Effects In Biological Tissues Research Articles

Numerical investigation on improving photoacoustic imaging contrast based on temperature difference effect in biological tissues

Exploiting the variances in light absorption among different components of biological tissues and utilizing the light absorption coefficient as an imaging contrast, photoacoustic imaging achieves remarkable imaging resolution. Within the laser wavelength range commonly employed in photoacoustic imaging, biological tissue components like hemoglobin and melanin exhibit higher light absorption coefficients compared to other components. Consequently, these components generate stronger photoacoustic signals during the imaging process. However, this heightened signal strength obscures components of biological tissues with low light absorption coefficients, making it challenging to clearly visualize them in the resulting images. To address this limitation and enhance the visibility of low absorption coefficient components against a background of intense photoacoustic signals produced by high absorption coefficient components, we propose a method that utilizes low-intensity unfocused ultrasound to induce the temperature difference (TD) effect in biological tissues during photoacoustic imaging. By analyzing the disparities between the photoacoustic signals collected before and after introducing the TD effect, we establish a novel imaging parameter that improves the imaging contrast. To validate the feasibility and effectiveness of inducing photoacoustic effects in biological tissues, we conducted simulations using the finite element method, which yielded positive results. Subsequent simulations of photoacoustic imaging incorporating the TD effect demonstrated enhanced visualization of components with low light absorption coefficients in biological tissue. The method proposed in this paper is expected to provide a research idea for improving the photoacoustic imaging contrast of biological tissues.

Transdermal wires for improved integration in vivo

Alternative engineering approaches have led the design of implants with controlled physical features to minimize adverse effects in biological tissues. Similar efforts have focused on optimizing the design features of percutaneous VAD drivelines with the aim to prevent infection, omitting however a thorough look on the implant-skin interactions that govern local tissue reactions. Here, we utilized an integrated approach for the biophysical modification of transdermal implants and their evaluation by chronic sheep implantation in comparison to the standard of care VAD drivelines. We developed a novel method for the transfer of breath topographical features on thin wires with modular size. We examined the impact of implant's diameter, surface topography, and chemistry on macroscopic, histological, and physical markers of inflammation, fibrosis, and mechanical adhesion. All implants demonstrated infection-free performance. The fibrotic response was enhanced by the increasing diameter of implants but not influenced by their surface properties. The implants of small diameter promoted mild inflammatory responses with improved mechanical adhesion and restricted epidermal downgrowth, in both silicone and polyurethane coated transdermal wires. On the contrary, the VAD drivelines with larger diameter triggered severe inflammatory reactions with frequent epidermal downgrowth. We validated these effects by quantifying the infiltration of macrophages and the level of vascularization in the fibrotic zone, highlighting the critical role of size reduction for the benign integration of transdermal implants with skin. This insight on how the biophysical properties of implants impact local tissue reactions could enable new solutions on the transdermal transmission of power, signal, and mass in a broad range of medical devices.

1.7 µm figure-9 Tm-doped ultrafast fiber laser.

The evolution of multiphoton microscopy is critically dependent on the development of ultrafast laser technologies. The ultrashort pulse laser source at 1.7 µm waveband is attractive for in-depth three-photon imaging owing to the reduced scattering and absorption effects in biological tissues. Herein, we report on a 1.7 µm passively mode-locked figure-9 Tm-doped fiber laser. The nonreciprocal phase shifter that consists of two quarter-wave plates and a Faraday rotator introduces phase bias between the counter-propagating beams in the nonlinear amplifying loop mirror. The cavity dispersion is compensated to be slightly positive, enabling the proposed 1.7 µm ultrafast fiber laser to deliver the dissipative soliton with a 3-dB bandwidth of 20 nm. Moreover, the mode-locked spectral bandwidth could be flexibly tuned with different phase biases by rotating the wave plates. The demonstration of figure-9 Tm-doped ultrafast fiber laser would pave the way to develop the robust 1.7 µm ultrashort pulse laser sources, which could find important application for three-photon deep-tissue imaging.

Softening Effects in Biological Tissues and NiTi Knitwear during Cyclic Loading.

Samples of skin, tendons, muscles, and knitwear composed of NiTi wire are studied by uniaxial cyclic tension and stretching to rupture. The metal knitted mesh behaves similar to a superelastic material when stretched, similar to soft biological tissues. The superelasticity effect was found in NiTi wire, but not in the mesh composed of it. A softening effect similar to biological tissues is observed during the cyclic stretching of the mesh. The mechanical behavior of the NiTi mesh is similar to the biomechanical behavior of biological tissues. The discovered superelastic effects allow developing criteria for the selection and evaluation of mesh materials composed of titanium nickelide for soft tissue reconstructive surgery.

Transient absorption spectroscopy to explore cellular pathways to photobiomodulation.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) describes the use of low irradiance light in the red to near-infrared wavelength range to stimulate biological effects in tissue, and many biological and spectroscopic techniques are used to study PBM. However, these techniques focus on the products or downstream effects rather than the electronic transitions that initiate the PBM processes. This study presents a novel approach to studying low irradiance light exposures on individual proteins and/or protein complexes by combining a continuous wave (CW) laser diode with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), coined here as CW-TAS, and tests the system on reduced cytochrome c (Cyt c) for proof of principle. TAS was conducted using a 532-nm excitation pump beam and a 350-600nm supercontinuum probe. CW laser diodes with wavelengths of 450nm, 635nm, and 808nm were interchangeably fiber coupled into the HELIOS Fire. Samples of Cyt c were tested by TAS using a pump power of 15μW, both with and without CW exposure. CW exposures were carried out with irradiances of 1.60 and 3.20mW/cm2, except for 808nm, which was only tested at 1.60mW/cm2. Both kinetic and global analyses were performed on the TAS data and the time constants for sets with and without CW exposures were compared. The TAS data for Cyt c with the full dosage of CW exposures did not alter the TAS data distinguishably from the control data. No new electronic transient signals were observed beyond the background when testing Cyt c with the CW exposures. Kinetic analysis confirmed that existing transients did not deviate beyond uncertainty. Global time constants for Cyt c were calculated to be 0.25±0.03ps and 5.1±0.3ps for the control study, and the time constants for the CW exposed Cyt c were not significantly different. This study concludes that CW irradiation, at doses delivered, does not alter the transient absorption data of Cyt c. The CW-TAS method provides a new tool for studying PBM effects in other proteins and protein complexes that might respond to the CW wavelengths, such as Complex IV, in future studies.

Interaction of low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma jet mixed with argon and air with living tissues

The paper presents the results of spectral-fluorescence and diffuse-optical studies of biological tissues when exposed to a low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma in a mixture of air with argon with an exposure of up to 10 minutes. Potential fluorophores were identified and the coefficients of optical absorption and transport scattering of biological tissues were determined. The analysis conducted allows to conclude that plasma probing leads to significant inhibition of cellular respiration and the development of coagulation effects in biological tissues.

A Dual-Frequency Coupled Resonator Transducer.

New ultrasound-mediated drug delivery systems, such as acoustic cluster therapy or combined imaging and therapy systems, require transducers that can operate beyond the bandwidth limitation (~100%) of conventional piezoceramic transducers. In this article, a dual-frequency coupled resonator transducer (CRT) comprised of a polymeric coupling layer with a low acoustic impedance (2-5 MRayl) sandwiched between two piezoceramic layers is investigated. Depending on the electrical configuration, the CRT exhibits two usable frequency bands. The resonance frequency of the high-frequency (HF) band can be tailored to be ~3-5 times higher than that of the low-frequency (LF) band using the stiffness in the coupling layer. The CRT's LF band was analyzed analytically, and we obtained the closed-form expressions for the LF resonance frequency. A dual-frequency CRT was designed, manufactured, and characterized acoustically, and comparisons with theory showed good agreement. The HF band exhibited a center frequency of 2.5 MHz with a -3-dB bandwidth of 70% and is suited to manipulate microbubbles or for diagnostic imaging applications. The LF band exhibited a center frequency of 0.5 MHz with a -3-dB bandwidth of 13% and is suited to induce biological effects in tissue, therein manipulation of microbubbles.

Quantifying the photothermal conversion efficiency of plasmonic nanoparticles by means of terahertz radiation

The accurate determination of the photothermal response of nanomaterials represents an essential aspect in many fields, such as nanomedicine. Specifically, photothermal cancer therapies rely on the precise knowledge of the light-to-heat transfer properties of plasmonic nanoparticles to achieve the desired temperature-induced effects in biological tissues. In this work, we present a novel method for the quantification of the photothermal effect exhibited by nanoparticles in aqueous dispersions. By combining the spatial and temporal thermal dynamics acquired at terahertz frequencies, the photothermal conversion efficiency associated with the geometry of the plasmonic nanoparticles can be retrieved in a noncontact and noninvasive manner. The proposed technique can be extended to the characterization of all those nanomaterials which feature a temperature-dependent variation of the refractive index in the terahertz regime.

How to Interpret the Ultrasound Output Display Standard for Diagnostic Ultrasound Devices: Version 3.

How to Interpret the Ultrasound Output Display Standard for Diagnostic Ultrasound Devices: Version 3.

High intensity focused ultrasound: The fundamentals, clinical applications and research trends.

Diagnostic ultrasound has been clinically used for decades. More recently, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has been developed for therapeutic use as a non-invasive technique for tissue ablation. HIFU is also being investigated for advanced applications at the cellular level. Under guidance by magnetic resonance or ultrasound imaging, HIFU can achieve precise biological effects in tissue with a high safety profile. In this article, we discuss the basic principles, advantages and limitations of HIFU. We will also address the food and drug administration (FDA) approved clinical applications in the United States and highlight active HIFU research with promising clinical outcomes.

Control of laser-induced mechanical effects by using a dual-wavelength irradiation method

A straightforward method of controlling laser-induced mechanical effects in biological tissues is to regulate the pulse energy of the irradiating laser. Because the local temperature of the irradiated region rises as the laser’s pulse energy increases, this method cannot independently control purely mechanical effects without changing the thermal effects. Here, a dual-wavelength irradiation method is proposed in which biological tissues are irradiated simultaneously by using two laser pulses with different wavelengths, and laser-induced mechanical effects are continuously controlled with no change in the maximum temperature increase by systematically varying the energy of each laser pulse. The proposed method is analyzed, and its feasibility is demonstrated through numerical simulations.

Effects of biological tissues on the propagation properties of anomalous hollow beams

We derived analytical formulae of anomalous hollow beams (AHBs) passing through the turbulent biological tissues based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral formula. With the help of these formulae, we investigate the propagation properties of AHBs in turbulent biological tissues, the irradiance and spreading properties of AHBs in turbulent biological tissues are studied numerically. It is found that the circular and elliptical AHBs eventually become Gaussian beams in the far field and the central irradiance of the AHB rises more rapidly as the value of Cn2 grows. We also calculate the formulae of the effective beam size of AHB and find that finally Wxz becomes equal to Wyz in turbulent biological tissues which can be used to explain the beam spot eventually becomes circular under the influence of turbulence of biological tissues.

On the Rule of Mixtures for Predicting Stress-Softening and Residual Strain Effects in Biological Tissues and Biocompatible Materials.

In this work, we use the rule of mixtures to develop an equivalent material model in which the total strain energy density is split into the isotropic part related to the matrix component and the anisotropic energy contribution related to the fiber effects. For the isotropic energy part, we select the amended non-Gaussian strain energy density model, while the energy fiber effects are added by considering the equivalent anisotropic volumetric fraction contribution, as well as the isotropized representation form of the eight-chain energy model that accounts for the material anisotropic effects. Furthermore, our proposed material model uses a phenomenological non-monotonous softening function that predicts stress softening effects and has an energy term, derived from the pseudo-elasticity theory, that accounts for residual strain deformations. The model’s theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data collected from human vaginal tissues, mice skin, poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone) (PGC25 3-0) and polypropylene suture materials and tracheal and brain human tissues. In all cases examined here, our equivalent material model closely follows stress-softening and residual strain effects exhibited by experimental data.

Plasma oxylipin profiling identifies polyunsaturated vicinal diols as responsive to arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid intake in growing piglets

The dose-responsiveness of plasma oxylipins to incremental dietary intake of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6; ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA) was determined in piglets. Piglets randomly received one of six formulas (n = 8 per group) from days 3 to 27 postnatally. Diets contained incremental ARA or incremental DHA levels as follows (% fatty acid, ARA/DHA): (A1) 0.1/1.0; (A2) 0.53/1.0; (A3-D3) 0.69/1.0; (A4) 1.1/1.0; (D1) 0.66/0.33; and (D2) 0.67/0.62, resulting in incremental intake (g/kg BW/day) of ARA: 0.07 ± 0.01, 0.43 ± 0.03, 0.55 ± 0.03, and 0.82 ± 0.05 at constant DHA intake (0.82 ± 0.05), or incremental intake of DHA: 0.27 ± 0.02, 0.49 ± 0.03, and 0.81 ± 0.05 at constant ARA intake (0.54 ± 0.04). Plasma oxylipin concentrations and free plasma PUFA levels were determined at day 28 using LC-MS/MS. Incremental dietary ARA intake dose-dependently increased plasma ARA levels. In parallel, ARA intake dose-dependently increased ARA-derived diols 5,6- and 14,15-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (DiHETrE) and linoleic acid-derived 12,13-dihydroxyoctadecenoic acid (DiHOME), downstream metabolites of cytochrome P450 expoxygenase (CYP). The ARA epoxide products from CYP are important in vascular homeostatic maintenance. Incremental DHA intake increased plasma DHA and most markedly raised the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) metabolite 17,18-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (DiHETE) and the DHA metabolite 19,20-dihydroxydocosapentaenoic acid (DiHDPE). In conclusion, increasing ARA and DHA intake dose-dependently influenced endogenous n-6 and n-3 oxylipin plasma concentrations in growing piglets, although the biological relevance of these findings remains to be determined.

Current status and prospects for microbubbles in ultrasound theranostics

Encapsulated microbubbles have been developed over the past two decades to provide improvements both in imaging as well as new therapeutic applications. Microbubble contrast agents are used currently for clinical imaging where increased sensitivity to blood flow is required, such as echocardiography. These compressible spheres oscillate in an acoustic field, producing nonlinear responses which can be uniquely distinguished from surrounding tissue, resulting in substantial enhancements in imaging signal-to-noise ratio. Furthermore, with sufficient acoustic energy the oscillation of microbubbles can mediate localized biological effects in tissue including the enhancement of membrane permeability or increased thermal energy deposition. Structurally, microbubbles are comprised of two principal components--an encapsulating shell and an inner gas core. This configuration enables microbubbles to be loaded with drugs or genes for additional therapeutic effect. Application of sufficient ultrasound energy can release this payload, resulting in site-specific delivery. Extensive preclinical studies illustrate that combining microbubbles and ultrasound can result in enhanced drug delivery or gene expression at spatially selective sites. Thus, microbbubles can be used for imaging, for therapy, or for both simultaneously. In this sense, microbubbles combined with acoustics may be one of the most universal theranostic tools.

QUANTITATIVE CONTROL OF OPTICAL CLEARING EFFECTS STUDIED WITH TISSUE-LIKE PHANTOM

Tissue optical clearing by use of optical clearing agents (OCAs) has been proven to have potential to reduce the highly scattering effect of biological tissues in optical techniques. However, the difference in tissue samples could lead to unreliable results, making it difficult to quantitatively control the dose of OCAs during the course of tissue optical clearing. In this work, in order to study the effects of optical clearing, we customized tissue-like phantoms with optical properties of some biological tissue. Diffuse reflectance and total transmittance of tissue-like phantoms with different OCAs (DMSO or glycerol) and porcine skin tissues were measured. Then optical property parameters were calculated by inverse adding-doubling (IAD) algorithm. Results showed that OCAs could lead to a reduction in scattering of tissue-like phantoms as it did to porcine skin tissue in vitro. Furthermore, a series of relational expressions could be fit to quantitatively describe the relationship between the doses of OCAs and the reduction of scattering effects. Therefore, proper tissue-like phantom could facilitate optical clearing to be used in quantitative control of tissue optical properties, and further promote the application potential of optical clearing to light-based noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.

LIMITATIONS OF CANCER MARGIN DELINEATION BY MEANS OF AUTOFLUORESCENCE IMAGING UNDER CONDITIONS OF LASER SURGERY

Limitations of cancer margin delineation and surgical guidance by means of autofluorescence imaging under conditions of laser ablation were investigated and preliminary results are presented. PinPoint™ (Novadaq Technologies Inc., Canada) was used to capture digital images and Er:YAG laser (2.94 μm, Glissando, WaveLight™, Germany) was exploited to cause laser ablation on both normal and cancer sites of the specimen. It was shown that changes of the autofluorescence image after ablation extend beyond the actual sizes of the ablation loci. The tumor tissue after the laser ablation starts to emit fluorescent light within the green wavelength band (490–550 nm) similar to normal tissue stating that the current technology of in-process tissue classification fails. However, when the autofluorescence was collected in the red range (600–750 nm), then the abnormal/normal contrast was reduced, but still present even after the laser ablation. The present study highlights the importance of finding a proper technology for surgical navigation of cancer removal under conditions of high power effects in biological tissues.

Metal accumulation and oxidative stress responses in, cultured and wild, white seabream from Northwest Atlantic

Metals are environmentally ubiquitous and can be found at high concentrations in seawater and subsequently in marine organisms. Metals with high redox potential can trigger oxidative stress mechanisms with damaging effects in biological tissues. In aquatic species, oxidative stress has been evaluated by assessing antioxidant enzymes activities and oxidative damages in tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress biomarkers and metal residues in white seabream ( Diplodus sargus), a species entering aquaculture production in Portugal. Metal residues (Cu, Cd, As and Pb), in liver and muscle, as well as oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed at different stages in the life cycle of white seabream under culture conditions and in wild specimens, of a marketable size. Metal concentrations in tissues were low, and below the established limits. However, wild white seabream showed higher accumulation than cultured ones. Antioxidant enzymes, namely catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were correlated with metal accumulation. Oxidative damages to tissues were low, with wild white seabream showing lower levels than cultured fish. This study showed that white seabream has a good antioxidant defense system, capable of reducing oxidative damages in tissues resulting from the presence of metals.

An inductive power link for a wireless endoscope

An inductive link is presented that can handle freedom of motion. The envisaged application is to power a wireless camera capsule used for non-invasive visual inspection of the small bowel. Up to 150 mW of usable dc power can be delivered to the capsule for the entire duration of its travel along the gastric track. The outer dimensions of the power receiver compartment inside the capsule are Ø 10 mmx13 mm. The power efficiency of the link is measured to be 1% under worst-case geometrical conditions. The issue of patient's health and safety regarding exposure to the electromagnetic field is addressed. To this purpose, an experimental method is applied to predict specific absorption rates. Conversely, the effect of biological tissue on link performance and practical workability is evaluated as well. Electric shielding of the transmitter coil is applied to reduce biological tissue interaction. In this way, appliance on a living subject is made both safe and practically feasible.

Singlet Oxygen Generation by UVA Light Exposure of Endogenous Photosensitizers

UVA light (320–400 nm) has been shown to produce deleterious biological effects in tissue due to the generation of singlet oxygen by substances like flavins or urocanic acid. Riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide (FMN), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), urocanic acid, or cholesterol in solution were excited at 355 nm. Singlet oxygen was directly detected by time-resolved measurement of its luminescence at 1270 nm. NAD, NADP, and cholesterol showed no luminescence signal possibly due to the very low absorption coefficient at 355 nm. Singlet oxygen luminescence of urocanic acid was clearly detected but the signal was too weak to quantify a quantum yield. The quantum yield of singlet oxygen was precisely determined for riboflavin (Φ Δ = 0.54 ± 0.07), FMN (Φ Δ = 0.51 ± 0.07), and FAD (Φ Δ = 0.07 ± 0.02). In aerated solution, riboflavin and FMN generate more singlet oxygen than exogenous photosensitizers such as Photofrin, which are applied in photodynamic therapy to kill cancer cells. With decreasing oxygen concentration, the quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation decreased, which must be considered when assessing the role of singlet oxygen at low oxygen concentrations (inside tissue).