Mechanoluminescent nanotransducers (MLNTs) are colloidal materials that emit light upon mechanical excitation (e.g., by ultrasound activation). Encapsulation of MLNTs into erythrocyte-derived particles may provide a method to increase their circulation time. Herein, we have investigated three methods based on passive diffusion, sonoporation, and electroporation for loading of MLNTs. Confocal fluorescence imaging of the particles suggests that under the current protocols employed in this study, sonoporation and electroporation yielded better loading of the MLNTs into erythrocyte-derived particles.
Erythrocyte-derived optical microparticles containing near infrared (NIR) dyes such as indocyanine green (ICG) present a promising platform for fluorescence imaging and laser treatment of abnormal vasculature, including port wine birthmarks. Herein, we have investigated the effects of blood type utilized in fabricating these microparticles, and the number density of the particles on their circulation time in mice by real-time NIR fluorescence imaging of the dermal vasculature. We find that the emission half-life of microparticles engineered from human O+ blood type increases by approximately two-fold as compared to those engineered from B+ blood type. Increasing the number density of the microparticles fabricated from O+ blood type from ~0.5 millions/μl to 1.6 millions/μl is associated with nearly a fourfold increase in the emission half-life of the particles. These findings emphasize the importance of blood type and number density in engineering erythrocyte-derived particles for clinical applications as treatment of PWBs.
A major constraint in photomedicine is the scattering of photons within tissue, which can limit the penetration of light to reach target structures such as a tumor. Laser-induced shockwaves could offer a potential approach to mitigate this constraint by modifying the optical scattering properties of tissue and re-directing the light to targeted regions. Preliminary results in a skin phantom suggest that laser-induced shockwaves can alter optical characteristics of a turbid medium, and subsequently, induce changes in light propagation.
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