Fiber-Optic Plasmonic Nanobubble Probe Using TiN and Long IR Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in vivo plasmonic nanobubble (PNB) technologies are limited by high complexity and cost due to the use of ultra-short near-infrared laser pulses and gold nanoparticles, which are thermally damaged and require bulky, rigid optical guides, limiting clinical translation.
Innovation Solution
A combination of long infrared laser pulses (>200 ps) from compact microchip lasers and biocompatible titanium nitride nanoparticles delivered via standard optical fibers, enabling all-optical generation and detection of PNBs with a flexible fiber optical probe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If ultra-short near-infrared laser pulses and gold nanoparticles are used for in vivo PNB generation, then PNB generation efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the laser pulse duration parameter from ultra-short (20-30 ps) to longer duration (>200 ps), which allows the use of compact microchip lasers instead of complex mode-locked lasers, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining PNB generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive gold nanoparticles with cheaper titanium nitride nanoparticles that can be synthesized at lower cost and do not require the same level of expensive equipment for their effective utilization
2Power
If ultra-short near-infrared laser pulses are used, then PNB generation efficiency is improved, but laser system cost and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the laser pulse duration from ultra-short (20-30 ps) to longer duration (>200 ps), enabling the use of compact microchip lasers that are significantly smaller and less expensive than the mode-locked lasers required for ultra-short pulses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical and optical components of mode-locked lasers with a simpler microchip laser design that uses different physical principles to achieve the necessary pulse characteristics
3Power
If gold nanoparticles are used, then PNB generation efficiency is improved, but thermal damage occurs and biocompatibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and thermally vulnerable gold nanoparticles with cheaper titanium nitride nanoparticles that possess superior thermal stability and resistance to laser-induced damage, improving biocompatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs titanium nitride, a ceramic material with exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, as an alternative to metallic gold nanoparticles, providing both functional equivalence and improved thermal resistance
4Power
If ultra-short laser pulses are used, then PNB generation efficiency is improved, but rigid bulky optical guides are required, limiting clinical translation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends laser pulse duration from ultra-short (20-30 ps) to longer duration (>200 ps), which reduces the peak power requirements and allows delivery through flexible standard optical fibers instead of rigid bulky optical guides
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces complexity and cost, allowing for minimally invasive, high-sensitivity, and specific detection of cancer cells, enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy while being compatible with standard clinical tools.
Implementation Method 1
titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles with infrared optical absorbance, such nanoparticles efficiently convert infrared laser pulses into PNBs
Implementation Method 2
such nanoparticles efficiently convert infrared laser pulses into PNBs
Implementation Method 3
standard optical fibers, and (4) all-optical generation and detection of PNBs with the one device, through specific pattern and design of the optical fibers in the optical fiber bundle
Implementation Method 4
all-optical generation and detection of PNBs with the one device, through specific pattern and design of the optical fibers in the optical fiber bundle
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to minimally invasive methods, devices and systems for diagnosis and/or connected diagnosis and treatment (theranostics) of disease (for example, cancer) at the cellular level in vivo through the generation and detection of disease-specific plasmonic nanobubbles (“PNBs”). PNBs are on-demand laser pulse-activated non-stationary vapor nanobubbles. A system for diagnosing and treating the disease in a patient comprises a laser module connected to a flexible fiber optical PNB probe, which optically generates and detects PNBs. A method for diagnosing the disease comprises (a) administering nanoparticles of small size, below 100 nm, for example, titanium nitride nanoparticles, or their disease-specific conjugates to a patient; (b) navigating a fiber optical probe in a patient to a target tissue; (c) generating PNBs in vivo with an infrared laser pulse of the duration longer than 200 ps, delivered through the fiber optical probe; (d) detecting PNBs optically in vivo with the said fiber optical probe through the optical backscattering by PNBs; and (e) diagnosing the disease through analysis of the detected optical signals in response to one or several laser pulses. The method further comprises treating the disease, based on the diagnostic step, with PNBs or other means.