmonic) photothermal therapy (PPTT) in client owned canine patients diagnosed with spontaneous neoplasia. Seven dogs underwent gold NR administration and subsequent NIR PPTT. Side effects were mild and limited to local reactions to NIR laser. All of the dogs enrolled in the study experienced stable disease, partial remission or complete remission. The overall response rate (ORR) was 28.6% with partial or complete remission of tumors at study end. PPTT utilizing gold nanorod therapy can be safely administered to canine patients. Further studies are needed to determine the true efficacy in a larger population of canine cancer patients and to and identify those patients most likely to benefit from this therapy.

Convolutional Neural Network-Based Human Detection in Nighttime Images Using Visible Light Camera Sensors.

PubMed

Kim, Jong Hyun; Hong, Hyung Gil; Park, Kang Ryoung

2017-05-08

Because intelligent surveillance systems have recently undergone rapid growth, research on accurately detecting humans in videos captured at a long distance is growing in importance. The existing research using visible light cameras has mainly focused on methods of human detection for daytime hours when there is outside light, but human detection during nighttime hours when there is no outside light is difficult. Thus, methods that employ additional near-infrared (NIR) illuminators and NIR cameras or thermal cameras have been used. However, in the case of NIR illuminators, there are limitations in terms of the illumination angle and distance. There are also difficulties because the illuminator power must be adaptively adjusted depending on whether the object is close or far away. In the case of thermal cameras, their cost is still high, which makes it difficult to install and use them in a variety of places. Because of this, research has been conducted on nighttime human detection using visible light cameras, but this has focused on objects at a short distance in an indoor environment or the use of video-based methods to capture multiple images and process them, which causes problems related to the increase in the processing time. To resolve these problems, this paper presents a method that uses a single image captured at night on a visible light camera to detect humans in a variety of environments based on a convolutional neural network. Experimental results using a self-constructed Dongguk night-time human detection database (DNHD-DB1) and two open databases (Korea advanced institute of science and technology (KAIST) and computer vision center (CVC) databases), as well as high-accuracy human detection in a variety of environments, show that the method has excellent performance compared to existing methods.

Exposure assessment of aluminum arc welding radiation.

PubMed

Peng, Chiung-yu; Lan, Cheng-hang; Juang, Yow-jer; Tsao, Ta-ho; Dai, Yu-tung; Liu, Hung-hsin; Chen, Chiou-jong

2007-10-01

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the non-ionizing radiation (NIR) exposure, especially optical radiation levels, and potential health hazard from aluminum arc welding processes based on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) method. The irradiance from the optical radiation emissions can be calculated with various biological effective parameters [i.e., S(lambda), B(lambda), R(lambda)] for NIR hazard assessments. The aluminum arc welding processing scatters bright light with NIR emission including ultraviolet radiation (UVR), visible, and infrared spectra. The UVR effective irradiance (Eeff) has a mean value of 1,100 microW cm at 100 cm distance from the arc spot. The maximum allowance time (tmax) is 2.79 s according to the ACGIH guideline. Blue-light hazard effective irradiance (EBlue) has a mean value of 1840 microW cm (300-700 nm) at 100 cm with a tmax of 5.45 s exposure allowance. Retinal thermal hazard effective calculation shows mean values of 320 mW cm(-2) sr(-1) and 25.4 mW (cm-2) (380-875 nm) for LRetina (spectral radiance) and ERetina (spectral irradiance), respectively. From this study, the NIR measurement from welding optical radiation emissions has been established to evaluate separate types of hazards to the eye and skin simultaneously. The NIR exposure assessment can be applied to other optical emissions from industrial sources. The data from welding assessment strongly suggest employees involved in aluminum welding processing must be fitted with appropriate personal protection devices such as masks and gloves to prevent serious injuries of the skin and eyes upon intense optical exposure.

Seasonal Changes in Leaf Area of Amazon Forests from Leaf Flushing and Abscission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samanta, A.; Knyazikhin, Y.; Xu, L.; Dickinson, R.; Fu, R.; Costa, M. H.; Ganguly, S.; Saatchi, S. S.; Nemani, R. R.; Myneni, R.

2011-12-01

A large increase in near-infrared (NIR) reflectance of Amazon forests during the light-rich dry season and a corresponding decrease during the light-poor wet season has been observed in satellite measurements. This has been variously interpreted as seasonal changes in leaf area resulting from net leaf flushing in the dry season and net leaf abscission in the wet season, enhanced photosynthetic activity during the dry season from flushing new leaves and as change in leaf scattering and absorption properties between younger and older leaves covered with epiphylls. Reconciling these divergent views using theory and observations is the goal of this article. The observed changes in NIR reflectance of Amazon forests could be due to similar, but small, changes in NIR leaf albedo (reflectance plus transmittance) only, from exchanging older leaves with newer ones, with total leaf area unchanged. However, this argument ignores accumulating evidence from ground-based studies of higher leaf area in the dry season relative to the wet season, seasonal changes in litterfall and does not satisfactorily explain why NIR reflectance of these forests decreases in the wet season. A more convincing explanation for the observed increase in NIR reflectance during the dry season and decrease during the wet season is one that invokes changes in both leaf area and leaf optical properties. Such an argument is consistent with known phonological behavior of tropical forests, ground-based reports of seasonal changes in leaf area, litterfall, leaf optical properties and fluxes of evapotranspiration, and thus, reconciles the various seemingly divergent views.

Seasonal changes in leaf area of Amazon forests from leaf flushing and abscission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samanta, Arindam; Knyazikhin, Yuri; Xu, Liang; Dickinson, Robert E.; Fu, Rong; Costa, Marcos H.; Saatchi, Sassan S.; Nemani, Ramakrishna R.; Myneni, Ranga B.

2012-03-01

A large increase in near-infrared (NIR) reflectance of Amazon forests during the light-rich dry season and a corresponding decrease during the light-poor wet season has been observed in satellite measurements. This increase has been variously interpreted as seasonal change in leaf area resulting from net leaf flushing in the dry season or net leaf abscission in the wet season, enhanced photosynthetic activity during the dry season from flushing new leaves and as change in leaf scattering and absorption properties between younger and older leaves covered with epiphylls. Reconciling these divergent views using theory and observations is the goal of this article. The observed changes in NIR reflectance of Amazon forests could be due to similar, but small, changes in NIR leaf albedo (reflectance plus transmittance) resulting from the exchange of older leaves for newer ones, but with the total leaf area unchanged. However, this argument ignores accumulating evidence from ground-based reports of higher leaf area in the dry season than the wet season, seasonal changes in litterfall and does not satisfactorily explain why NIR reflectance of these forests decreases in the wet season. More plausibly, the increase in NIR reflectance during the dry season and the decrease during the wet season would result from changes in both leaf area and leaf optical properties. Such change would be consistent with known phenological behavior of tropical forests, ground-based reports of seasonal changes in leaf area, litterfall, leaf optical properties and fluxes of evapotranspiration, and thus, would reconcile the various seemingly divergent views.

Synthesis and In Vitro Performance of Polypyrrole-Coated Iron-Platinum Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy and Photoacoustic Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phan, Thi Tuong Vy; Bui, Nhat Quang; Moorthy, Madhappan Santha; Lee, Kang Dae; Oh, Junghwan

2017-10-01

Multifunctional nano-platform for the combination of photo-based therapy and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for cancer treatment has recently attracted much attention to nanotechnology development. In this study, we developed iron-platinum nanoparticles (FePt NPs) with the polypyrrole (PPy) coating as novel agents for combined photothermal therapy (PTT) and PAI. The obtained PPy-coated FePt NPs (FePt@PPy NPs) showed excellent biocompatibility, photothermal stability, and high near-infrared (NIR) absorbance for the combination of PTT and PAI. In vitro investigation experimentally demonstrated the effectiveness of FePt@PPy NPs in killing cancer cells with NIR laser irradiation. Moreover, the phantom test of PAI used in conjunction with FePt@PPy NPs showed a strong photoacoustic signal. Thus, the novel FePt@PPy NPs could be considered as promising multifunctional nanoparticles for further applications of photo-based diagnosis and treatment.

Carbon Beam Radio-Therapy and Research Activities at HIMAC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanazawa, Mitsutaka

2007-05-01

Radio-therapy with carbon ion beam has been carried out since 1994 at HIMAC (Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba) in NIRS (National Institute of Radiological Sciences). Now, many types of tumors can be treated with carbon beam with excellent local controls of the tumors. Stimulated with good clinical results, requirement of the dedicated compact facility for carbon beam radio-therapy is increased. To realize this requirement, design study of the facility and the R&D's of the key components in this design are promoted by NIRS. According successful results of these activities, the dedicated compact facility will be realized in Gunma University. In this facility, the established irradiation method is expected to use, which is passive irradiation method with wobbler magnets and ridge filter. In this presentation, above R&D's will be presented together with clinical results and basic research activities at HIMAC.

Lanthanide‐Doped Upconversion Nanoparticles: Emerging Intelligent Light‐Activated Drug Delivery Systems

PubMed Central

Bagheri, Ali; Arandiyan, Hamidreza

2016-01-01

The development of drug delivery systems (DDSs) using near infrared (NIR) light and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) has generated intensive interest over the past five years. These NIR‐initiated DDSs not only offer a high degree of spatial and temporal determination of therapeutic release but also provide precise control over the released dosage. Furthermore, these nanoplatforms confer several advantages over conventional light‐based DDSs—NIR offers better tissue penetration depth and a reduced risk of cellular photo‐damage caused by exposure to light at high‐energy wavelengths (e.g., ultraviolet light, <400 nm). The development of DDSs that can be activated by low intensity NIR illumination is highly desirable to avoid exposing living tissues to excessive heat that can limit the in vivo application of these DDSs. This encompasses research in three directions: (i) enhancing the quantum yield of the UCNPs; (ii) incorporation of photo‐responsive materials with red‐shifted absorptions into the UCNPs; and (iii) tuning the UCNPs excitation wavelength. This review focuses on recent advances in the development of NIR‐initiated DDS, with emphasis on the use of photo‐responsive compounds and polymeric materials conjugated onto UCNPs. The challenges that limit UCNPs clinical applications, alongside with the aforementioned techniques that have emerged to overcome these limitations, are highlighted. PMID:27818904

Gold nanocages covered by smart polymers for controlled release with near-infrared light

PubMed Central

Yavuz, Mustafa S.; Cheng, Yiyun; Chen, Jingyi; Cobley, Claire M.; Zhang, Qiang; Rycenga, Matthew; Xie, Jingwei; Kim, Chulhong; Schwartz, Andrea G.; Wang, Lihong V.; Xia, Younan

2009-01-01

Photosensitive caged compounds have enhanced our ability to address the complexity of biological systems by generating effectors with remarkable spatial/temporal resolutions1-3. The caging effect is typically removed by photolysis with ultraviolet light to liberate the bioactive species. Although this technique has been successfully applied to many biological problems, it suffers from a number of intrinsic drawbacks. For example, it requires dedicated efforts to design and synthesize a precursor compound to the effector. The ultraviolet light may cause damage to biological samples and is only suitable for in vitro studies because of its quick attenuation in tissue4. Here we address these issues by developing a platform based on the photothermal effect of gold nanocages. Gold nanocages represent a class of nanostructures with hollow interiors and porous walls5. They can have strong absorption (for the photothermal effect) in the near-infrared (NIR) while maintaining a compact size. When the surface of a gold nanocage is covered with a smart polymer, the pre-loaded effector can be released in a controllable fashion using a NIR laser. This system works well with various effectors without involving sophiscated syntheses, and is well-suited for in vivo studies due to the high transparency of soft tissue in NIR6. PMID:19881498

Navigating surgical fluorescence cameras using near-infrared optical tracking.

PubMed

van Oosterom, Matthias; den Houting, David; van de Velde, Cornelis; van Leeuwen, Fijs

2018-05-01

Fluorescence guidance facilitates real-time intraoperative visualization of the tissue of interest. However, due to attenuation, the application of fluorescence guidance is restricted to superficial lesions. To overcome this shortcoming, we have previously applied three-dimensional surgical navigation to position the fluorescence camera in reach of the superficial fluorescent signal. Unfortunately, in open surgery, the near-infrared (NIR) optical tracking system (OTS) used for navigation also induced an interference during NIR fluorescence imaging. In an attempt to support future implementation of navigated fluorescence cameras, different aspects of this interference were characterized and solutions were sought after. Two commercial fluorescence cameras for open surgery were studied in (surgical) phantom and human tissue setups using two different NIR OTSs and one OTS simulating light-emitting diode setup. Following the outcome of these measurements, OTS settings were optimized. Measurements indicated the OTS interference was caused by: (1) spectral overlap between the OTS light and camera, (2) OTS light intensity, (3) OTS duty cycle, (4) OTS frequency, (5) fluorescence camera frequency, and (6) fluorescence camera sensitivity. By optimizing points 2 to 4, navigation of fluorescence cameras during open surgery could be facilitated. Optimization of the OTS and camera compatibility can be used to support navigated fluorescence guidance concepts. (2018) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).

Effects of the density and homogeneity in NIRS crop moisture estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lenzini, Nicola; Rovati, Luigi; Ferrari, Luca

2017-06-01

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is widely used in fruits and vegetables quality evaluation. This technique is also used for the analysis of alfalfa, a crop that occupies a position of great importance in the agricultural field. In particular for the storage, moisture content is a key parameter for the crops and for this reason its monitoring is very important during the harvesting phase. Usually optical methods like NIRS are well suitable in laboratory frameworks where the specimen is properly prepared, while their application during the harvesting phase presents several diffculties. A lot of influencing factors, such as density and degree of homogeneity can affect the moisture evaluation. In this paper we present the NIRS analysis of alfalfa specimens with different values of moisture and density, as well as the obtained results. To study scattering and absorption phenomena, the forward and backward scattered light from the sample have been spectrally analyzed.

Application of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to the Study of Brain Function in Humans and Animal Models

PubMed Central

Kim, Hak Yeong; Seo, Kain; Jeon, Hong Jin; Lee, Unjoo; Lee, Hyosang

2017-01-01

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive optical imaging technique that indirectly assesses neuronal activity by measuring changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in tissues using near-infrared light. fNIRS has been used not only to investigate cortical activity in healthy human subjects and animals but also to reveal abnormalities in brain function in patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders and in animals that exhibit disease conditions. Because of its safety, quietness, resistance to motion artifacts, and portability, fNIRS has become a tool to complement conventional imaging techniques in measuring hemodynamic responses while a subject performs diverse cognitive and behavioral tasks in test settings that are more ecologically relevant and involve social interaction. In this review, we introduce the basic principles of fNIRS and discuss the application of this technique in human and animal studies. PMID:28835022

Near-Infrared Laser Adjuvant for Influenza Vaccine

PubMed Central

Kashiwagi, Satoshi; Yuan, Jianping; Forbes, Benjamin; Hibert, Mathew L.; Lee, Eugene L. Q.; Whicher, Laura; Goudie, Calum; Yang, Yuan; Chen, Tao; Edelblute, Beth; Collette, Brian; Edington, Laurel; Trussler, James; Nezivar, Jean; Leblanc, Pierre; Bronson, Roderick; Tsukada, Kosuke; Suematsu, Makoto; Dover, Jeffrey; Brauns, Timothy; Gelfand, Jeffrey; Poznansky, Mark C.

2013-01-01

Safe and effective immunologic adjuvants are often essential for vaccines. However, the choice of adjuvant for licensed vaccines is limited, especially for those that are administered intradermally. We show that non-tissue damaging, near-infrared (NIR) laser light given in short exposures to small areas of skin, without the use of additional chemical or biological agents, significantly increases immune responses to intradermal influenza vaccination without augmenting IgE. The NIR laser-adjuvanted vaccine confers increased protection in a murine influenza lethal challenge model as compared to unadjuvanted vaccine. We show that NIR laser treatment induces the expression of specific chemokines in the skin resulting in recruitment and activation of dendritic cells and is safe to use in both mice and humans. The NIR laser adjuvant technology provides a novel, safe, low-cost, simple-to-use, potentially broadly applicable and clinically feasible approach to enhancing vaccine efficacy as an alternative to chemical and biological adjuvants. PMID:24349390

Rapid, noninvasive detection of Zika virus in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes by near-infrared spectroscopy.

PubMed

Fernandes, Jill N; Dos Santos, Lílha M B; Chouin-Carneiro, Thaís; Pavan, Márcio G; Garcia, Gabriela A; David, Mariana R; Beier, John C; Dowell, Floyd E; Maciel-de-Freitas, Rafael; Sikulu-Lord, Maggy T

2018-05-01

The accelerating global spread of arboviruses, such as Zika virus (ZIKV), highlights the need for more proactive mosquito surveillance. However, a major challenge during arbovirus outbreaks has been the lack of rapid and affordable tests for pathogen detection in mosquitoes. We show for the first time that near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a rapid, reagent-free, and cost-effective tool that can be used to noninvasively detect ZIKV in heads and thoraces of intact Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with prediction accuracies of 94.2 to 99.3% relative to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). NIRS involves simply shining a beam of light on a mosquito to collect a diagnostic spectrum. We estimated in this study that NIRS is 18 times faster and 110 times cheaper than RT-qPCR. We anticipate that NIRS will be expanded upon for identifying potential arbovirus hotspots to guide the spatial prioritization of vector control.

Convolutional Neural Network-Based Shadow Detection in Images Using Visible Light Camera Sensor.

PubMed

Kim, Dong Seop; Arsalan, Muhammad; Park, Kang Ryoung

2018-03-23

Recent developments in intelligence surveillance camera systems have enabled more research on the detection, tracking, and recognition of humans. Such systems typically use visible light cameras and images, in which shadows make it difficult to detect and recognize the exact human area. Near-infrared (NIR) light cameras and thermal cameras are used to mitigate this problem. However, such instruments require a separate NIR illuminator, or are prohibitively expensive. Existing research on shadow detection in images captured by visible light cameras have utilized object and shadow color features for detection. Unfortunately, various environmental factors such as illumination change and brightness of background cause detection to be a difficult task. To overcome this problem, we propose a convolutional neural network-based shadow detection method. Experimental results with a database built from various outdoor surveillance camera environments, and from the context-aware vision using image-based active recognition (CAVIAR) open database, show that our method outperforms previous works.

Convolutional Neural Network-Based Shadow Detection in Images Using Visible Light Camera Sensor

PubMed Central

Kim, Dong Seop; Arsalan, Muhammad; Park, Kang Ryoung

2018-01-01

Recent developments in intelligence surveillance camera systems have enabled more research on the detection, tracking, and recognition of humans. Such systems typically use visible light cameras and images, in which shadows make it difficult to detect and recognize the exact human area. Near-infrared (NIR) light cameras and thermal cameras are used to mitigate this problem. However, such instruments require a separate NIR illuminator, or are prohibitively expensive. Existing research on shadow detection in images captured by visible light cameras have utilized object and shadow color features for detection. Unfortunately, various environmental factors such as illumination change and brightness of background cause detection to be a difficult task. To overcome this problem, we propose a convolutional neural network-based shadow detection method. Experimental results with a database built from various outdoor surveillance camera environments, and from the context-aware vision using image-based active recognition (CAVIAR) open database, show that our method outperforms previous works. PMID:29570690

Gold nanocage decorated pH-sensitive micelle for highly effective photothermo-chemotherapy and photoacoustic imaging.

PubMed

Zhou, Guoyong; Xiao, Hong; Li, Xiaoxia; Huang, Yi; Song, Wei; Song, Liang; Chen, Meiwan; Cheng, Du; Shuai, Xintao

2017-12-01

A pH-sensitive copolymer PAsp(DIP)-b-PAsp(MEA) (PDPM) was synthesized and self-assembled to micelle loading chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and introducing a gold nanocage structure for photothermo-chemotherapy and photoacoustic imaging. After further surface modification with polyethylene glycol (PEG), the DOX-loaded pH-sensitive gold nanocage (D-PGNC) around 100 nm possessed a uniform spherical structure with a pH-sensitive core of PAsp(DIP) incorporating DOX, an interlayer crosslinked via disulfide bonds and decorated with discontinuous gold shell, and a PEG corona. The release of DOX from D-PGNC was turned off in bloodstream due to the cross-linking and gold decoration of interlayer but turned on inside tumor tissue by multiple stimulations including the low pH value of tumor tissue (≈6.8), the low lysosomal pH value of cancer cells (≈5.0) and near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. The gold nanocage receiving NIR irradiation could generate hyperthermia to ablate tumor cells. Moreover, the photoacoustic (PA) imaging and analysis of DOX fluorescence inside tumor tissue demonstrated that photothermal therapy based on the gold nanocage effectively drove DOX penetration inside tumor. Owing to the rapid intratumor release and deep tissue penetration of drug favorable for killing cancer cells survived the photothermal therapy, the combined therapy based on D-PGNC via NIR irradiation exhibited a synergistic treatment effect superior to either chemotherapy or NIR-induced photothermal therapy alone. The novelty of the manuscript is its multifunctional system which incorporates anticancer drug DOX in its pH-sensitive core and acts as a template to introduce a gold nanocage. This nanomedicine presents potentials of sequestrating drug molecules in blood circulation but releasing them inside tumor upon responding to the acidic microenvironment therein. Exposure to NIR laser further expedited the pH-sensitive DOX release and promoted DOX penetration into cancer tissues far away from the vasculature. Consequently, the combined photothermo-chemotherapy showed synergistic effects to inhibit tumor growth and prolong animal survival in nude mice bearing human SKOV-3 ovarian tumor. Moreover, owing to the decoration with gold nanocage, the tumor accumulation and intratumor diffusion of the micelles were easily trackable using photoacoustic imaging. Copyright © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A triple modality BSA-coated dendritic nanoplatform for NIR imaging, enhanced tumor penetration and anticancer therapy.

PubMed

Cao, Jie; Ge, Ruifen; Zhang, Min; Xia, Junfei; Han, Shangcong; Lu, Wei; Liang, Yan; Zhang, Tingting; Sun, Yong

2018-05-17

Functional theranostic systems for drug delivery capable of concurrent near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging, active tumor targeting and anticancer therapies are desired for concise cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dendrimers with controllable size and surface functionalities are good candidates for such platforms. However, integration of active targeting ligands and imaging agents separately on the surface or encapsulation of the imaging agents in the inner core of the dendrimers will result in a more complex composition or reduced drug loading efficiency. Herein, we reported a PAMAM-based theranostic system, with a simple integrin-specific imaging ligand prepared from two motifs. One motif is a NIR carbocyanine fluorescent dye (Cyp) for precise in vivo monitoring of the system and identification of tumor or cancer cells, and the other is a novel tumor-penetrating cyclic peptide (CRGDKGPDC, abbreviated iRGD). BSA was non-covalently bonded with Cyp to reduce NIR agent fluorescence-quenching aggregates and enhance imaging signals. The chemotherapy effect of these dendritic systems was achieved by encapsulating paclitaxel into the hydrophobic interior of the dendrimers. In vitro and in vivo targeting and penetrating studies revealed that a significantly high amount of the dendritic systems was endocytosed by HepG2 cells and enhanced accumulation and penetration at tumor sites. Our safety evaluation showed that masking of cationic-end groups of PAMAM to neutral or anionic groups has resulted in decreased or even zero-toxicity. The preliminary antitumor efficacy of the dendritic system was evaluated. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that paclitaxel-encapsulated functionalized PAMAM can efficiently kill HepG2 cancer cells. In conclusion, our functionalized theranostic dendritic system could be a promising nanocarrier to effectively deliver drugs to deep tumor regions for anticancer therapy.

Incongruity of imaging using fluorescent 2-DG conjugates compared to 18F-FDG in preclinical cancer models.

PubMed

Tseng, Jen-Chieh; Wang, Yuchuan; Banerjee, Pallab; Kung, Andrew L

2012-10-01

We compared the use of near-infrared conjugates of 2-deoxyglucose (NIR 2-DG) to 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (18F-FDG) for the purposes of imaging tumors, as well as response to therapy. Uptake of both 18F-FDG and NIR 2-DG within gastrointestinal stromal tumor xenografts were imaged before and after nilotinib treatment. Confocal microscopy was performed to determine NIR 2-DG distribution in tumors. Treatment with nilotinib resulted in a rapid reduction in 18F-FDG uptake and reduced tumor cell viability which was predictive of long-term antitumor efficacy. In contrast, optical imaging with NIR 2-DG probes was unable to differentiate control from niltonib-treated animals, and microscopic analysis revealed no change in probe distribution as a result of treatment. These results suggest that conjugation of large bulky fluorophores to 2-DG disrupts the facilitated transport and retention of these probes in cells. Therefore, optical imaging of NIR 2-DG probes cannot substitute for 18F-FDG positron emission tomography imaging as a biomarker of tumor cell viability and metabolism.

Spectral signatures of photosynthesis. I. Review of Earth organisms.

PubMed

Kiang, Nancy Y; Siefert, Janet; Govindjee; Blankenship, Robert E

2007-02-01

Why do plants reflect in the green and have a "red edge" in the red, and should extrasolar photosynthesis be the same? We provide (1) a brief review of how photosynthesis works, (2) an overview of the diversity of photosynthetic organisms, their light harvesting systems, and environmental ranges, (3) a synthesis of photosynthetic surface spectral signatures, and (4) evolutionary rationales for photosynthetic surface reflectance spectra with regard to utilization of photon energy and the planetary light environment. We found the "near-infrared (NIR) end" of the red edge to trend from blue-shifted to reddest for (in order) snow algae, temperate algae, lichens, mosses, aquatic plants, and finally terrestrial vascular plants. The red edge is weak or sloping in lichens. Purple bacteria exhibit possibly a sloping edge in the NIR. More studies are needed on pigment-protein complexes, membrane composition, and measurements of bacteria before firm conclusions can be drawn about the role of the NIR reflectance. Pigment absorbance features are strongly correlated with features of atmospheric spectral transmittance: P680 in Photosystem II with the peak surface incident photon flux density at approximately 685 nm, just before an oxygen band at 687.5 nm; the NIR end of the red edge with water absorbance bands and the oxygen A-band at 761 nm; and bacteriochlorophyll reaction center wavelengths with local maxima in atmospheric and water transmittance spectra. Given the surface incident photon flux density spectrum and resonance transfer in light harvesting, we propose some rules with regard to where photosynthetic pigments will peak in absorbance: (1) the wavelength of peak incident photon flux; (2) the longest available wavelength for core antenna or reaction center pigments; and (3) the shortest wavelengths within an atmospheric window for accessory pigments. That plants absorb less green light may not be an inefficient legacy of evolutionary history, but may actually satisfy the above criteria.

Near-infrared spectroscopy of the adult head: effect of scattering and absorbing obstructions in the cerebrospinal fluid layer on light distribution in the tissue.

PubMed

Dehghani, H; Delpy, D T

2000-09-01

Previous modeling of near-infrared (NIR) light distribution in models of the adult head incorporating a clear nonscattering cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) layer have shown the latter to have a profound effect on the resulting photon measurement density function (PMDF). In particular, the presence of the CSF limits the PMDF largely to the outer cortical gray matter with little signal contribution from the deeper white matter. In practice, the CSF is not a simple unobstructed clear layer but contains light-scattering membranes and is crossed by various blood vessels. Using a radiosity-diffusion finite-element model, we investigated the effect on the PMDF of introducing intrusions within the clear layer. The results show that the presence of such obstructions does not significantly increase the light penetration into the brain tissue, except immediately adjacent to the obstruction and that its presence also increases the light sampling of the adjacent skull tissues, which would lead to additional contamination of the NIR spectroscopy signal by the surface tissue layers.

Bio-Imaging of Colorectal Cancer Models Using Near Infrared Labeled Epidermal Growth Factor

PubMed Central

Cohen, Gadi; Lecht, Shimon; Arien-Zakay, Hadar; Ettinger, Keren; Amsalem, Orit; Oron-Herman, Mor; Yavin, Eylon; Prus, Diana; Benita, Simon; Nissan, Aviram; Lazarovici, Philip

2012-01-01

Novel strategies that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have led to the clinical development of monoclonal antibodies, which treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) but only subgroups of patients with increased wild type KRAS and EGFR gene copy, respond to these agents. Furthermore, resistance to EGFR blockade inevitably occurred, making future therapy difficult. Novel bio-imaging (BOI) methods may assist in quantization of EGFR in mCRC tissue thus complementing the immunohistochemistry methodology, in guiding the future treatment of these patients. The aim of the present study was to explore the usefulness of near infrared-labeled EGF (EGF-NIR) for bio-imaging of CRC using in vitro and in vivo orthotopic tumor CRC models and ex vivo human CRC tissues. We describe the preparation and characterization of EGF-NIR and investigate binding, using BOI of a panel of CRC cell culture models resembling heterogeneity of human CRC tissues. EGF-NIR was specifically and selectively bound by EGFR expressing CRC cells, the intensity of EGF-NIR signal to background ratio (SBR) reflected EGFR levels, dose-response and time course imaging experiments provided optimal conditions for quantization of EGFR levels by BOI. EGF-NIR imaging of mice with HT-29 orthotopic CRC tumor indicated that EGF-NIR is more slowly cleared from the tumor and the highest SBR between tumor and normal adjacent tissue was achieved two days post-injection. Furthermore, images of dissected tissues demonstrated accumulation of EGF-NIR in the tumor and liver. EGF-NIR specifically and strongly labeled EGFR positive human CRC tissues while adjacent CRC tissue and EGFR negative tissues expressed weak NIR signals. This study emphasizes the use of EGF-NIR for preclinical studies. Combined with other methods, EGF-NIR could provide an additional bio-imaging specific tool in the standardization of measurements of EGFR expression in CRC tissues. PMID:23144978

Bio-imaging of colorectal cancer models using near infrared labeled epidermal growth factor.

PubMed

Cohen, Gadi; Lecht, Shimon; Arien-Zakay, Hadar; Ettinger, Keren; Amsalem, Orit; Oron-Herman, Mor; Yavin, Eylon; Prus, Diana; Benita, Simon; Nissan, Aviram; Lazarovici, Philip

2012-01-01

Novel strategies that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have led to the clinical development of monoclonal antibodies, which treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) but only subgroups of patients with increased wild type KRAS and EGFR gene copy, respond to these agents. Furthermore, resistance to EGFR blockade inevitably occurred, making future therapy difficult. Novel bio-imaging (BOI) methods may assist in quantization of EGFR in mCRC tissue thus complementing the immunohistochemistry methodology, in guiding the future treatment of these patients. The aim of the present study was to explore the usefulness of near infrared-labeled EGF (EGF-NIR) for bio-imaging of CRC using in vitro and in vivo orthotopic tumor CRC models and ex vivo human CRC tissues. We describe the preparation and characterization of EGF-NIR and investigate binding, using BOI of a panel of CRC cell culture models resembling heterogeneity of human CRC tissues. EGF-NIR was specifically and selectively bound by EGFR expressing CRC cells, the intensity of EGF-NIR signal to background ratio (SBR) reflected EGFR levels, dose-response and time course imaging experiments provided optimal conditions for quantization of EGFR levels by BOI. EGF-NIR imaging of mice with HT-29 orthotopic CRC tumor indicated that EGF-NIR is more slowly cleared from the tumor and the highest SBR between tumor and normal adjacent tissue was achieved two days post-injection. Furthermore, images of dissected tissues demonstrated accumulation of EGF-NIR in the tumor and liver. EGF-NIR specifically and strongly labeled EGFR positive human CRC tissues while adjacent CRC tissue and EGFR negative tissues expressed weak NIR signals. This study emphasizes the use of EGF-NIR for preclinical studies. Combined with other methods, EGF-NIR could provide an additional bio-imaging specific tool in the standardization of measurements of EGFR expression in CRC tissues.

Photobiomodulation for the treatment of retinal diseases: a review.

PubMed

Geneva, Ivayla I

2016-01-01

Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low level laser therapy, has recently risen to the attention of the ophthalmology community as a promising new approach to treat a variety of retinal conditions including age-related macular degeneration, retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy, Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, amblyopia, methanol-induced retinal damage, and possibly others. This review evaluates the existing research pertaining to PBM applications in the retina, with a focus on the mechanisms of action and clinical outcomes. All available literature until April 2015 was reviewed using PubMed and the following keywords: "photobiomodulation AND retina", "low level light therapy AND retina", "low level laser therapy AND retina", and "FR/NIR therapy AND retina". In addition, the relevant references listed within the papers identified through PubMed were incorporated. The literature supports the conclusion that the low-cost and non-invasive nature of PBM, coupled with the first promising clinical reports and the numerous preclinical-studies in animal models, make PBM well-poised to become an important player in the treatment of a wide range of retinal disorders. Nevertheless, large-scale clinical trials will be necessary to establish the PBM therapeutic ranges for the various retinal diseases, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of its mechanisms of action.

Performance of PHOTONIS' low light level CMOS imaging sensor for long range observation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourree, Loig E.

2014-05-01

Identification of potential threats in low-light conditions through imaging is commonly achieved through closed-circuit television (CCTV) and surveillance cameras by combining the extended near infrared (NIR) response (800-10000nm wavelengths) of the imaging sensor with NIR LED or laser illuminators. Consequently, camera systems typically used for purposes of long-range observation often require high-power lasers in order to generate sufficient photons on targets to acquire detailed images at night. While these systems may adequately identify targets at long-range, the NIR illumination needed to achieve such functionality can easily be detected and therefore may not be suitable for covert applications. In order to reduce dependency on supplemental illumination in low-light conditions, the frame rate of the imaging sensors may be reduced to increase the photon integration time and thus improve the signal to noise ratio of the image. However, this may hinder the camera's ability to image moving objects with high fidelity. In order to address these particular drawbacks, PHOTONIS has developed a CMOS imaging sensor (CIS) with a pixel architecture and geometry designed specifically to overcome these issues in low-light level imaging. By combining this CIS with field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based image processing electronics, PHOTONIS has achieved low-read noise imaging with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio at quarter moon illumination, all at standard video frame rates. The performance of this CIS is discussed herein and compared to other commercially available CMOS and CCD for long-range observation applications.

Heterogeneously Nd3+ doped single nanoparticles for NIR-induced heat conversion, luminescence, and thermometry.

PubMed

Marciniak, Lukasz; Pilch, Aleksandra; Arabasz, Sebastian; Jin, Dayong; Bednarkiewicz, Artur

2017-06-22

The current frontier in nanomaterials engineering is to intentionally design and fabricate heterogeneous nanoparticles with desirable morphology and composition, and to integrate multiple functionalities through highly controlled epitaxial growth. Here we show that heterogeneous doping of Nd 3+ ions following a core-shell design already allows three optical functions, namely efficient (η > 72%) light-to-heat conversion, bright NIR emission, and sensitive (S R > 0.1% K -1 ) localized temperature quantification, to be built within a single ca. 25 nm nanoparticle. Importantly, all these optical functions operate within the transparent biological window of the NIR spectral region (λ exc ∼ 800 nm, λ emi ∼ 860 nm), in which light scattering and absorption by tissues and water are minimal. We find NaNdF 4 as a core is efficient in absorbing and converting 808 nm light to heat, while NaYF 4 :1%Nd 3+ as a shell is a temperature sensor based on the ratio-metric luminescence reading but an intermediate inert spacer shell, e.g. NaYF 4 , is necessary to insulate the heat convertor and thermometer by preventing the possible Nd-Nd energy relaxation. Moreover, we notice that while temperature sensitivity and luminescence intensity are optically stable, increased excitation intensity to generate heat above room temperature may saturate the sensing capacity of temperature feedback. We therefore propose a dual beam photoexcitation scheme as a solution for possible light-induced hyperthermia treatment.

Contrast-enhanced photoacoustic imaging with an optical wavelength of 1064 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jeesu; Park, Sara; Park, Gyeong Bae; Choi, Wonseok; Jeong, Unyong; Kim, Chulhong

2018-02-01

Photoacoustic (PA) imaging is a biomedical imaging method that can provide both structural and functional information of living tissues beyond the optical diffusion limit by combining the concepts of conventional optical and ultrasound imaging methods. Although endogenous chromophores can be utilized to acquire PA images of biological tissues, exogenous contrast agents that absorb near-infrared (NIR) lights have been extensively explored to improve the contrast and penetration depth of PA images. Here, we demonstrate Bi2Se3 nanoplates, that strongly absorbs NIR lights, as a contrast agent for PA imaging. In particularly, the Bi2Se3 nanoplates produce relatively strong PA signals with an optical wavelength of 1064 nm, which has several advantages for deep tissue imaging including: (1) relatively low absorption by other intrinsic chromophores, (2) cost-effective light source using Nd:YAG laser, and (3) higher available energy than other NIR lights according to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) safety limit. We have investigated deep tissue imaging capability of the Bi2Se3 nanoplates by acquiring in vitro PA images of microtubes under chicken breast tissues. We have also acquired in vivo PA images of bladders, gastrointestinal tracts, and sentinel lymph nodes in mice after injection of the Bi2Se3 nanoplates to verify their applicability to a variety of biomedical research. The results show the promising potential of the Bi2Se3 nanoplates as a PA contrast agent for deep tissue imaging with an optical wavelength of 1064 nm.

Predicted distribution of visible and near-infrared radiant flux above and below a transmittant leaf

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, Dar A.; Adams, John B.; Smith, Milton O.

1990-01-01

The effects are studied analytically of leaf size, leaf height, and background reflectance on the upward and downward radiant flux (RF) of a leaf. The leaf is horizontal and isotropically scattering in the computer model which examines the light environment in three regions about the leaf. The spectral properties of the leaf are based on measurements of the big-leaf maple, and the model is interpreted in terms of relative RF which is defined as a percentage of the total light in the model. The results demonstrate the dependence of upward relative RF on the light's wavelength and background reflectance with large variations in the NIR. Brightness varies directly with distance from background with maximum brightness achieved at lower heights for smaller leaves. These and other results suggest that NIR canopy reflectance due to leaves is highly dependent on the background reflectance.

A novel method to detect shadows on multispectral images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daǧlayan Sevim, Hazan; Yardımcı ćetin, Yasemin; Özışık Başkurt, Didem

2016-10-01

Shadowing occurs when the direct light coming from a light source is obstructed by high human made structures, mountains or clouds. Since shadow regions are illuminated only by scattered light, true spectral properties of the objects are not observed in such regions. Therefore, many object classification and change detection problems utilize shadow detection as a preprocessing step. Besides, shadows are useful for obtaining 3D information of the objects such as estimating the height of buildings. With pervasiveness of remote sensing images, shadow detection is ever more important. This study aims to develop a shadow detection method on multispectral images based on the transformation of C1C2C3 space and contribution of NIR bands. The proposed method is tested on Worldview-2 images covering Ankara, Turkey at different times. The new index is used on these 8-band multispectral images with two NIR bands. The method is compared with methods in the literature.

SPECT Perfusion Imaging Demonstrates Improvement of Traumatic Brain Injury With Transcranial Near-infrared Laser Phototherapy.

PubMed

Henderson, Theodore A; Morries, Larry D

2015-01-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a growing health concern affecting civilians and military personnel. Near-infrared (NIR) light has shown benefits in animal models and human trials for stroke and in animal models for TBI. Diodes emitting low-level NIR often have lacked therapeutic efficacy, perhaps failing to deliver sufficient radiant energy to the necessary depth. In this case report, a patient with moderate TBI documented in anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) received 20 NIR treatments in the course of 2 mo using a high-power NIR laser. Symptoms were monitored by clinical examination and a novel patient diary system specifically designed for this patient population. Clinical application of these levels of infrared energy for this patient with TBI yielded highly favorable outcomes with decreased depression, anxiety, headache, and insomnia, whereas cognition and quality of life improved. Neurological function appeared to improve based on changes in the SPECT by quantitative analysis. NIR in the power range of 10-15 W at 810 and 980 nm can safely and effectively treat chronic symptoms of TBI.

Design and reliability analysis of a novel laser acupuncture device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Boan; Zhong, Fulin; Zhao, Ke; Li, Ting

2018-02-01

Acupuncture has a long history of more than 2000 years in China. However, traditional acupuncture adopts metallic needles which may bring discomfort and pricking to patients. Laser acupuncture (LA) is a non-invasive and painless way to achieve some therapeutic effects. And compared to traditional acupuncture, LA is free from infection. Taking these advantages of LA into consideration, we innovatively developed a portable laser acupuncture device with therapy part and detection part together. Therapy part sends out laser at the wavelength of 650 nm onto special acupoints of patients. And detection part includes integrated light-emitting diode (LED, 735/805/850 nm) and photodiode (OPT101). The detection part is used for the data collection for calculation of hemodynamic parameters based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). In this work, we carried out current-power test for sensitivity of therapy part. And we also conducted liquid-model optical experiment and arm blocking test for the sensitivity and effectiveness of detection part. The final results demonstrated great potential and reliability of the novel laser acupuncture device. In the future, we will apply this device in clinical applications to verify the effectiveness of the device and improve the reliability for more treatment of diseases.

Laser-induced generation of singlet oxygen and its role in the cerebrovascular physiology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya, O. V.; Sokolovski, S. G.; Goltsov, A.; Gekaluyk, A. S.; Saranceva, E. I.; Bragina, O. A.; Tuchin, V. V.; Rafailov, E. U.

2017-09-01

For over 55 years, laser technology has expanded from laboratory research to widespread fields, for example telecommunication and data storage amongst others. Recently application of lasers in biology and medicine presents itself as one of the emerging areas. In this review, we will outline the recent advances in using lasers for the generation of singlet oxygen, traditionally used to kill tumour cells or induce thrombotic stroke model due to damage vascular effects. Over the last two decade, completely new results on cerebrovascular effects of singlet oxygen generated during photodynamic therapy (PDT) have been shown alongside promising applications for delivery of drugs and nanoparticles into the brain for therapy of brain cancer. Furthermore, a ;gold key; has been found to overcome the limitations of PDT, such as low light penetration and high toxicity of photosensitizers, by direct generation of singlet oxygen using quantum-dot laser diodes emitting in the near infrared (NIR) spectral range. It is our motivation to highlight these pioneering results in this review, to improve understanding of the biological role of singlet oxygen and to provide new perspectives for improving clinical application of laser based therapy in further research.

Near-infrared spectroscopic tissue imaging for medical applications

DOEpatents

Demos,; Stavros, Staggs [Livermore, CA; Michael, C [Tracy, CA

2006-03-21

Near infrared imaging using elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence are explored for medical applications. The approach involves imaging using cross-polarized elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence in the Near Infra-Red (NIR) coupled with image processing and inter-image operations to differentiate human tissue components.

Near-infrared spectroscopic tissue imaging for medical applications

DOEpatents

Demos, Stavros [Livermore, CA; Staggs, Michael C [Tracy, CA

2006-12-12

Near infrared imaging using elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence are explored for medical applications. The approach involves imaging using cross-polarized elastic light scattering and tissue autofluorescence in the Near Infra-Red (NIR) coupled with image processing and inter-image operations to differentiate human tissue components.

3D mesoscopic fluorescence tomography for imaging micro-distribution of antibody-photon absorber conjugates during near infrared photoimmunotherapy in vivo.

PubMed

Tang, Qinggong; Nagaya, Tadanobu; Liu, Yi; Horng, Hannah; Lin, Jonathan; Sato, Kazuhide; Kobayashi, Hisataka; Chen, Yu

2018-06-10

As a novel low-side-effect cancer therapy, photo-immunotherapy (PIT) is based on conjugating monoclonal antibody (mAb) with a near-infrared (NIR) phthalocyanine dye IRDye700DX (IR 700). IR700 is not only fluorescent to be used as an imaging agent, but also phototoxic. When illuminating with NIR light, PIT can induce highly-selective cancer cell death while leaving most of tumor blood vessels unharmed, leading to an effect termed super-enhanced permeability and retention (SUPR), which can significantly improve the effectiveness of anti-cancer drug. Currently, the therapeutic effects of PIT are monitored using 2D macroscopic fluorescence reflectance imager, which lacks the resolution and depth information to reveal the 3D distribution of mAb-IR700. In the study, we applied a multi-modal optical imaging approach including high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) and high-sensitivity fluorescence laminar optical tomography (FLOT), to provide 3D tumor micro-structure and micro-distribution of mAb-IR700 in the tumor simultaneously during PIT in situ and in vivo. The multi-wavelength FLOT can also provide the blood vessels morphology of the tumor. Thus, the 3D FLOT reconstructed images allow us to evaluate the IR700 fluorescence distribution change with respect to the blood vessels and at different tumor locations/depths non-invasively, thereby enabling evaluation of the therapeutic effects in vivo and optimization of treatment regimens accordingly. The mAb-IR700 can access more tumor areas after PIT treatment, which can be explained by increased vascular permeability immediately after NIR-PIT. Two-photon microscopy was also used to record the mAb-IR700 on the tumor surface near the blood vessels to verify the results. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Diversity and Activity of Denitrifiers of Chilean Arid Soil Ecosystems

PubMed Central

Orlando, Julieta; Carú, Margarita; Pommerenke, Bianca; Braker, Gesche

2012-01-01

The Chilean sclerophyllous matorral is a Mediterranean semiarid ecosystem affected by erosion, with low soil fertility, and limited by nitrogen. However, limitation of resources is even more severe for desert soils such as from the Atacama Desert, one of the most extreme arid deserts on Earth. Topsoil organic matter, nitrogen and moisture content were significantly higher in the semiarid soil compared to the desert soil. Although the most significant loss of biologically preferred nitrogen from terrestrial ecosystems occurs via denitrification, virtually nothing is known on the activity and composition of denitrifier communities thriving in arid soils. In this study we explored denitrifier communities from two soils with profoundly distinct edaphic factors. While denitrification activity in the desert soil was below detection limit, the semiarid soil sustained denitrification activity. To elucidate the genetic potential of the soils to sustain denitrification processes we performed community analysis of denitrifiers based on nitrite reductase (nirK and nirS) genes as functional marker genes for this physiological group. Presence of nirK-type denitrifiers in both soils was demonstrated but failure to amplify nirS from the desert soil suggests very low abundance of nirS-type denitrifiers shedding light on the lack of denitrification activity. Phylogenetic analysis showed a very low diversity of nirK with only three distinct genotypes in the desert soil which conditions presumably exert a high selection pressure. While nirK diversity was also limited to only few, albeit distinct genotypes, the semiarid matorral soil showed a surprisingly broad genetic variability of the nirS gene. The Chilean matorral is a shrub land plant community which form vegetational patches stabilizing the soil and increasing its nitrogen and carbon content. These islands of fertility may sustain the development and activity of the overall microbial community and of denitrifiers in particular. PMID:22493591

Cutaneous porphyrins exhibit anti-stokes fluorescence that is detectable in sebum (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Giselle; Zeng, Haishan; Zhao, Jianhua; Wu, Zhenguo; Al Jasser, Mohammed; Lui, Harvey; Mclean, David I.

2016-02-01

Porphyrins produced by Propionibacterium acnes represent the principal fluorophore associated with acne, and appear as orange-red luminescence under the Wood's lamp. Assessment of acne based on Wood's lamp (UV) or visible light illumination is limited by photon penetration depth and has limited sensitivity for earlier stage lesions. Inducing fluorescence with near infrared (NIR) excitation may provide an alternative way to assess porphyrin-related skin disorders. We discovered that under 785 nm CW laser excitation PpIX powder exhibits fluorescence emission in the shorter wavelength range of 600-715 nm with an intensity that is linearly dependent on the excitation power. We attribute this shorter wavelength emission to anti-Stokes fluorescence. Similar anti-Stokes fluorescence was also detected focally in all skin-derived samples containing porphyrins. Regular (Stokes) fluorescence was present under UV and visible light excitation on ex vivo nasal skin and sebum from uninflamed acne, but not on nose surface smears or sebum from inflamed acne. Co-registered CW laser-excited anti-Stokes fluorescence and fs laser-excited multi-photon fluorescence images of PpIX powder showed similar features. In the skin samples because of the anti-Stokes effect, the NIR-induced fluorescence was presumably specific for porphyrins since there appeared to be no anti-Stokes emission signals from other typical skin fluorophores such as lipids, keratins and collagen. Anti-Stokes fluorescence under NIR CW excitation is more sensitive and specific for porphyrin detection than UV- or visible light-excited regular fluorescence and fs laser-excited multi-photon fluorescence. This approach also has higher image contrast compared to NIR fs laser-based multi-photon fluorescence imaging. The anti-Stokes fluorescence of porphyrins within sebum could potentially be applied to detecting and targeting acne lesions for treatment via fluorescence image guidance.

Novel use of indocyanine green for intraoperative, real-time localization of ureteral stenosis during robot-assisted ureteroureterostomy.

PubMed

Lee, Ziho; Simhan, Jay; Parker, Daniel C; Reilly, Christopher; Llukani, Elton; Lee, David I; Mydlo, Jack H; Eun, Daniel D

2013-09-01

To present a novel method to intraoperatively localize ureteral strictures during robot-assisted ureteroureterostomy via indocyanine green (ICG) visualization under near-infrared (NIR) light. Seven patients underwent robot-assisted ureteroureterostomy for ureteral stricture by a single surgeon (D.D.E.). Intraoperative localization of ureteral stricture involved instilling ICG (25 mg in 10 mL distilled water) above and below the level of stenosis through a ureteral catheter or a percutaneous nephrostomy tube, or both. The fluorescent tracer was detected as a green color using the NIR modality on the da Vinci Si (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA). All patients consented to off-label use of ICG after full disclosure. Intraoperative ICG injection and visualization under NIR light assisted in the performance of a tension-free anastomosis in all patients. At the time of surgery, mean age was 55.7 ± 12.4 years and mean body mass index was 30.3 ± 5.8 kg/m(2). Mean operative time was 171.3 ± 52.4 minutes, mean estimated blood loss was 175.0 ± 146.5 mL, and mean length of ureteral excision on pathologic analysis was 1.6 ± 0.7 cm. There were no immediate or delayed adverse effects attributable to intraureteral ICG administration. Mean hospital length of stay was 1.6 ± 1.5 days, with no postoperative complications. Mean follow-up was 5.9 ± 1.5 months, and all cases were clinically and radiographically successful at last follow-up. Intraureteral injection of ICG with visualization under NIR light allows for real-time delineation of the ureter. Additionally, ICG administration aids in discerning healthy ureter from diseased tissue, further assisting successful robotic ureteral repair. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Engineering of near IR fluorescent albumin nanoparticles for in vivo detection of colon cancer.

PubMed

Cohen, Sarit; Margel, Shlomo

2012-08-14

The use of near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging techniques has gained great interest for early detection of cancer because water and other intrinsic biomolecules display negligible absorption or autofluorescence in this region. Novel fluorescent nanoparticles with potential to improve neoplasm detection sensitivity may prove to be a valuable tool in early detection of colon tumors. The present study describes the synthesis and use of NIR fluorescent albumin nanoparticles as a diagnostic tool for detection of colon cancer. These fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared by a precipitation process of human serum albumin (HSA) in aqueous solution in the presence of a carboxylic acid derivative of the NIR dye IR-783 (CANIR). Tumor-targeting ligands such as peanut agglutinin (PNA), anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibodies (anti-CEA) and tumor associated glycoprotein-72 monoclonal antibodies (anti-TAG-72) were covalently conjugated to the albumin nanoparticles via the surface carboxylate groups by using the carbodiimide activation method. Leakage of the encapsulated dye into PBS containing 4% HSA or human bowel juice was not detected. This study also demonstrates that the encapsulation of the NIR fluorescent dye within the HSA nanoparticles reduces the photobleaching of the dye significantly. Specific colon tumor detection in a mouse model was demonstrated for PNA, anti-CEA and anti-TAG-72 conjugated NIR fluorescent HSA nanoparticles. These bioactive NIR fluorescent albumin nanoparticles also detected invisible tumors that were revealed as pathological only subsequent to histological analysis. These results may suggest a significant advantage of NIR fluorescence imaging using NIR fluorescent nanoparticles over regular colonoscopy. In future work we plan to broaden this study by encapsulating cancer drugs, such as paclitaxel and doxorubicin, within these biodegradable NIR fluorescent HSA nanoparticles, in order to use them for both detection as well as therapy of colon cancer and others.