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Trends in Biotechnology Jun 2020Over the past few decades, PCR has been the gold standard for detecting nucleic acids (NAs) in various biomedical fields. However, there are several limitations... (Review)
Review
Over the past few decades, PCR has been the gold standard for detecting nucleic acids (NAs) in various biomedical fields. However, there are several limitations associated with conventional PCR, such as complicated operation, need for bulky equipment, and, in particular, long thermocycling time. Emerging nanomaterials with photothermal effects have shown great potential for developing a new generation of PCR: ultrafast photonic PCR. Here, we review recent applications of photothermal nanomaterials in ultrafast photonic PCR. First, we introduce emerging photothermal nanomaterials and their light-to-heat energy conversion process in photonic PCR. We then review different photothermal nanomaterial-based photonic PCRs and compare their merits and drawbacks. Finally, we summarize existing challenges with photonic PCR and hypothesize its promising future research directions.
Topics: Humans; Nanostructures; Optics and Photonics; Photothermal Therapy; Polymerase Chain Reaction
PubMed: 31918858
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.12.006 -
Nature Methods Oct 2019
Topics: Equipment Design; Germany; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Optics and Photonics; Problem Solving; United States
PubMed: 31562476
DOI: 10.1038/s41592-019-0590-9 -
Nature Biomedical Engineering Aug 2019
Topics: Absorbable Implants; Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Blood; Blood Chemical Analysis; Brain; Equipment Design; Mice; Needles; Optics and Photonics; Spectrum Analysis; Temperature
PubMed: 31391593
DOI: 10.1038/s41551-019-0441-0 -
Science Advances Jul 2023Telecom-band-integrated quantum memory is an elementary building block for developing quantum networks compatible with fiber communication infrastructures. Toward such a...
Telecom-band-integrated quantum memory is an elementary building block for developing quantum networks compatible with fiber communication infrastructures. Toward such a network with large capacity, an integrated multimode photonic quantum memory at telecom band has yet been demonstrated. Here, we report a fiber-integrated multimode quantum storage of single photon at telecom band on a laser-written chip. The storage device is a fiber-pigtailed Er:LiNbO waveguide and allows a storage of up to 330 temporal modes of heralded single photon with 4-GHz-wide bandwidth at 1532 nm and a 167-fold increasing of coincidence detection rate with respect to single mode. Our memory system with all-fiber addressing is performed using telecom-band fiber-integrated and on-chip components. The results represent an important step for the future quantum networks using integrated photonics devices.
Topics: Optics and Photonics; Photons; Communication
PubMed: 37450592
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf4587 -
Nature Communications Sep 2022Inspired by insect compound eyes (CEs) that feature unique optical schemes for imaging, there has recently been growing interest in developing optoelectronic CE cameras...
Inspired by insect compound eyes (CEs) that feature unique optical schemes for imaging, there has recently been growing interest in developing optoelectronic CE cameras with comparable size and functions. However, considering the mismatch between the complex 3D configuration of CEs and the planar nature of available imaging sensors, it is currently challenging to reach this end. Here, we report a paradigm in miniature optoelectronic integrated CE camera by manufacturing polymer CEs with 19~160 logarithmic profile ommatidia via femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization. In contrast to μ-CEs with spherical ommatidia that suffer from defocusing problems, the as-obtained μ-CEs with logarithmic ommatidia permit direct integration with a commercial CMOS detector, because the depth-of-field and focus range of all the logarithmic ommatidia are significantly increased. The optoelectronic integrated μ-CE camera enables large field-of-view imaging (90°), spatial position identification and sensitive trajectory monitoring of moving targets. Moreover, the miniature μ-CE camera can be integrated with a microfluidic chip and serves as an on-chip camera for real-time microorganisms monitoring. The insect-scale optoelectronic μ-CE camera provides a practical route for integrating well-developed planar imaging sensors with complex micro-optics elements, holding great promise for cutting-edge applications in endoscopy and robot vision.
Topics: Animals; Insecta; Lasers; Optics and Photonics; Photons; Polymers
PubMed: 36163128
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33072-8 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2022This mini review features contemporary advances in mid-infrared (MIR) thin-film waveguide technology and on-chip photonics, promoting high-performance biosensing... (Review)
Review
This mini review features contemporary advances in mid-infrared (MIR) thin-film waveguide technology and on-chip photonics, promoting high-performance biosensing platforms. Supported by recent developments in MIR thin-film waveguides, it is expected that label-free assimilated MIR sensing platforms will soon supplement the current sensing technologies for biomedical diagnostics. The state-of-the-art shows that various types of waveguide material can be utilized for waveguide spectroscopic measurements in MIR. However, there are challenges to integrating these waveguide platforms with microfluidic/Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) devices, due to poor light-material interactions. Graphene and its analogs have found many applications in microfluidic-based LOC devices, to address to this issue. Graphene-based materials possess a high conductivity, a large surface-to-volume ratio, a smaller and tunable bandgap, and allow easier sample loading; which is essential for acquiring precise electrochemical information. This work discusses advanced waveguide materials, their advantages, and disease diagnostics with MIR thin-film based waveguides. The incorporation of graphene into waveguides improves the light-graphene interaction, and photonic devices greatly benefit from graphene's strong field-controlled optical response.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Equipment Design; Graphite; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Optics and Photonics
PubMed: 35891123
DOI: 10.3390/s22145443 -
The Surgical Clinics of North America Dec 2020Surgeons have been involved, since the beginning, in the development and evolution of endoscopy. They have been instrumental in developing new methods and have been... (Review)
Review
Surgeons have been involved, since the beginning, in the development and evolution of endoscopy. They have been instrumental in developing new methods and have been actively involved in most of the therapeutic applications. The continued evolution of endoscopic technique is inevitable and will involve the integration of new technology with innovative thinking.
Topics: Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Europe; Fiber Optic Technology; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, Ancient; Humans; Optics and Photonics; United States
PubMed: 33128891
DOI: 10.1016/j.suc.2020.08.013 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Dec 2022Organisms in nature have evolved unique structural colors and stimuli-responsive functions for camouflage, warning, and communication over millions of years, which are... (Review)
Review
Organisms in nature have evolved unique structural colors and stimuli-responsive functions for camouflage, warning, and communication over millions of years, which are essential to their survival in harsh conditions. Inspired by these characteristics, colloidal photonic composites (CPCs) composed of colloidal photonic crystals embedded in the polymeric matrix are artificially prepared and show great promise in applications. This review focuses on the summary of building blocks, i.e., colloidal particles and polymeric matrices, and constructive strategies from the perspective of designing CPCs with robust performance and specific functionality. Furthermore, their state-of-the-art applications are also discussed, including colorful coatings, anti-counterfeiting, and regulation of photoluminescence, especially in the field of visualized sensing. Finally, current challenges and potential for future developments in this field are discussed. The purpose of this review is not only to clarify the design principle for artificial CPCs but also to serve as a roadmap for the exploration of next-generation photonic materials.
Topics: Polymers; Photons; Optics and Photonics
PubMed: 35263465
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202110488 -
ELife Jun 2022Miniature microscopes have gained considerable traction for in vivo calcium imaging in freely behaving animals. However, extracting calcium signals from raw videos is a...
Miniature microscopes have gained considerable traction for in vivo calcium imaging in freely behaving animals. However, extracting calcium signals from raw videos is a computationally complex problem and remains a bottleneck for many researchers utilizing single-photon in vivo calcium imaging. Despite the existence of many powerful analysis packages designed to detect and extract calcium dynamics, most have either key parameters that are hard-coded or insufficient step-by-step guidance and validations to help the users choose the best parameters. This makes it difficult to know whether the output is reliable and meets the assumptions necessary for proper analysis. Moreover, large memory demand is often a constraint for setting up these pipelines since it limits the choice of hardware to specialized computers. Given these difficulties, there is a need for a low memory demand, user-friendly tool offering interactive visualizations of how altering parameters at each step of the analysis affects data output. Our open-source analysis pipeline, Minian (miniscope analysis), facilitates the transparency and accessibility of single-photon calcium imaging analysis, permitting users with little computational experience to extract the location of cells and their corresponding calcium traces and deconvolved neural activities. Minian contains interactive visualization tools for every step of the analysis, as well as detailed documentation and tips on parameter exploration. Furthermore, Minian has relatively small memory demands and can be run on a laptop, making it available to labs that do not have access to specialized computational hardware. Minian has been validated to reliably and robustly extract calcium events across different brain regions and from different cell types. In practice, Minian provides an open-source calcium imaging analysis pipeline with user-friendly interactive visualizations to explore parameters and validate results.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Calcium; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Microscopy; Photons; Software
PubMed: 35642786
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.70661 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2022Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are programmable deformable materials that can respond to physical fields such as light, heat, and electricity. Photothermal-driven LCE... (Review)
Review
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are programmable deformable materials that can respond to physical fields such as light, heat, and electricity. Photothermal-driven LCE has the advantages of accuracy and remote control and avoids the requirement of high photon energy for photochemistry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in photothermal LCE materials and investigate methods for mechanical alignment, external field alignment, and surface-induced alignment. Advances in the synthesis and orientation of LCEs have enabled liquid crystal elastomers to meet applications in optics, robotics, and more. The review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and research opportunities.
Topics: Elastomers; Electricity; Liquid Crystals; Optics and Photonics
PubMed: 35889204
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144330