Heat flow in an infinite medium heated by a sphere

Acoustic radiation force on a heated spherical particle in a fluid including scattering and microstreaming from a standing ultrasound wave

Analytical expressions are derived for the time-averaged, quasisteady, acoustic radiation force on a heated, spherical, elastic, solid microparticle suspended in a fluid and located in an axisymmetric incident acoustic wave. The heating is assumed to be spherically symmetric, and the effects of particle vibrations, sound scattering, and acoustic microstreaming are included in the calculations of the acoustic radiation force. It is found that changes in the speed of sound of the fluid due to temperature gradients can significantly change the force on the particle, particularly through perturbations to the microstreaming pattern surrounding the particle. For some fluid-solid combinations, the effects of particle heating even reverse the direction of the force on the particle for a temperature increase at the particle surface as small as 1 K.

Thermoplasmonic nano-rupture of cells reveals annexin V function in plasma membrane repair

Maintaining the integrity of the cell plasma membrane (PM) is critical for the survival of cells. While an efficient PM repair machinery can aid survival of healthy cells by preventing influx of extracellular calcium, it can also constitute an obstacle in drug delivery and photothermal therapy. We show how nanoscopic holes can be created in a controlled fashion to the cell's plasma membrane, thus allowing identification of molecular components which have a pivotal role in PM repair. Cells are punctured by laser induced local heating of gold nanostructures at the cell surface which causes nano-ruptures in cellular PMs. Recruitment of annexin V near the hole is found to locally reshape the ruptured plasma membrane. Experiments using model membranes, containing recombinant annexin V, provide further biophysical insight into the ability of annexin V to reshape edges surrounding a membrane hole. The thermoplasmonic method provides a general strategy to monitor the response to nanoscopic injuries to the cell surface which offer new insight into how cells respond to photothermal treatment.

Spatiotemporal Evolution of Temperature During Transient Heating of Nanoparticle Arrays

Nanoparticles (NPs) are promising agents to absorb external energy and generate heat. Clusters of NPs or NP array heating have found an essential role in several biomedical applications, diagnostic techniques, and chemical catalysis. Various studies have shed light on the heat transfer of nanostructures and greatly advanced our understanding of NP array heating. However, there is a lack of analytical tools and dimensionless parameters to describe the transient heating of NP arrays. Here we demonstrate a comprehensive analysis of the transient NP array heating. Firstly, we develop a set of analytical solutions for the NP array heating and provide a useful mathematical description of the spatial-temporal evolution of temperature for 2D, 3D, and spherical NP array heating. Based on this, we introduce the concept of thermal resolution that quantifies the relationship between minimal heating time, NP array size, energy intensity, and target temperature. Lastly, we define a set of dimensionless parameters that characterize the transition from confined heating to delocalized heating. This study advances the understanding of nanomaterials heating and guides the rational design of innovative approaches for NP array heating.

Theoretical investigation of weak absorption and laser induced damage in YCOB crystal

Weak absorption and laser-induced damage in crystal have been extensively studied, but the mechanism of these phenomena is still not well understood. Herein, we investigated the weak absorption and laser-induced...

Computational Investigation of Protein Photoinactivation by Molecular Hyperthermia

To precisely control protein activity in a living system is a challenging yet long-pursued objective in biomedical sciences. Recently, we have developed a new approach named molecular hyperthermia (MH) to photoinactivate protein activity of interest without genetic modification. MH utilizes nanosecond laser pulse to create nanoscale heating around plasmonic nanoparticles to inactivate adjacent protein in live cells. Here we use a numerical model to study important parameters and conditions for MH to efficiently inactivate proteins in nanoscale. To quantify the protein inactivation process, the impact zone is defined as the range where proteins are inactivated by the nanoparticle localized heating. Factors that reduce the MH impact zone include the laser pulse duration, temperature-dependent thermal conductivity (versus constant properties), and nonspherical nanoparticle geometry. In contrast, the impact zone is insensitive to temperature-dependent material density and specific heat, as well as thermal interface resistance based on reported data in the literature. The low thermal conductivity of cytoplasm increases the impact zone. Different proteins with various Arrhenius kinetic parameters have significantly different impact zones. This study provides guidelines to design the protein inactivation process by MH.

Plasmonic carriers responsive to pulsed laser irradiation: a review of mechanisms, design, and applications

This review focuses on interactions which govern release from plasmonic carrier systems including liposomes, polymersomes, and nanodroplets under pulsed irradiation.

Optical trapping reveals differences in dielectric and optical properties of copper nanoparticles compared to their oxides and ferrites

In a nanoplasmonic context, copper (Cu) is a potential and interesting surrogate to less accessible metals such as gold, silver or platinum. We demonstrate optical trapping of individual Cu nanoparticles with diameters between 25 and 70 nm and of two ionic Cu nanoparticle species, CuFe₂O₄ and CuZnFe₂O₄, with diameters of 90 nm using a near infrared laser and quantify their interaction with the electromagnetic field experimentally and theoretically. We find that, despite the similarity in size, the trapping stiffness and polarizability of the ferrites are significantly lower than those of Cu nanoparticles, thus inferring a different light-particle interaction. One challenge with using Cu nanoparticles in practice is that upon exposure to the normal atmosphere, Cu is spontaneously passivated by an oxide layer, thus altering its physicochemical properties. We theoretically investigate how the presence of an oxide layer influences the optical properties of Cu nanoparticles. Comparisons to experimental observations infer that oxidation of CuNPs is minimal during optical trapping. By finite element modelling we map out the expected temperature increase of the plasmonic Cu nanoparticles during optical trapping and retrieve temperature increases high enough to change the catalytic properties of the particles.

Potential of sub-microsecond laser pulse shaping for controlling microcavitation in selective retinal therapies

Pilot results showing the potential of sub-microsecond laser pulse shaping to optimize thermomechanical confinement in laser-tissue interactions involving microcavitation are presented. Model samples based on aqueous suspensions of retinal melanosomes and eumelanin particles were irradiated at 532 nm with nanosecond laser pulses and picosecond laser pulse trains having differing shapes and durations. The cavitation threshold radiant exposure and the bubble lifetime above the threshold were measured using a pump-probe setup and sub-nanosecond time-resolved imaging. Both quantities were found to strongly depend on the pulse format. These results suggest that sub-microsecond laser pulse shaping could be exploited to optimize precision and control in numerous applications of laser-directed microcavitation, including selective retinal laser treatments.

Heat transfer from nanoparticles for targeted destruction of infectious organisms

Whereas the application of optically or magnetically heated nanoparticles to destroy tumours is now well established, the extension of this concept to target pathogens has barely begun. Here we examine the challenge of targeting pathogens by this means and, in particular, explore the issues of power density and heat transfer. Depending on the rate of heating, either hyperthermia or thermoablation may occur. This division of the field is fundamental and implies very different sources of excitation and heat transfer for the two modes, and different strategies for their clinical application. Heating by isolated nanoparticles and by agglomerates of nanoparticles is compared: hyperthermia is much more readily achieved with agglomerates and for large target volumes, a factor which favours magnetic excitation and moderate power densities. In contrast, destruction of planktonic pathogens is best achieved by localised thermoablation and very high power density, a scenario that is best delivered by pulsed optical excitation.

Gold Nanostars Coated with Mesoporous Silica Are Effective and Nontoxic Photothermal Agents Capable of Gate Keeping and Laser-Induced Drug Release

Herein, a novel drug photorelease system based on gold nanostars (AuNSts), coated with a mesoporous silica shell and capped with paraffin as thermosensitive molecular gate, is reported. Direct measurements of the surface temperature of a single gold nanostar irradiated using a tightly focused laser beam are performed via a heat-sensitive biological matrix. The surface temperature of a AuNSt increases by hundreds of degrees (°C) even at low laser powers. AuNSts coated with a mesoporous silica shell using a surfactant-templated synthesis are used as chemotherapeutic nanocarriers. Synthetic parameters are optimized to avoid AuNSt reshaping, and thus to obtain nanoparticles with suitable and stable plasmonic properties for near-infrared (NIR) laser-triggered cargo delivery. The mesoporous silica-coated nanostars are loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) and coated with octadecyltrimethoxysilane and the paraffin heneicosane. The paraffin molecules formed a hydrophobic layer that blocks the pores, impeding the release of the cargo. This hybrid nanosystem exhibits a well-defined photodelivery profile using NIR radiation, even at low power density, whereas the nonirradiated sample shows a negligible payload release. Dox-loaded nanoparticles displayed no cytotoxicity toward HeLa cells, until they are irradiated with 808 nm laser, provoking paraffin melting and drug release. Hence, these novel, functional, and biocompatible nanoparticles display adequate plasmonic properties for NIR-triggered drug photorelease applications.

Molecular Hyperthermia: Spatiotemporal Protein Unfolding and Inactivation by Nanosecond Plasmonic Heating

Spatiotemporal control of protein structure and activity in biological systems has important and broad implications in biomedical sciences as evidenced by recent advances in optogenetic approaches. Here, this study demonstrates that nanosecond pulsed laser heating of gold nanoparticles (GNP) leads to an ultrahigh and ultrashort temperature increase, coined as "molecular hyperthermia", which causes selective unfolding and inactivation of proteins adjacent to the GNP. Protein inactivation is highly dependent on both laser pulse energy and GNP size, and has a well-defined impact zone in the nanometer scale. It is anticipated that the fine control over protein structure and function enabled by this discovery will be highly enabling within a number of arenas, from probing the biophysics of protein folding/unfolding to the nanoscopic manipulation of biological systems via an optical trigger, to developing novel therapeutics for disease treatment without genetic modification.

Digital holography based submicron thermometry

Here we introduce a phase-shifting digital holography-based method to determine the temperature profile around an irradiated (sub-)micron spherical bead. The method utilizes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer implemented into an open setup microscope. The results of irradiated gold spheres with diameter of 400 nm and also silver-coated micron-sized silica beads embedded in silicone oil are presented. We show that the applied method is able to accurately determine the surface temperature with accuracy of 1 °C. Our experimental results perfectly confirm the theoretical prediction of temperature profile around the irradiated bead.

Single Particle and PET-based Platform for Identifying Optimal Plasmonic Nano-Heaters for Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Plasmonic nanoparticle-based photothermal cancer therapy is a promising new tool to inflict localized and irreversible damage to tumor tissue by hyperthermia, without harming surrounding healthy tissue. We developed a single particle and positron emission tomography (PET)-based platform to quantitatively correlate the heat generation of plasmonic nanoparticles with their potential as cancer killing agents. In vitro, the heat generation and absorption cross-section of single irradiated nanoparticles were quantified using a temperature sensitive lipid-based assay and compared to their theoretically predicted photo-absorption. In vivo, the heat generation of irradiated nanoparticles was evaluated in human tumor xenografts in mice using 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) PET imaging. To validate the use of this platform, we quantified the photothermal efficiency of near infrared resonant silica-gold nanoshells (AuNSs) and benchmarked this against the heating of colloidal spherical, solid gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). As expected, both in vitro and in vivo the heat generation of the resonant AuNSs performed superior compared to the non-resonant AuNPs. Furthermore, the results showed that PET imaging could be reliably used to monitor early treatment response of photothermal treatment. This multidisciplinary approach provides a much needed platform to benchmark the emerging plethora of novel plasmonic nanoparticles for their potential for photothermal cancer therapy.

Ultrasmall all-optical plasmonic switch and its application to superresolution imaging

Because of their exceptional local-field enhancement and ultrasmall mode volume, plasmonic components can integrate photonics and electronics at nanoscale, and active control of plasmons is the key. However, all-optical modulation of plasmonic response with nanometer mode volume and unity modulation depth is still lacking. Here we show that scattering from a plasmonic nanoparticle, whose volume is smaller than 0.001 μm³, can be optically switched off with less than 100 μW power. Over 80% modulation depth is observed, and shows no degradation after repetitive switching. The spectral bandwidth approaches 100 nm. The underlying mechanism is suggested to be photothermal effects, and the effective single-particle nonlinearity reaches nearly 10⁻⁹ m²/W, which is to our knowledge the largest record of metallic materials to date. As a novel application, the non-bleaching and unlimitedly switchable scattering is used to enhance optical resolution to λ/5 (λ/9 after deconvolution), with 100-fold less intensity requirement compared to similar superresolution techniques. Our work not only opens up a new field of ultrasmall all-optical control based on scattering from a single nanoparticle, but also facilitates superresolution imaging for long-term observation.

Engineering optically triggered droplets for photoacoustic imaging and therapy

Liquid perfluorocarbon (PFC) droplets incorporating optical absorbers can be vaporized through photothermal heating using a pulsed laser source. Here, we report on the effect of droplet core material on the optical fluence required to produce droplet vaporization. We fabricate gold nanoparticle templated microbubbles filled with various PFC gases (C3F8, C4F10, and C5F12) and apply pressure to condense them into droplets. The core material is found to have a strong effect on the threshold optical fluence, with lower boiling point droplets allowing for vaporization at lower laser fluence. The impact of droplet size on vaporization threshold is discussed, as well as a proposed mechanism for the relatively broad distribution of vaporization thresholds observed within a droplet population with the same core material. We propose that the control of optical vaporization threshold enabled by engineering the droplet core may find application in contrast enhanced photoacoustic imaging and therapy.

Rapid, Reversible Release from Thermosensitive Liposomes Triggered by Near-Infra-Red Light

We present a novel drug carrier consisting of plasmonic hollow gold nanoshells (HGN) chemically tethered to liposomes made temperature sensitive with lysolipids (LTSL). Continuous-wave irradiation by physiologically friendly near infra-red light at 800 nm for 2.5 minutes at laser intensities an order of magnitude below that known to damage skin generates heating localized to the liposome membrane. The heating increases the liposome permeability in an irradiation dose-dependent, but reversible manner, resulting in rapid release of small molecules such as the self-quenching dye carboxyfluorescein or the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin, without raising the bulk temperature. The local rise in nanoshell temperature under laser irradiation was inferred by comparing dye release rates from the LTSL via bulk heating to that induced by irradiation. Laser-irradiation of LTSL enables precise control of contents release with low temperature gradients confined to areas irradiated by the laser focus. The combined effects of rapid local release and localized hyperthermia provide a synergistic effect as shown by a near doubling of androgen resistant PPC-1 prostate cancer cell toxicity compared to the same concentration of free doxorubicin.

Surface modification of silica particles with gold nanoparticles as an augmentation of gold nanoparticle mediated laser perforation

Gold nanoparticle mediated (GNOME) laser transfection/perforation fulfills the demands of a reliable transfection technique. It provides efficient delivery and has a negligible impact on cell viability. Furthermore, it reaches high-throughput applicability. However, currently only large gold particles (> 80 nm) allow successful GNOME laser perforation, probably due to insufficient sedimentation of smaller gold nanoparticles. The objective of this study is to determine whether this aspect can be addressed by a modification of silica particles with gold nanoparticles. Throughout the analysis, we show that after the attachment of gold nanoparticles to silica particles, comparable or better efficiencies to GNOME laser perforation are reached. In combination with 1 µm silica particles, we report laser perforation with gold nanoparticles with sizes down to 4 nm. Therefore, our investigations have great importance for the future research in and the fields of laser transfection combined with plasmonics.

Local and transient permeation events are associated with local melting of giant liposomes

We reveal that the gel to fluid phase transition causes spherical membrane vesicles to release a finite number of molecules in several consecutive and localized events. By locally melting Giant Unilamellar lipid Vesicles (GUVs), using an optically trapped gold nanoparticle (AuNP) as a local heat source, we establish a local phase transition on the spherical GUV membrane clearly visualized using a phase sensitive fluorescent marker. We measure transient permeation events through this transition zone visualized as de-quenching of calcein as it escapes the interior of the GUV. Since biological membranes share several features with melting membranes, like nanoscale domain formation and critical density fluctuations, similar passive membrane transport could potentially be abundant in living cells.

Highly effective hot spots for SERS signatures of live fibroblasts

Pre-formed silver-boron nanoparticles of 22 nm form pearl-like necklace nanostructures with interparticle junctions of less than 10 nm length in the matrix of polyethylene glycol (8000 Da). The silver necklace nanostructure is stable at 37 °C or 70 °C and also inside a live cell medium. A polyethylene glycol matrix with a shorter chain length (1000 Da) does not protect the nanoparticles against attraction, and random aggregates are formed. Silver necklace nanostructures exhibit strong Raman enhancement by more than ∼10(9) which is much higher than for silver-citrate or random silver-boron aggregates. The polymeric matrix of 8000 Da contributes strongly to the electromagnetic field enhancement and removes the chemical contribution to the surface Raman scattering increase. The stable interparticle junctions act as local hot spots for strong Raman scattering signals collected from live fibroblasts and allow systematic in situ studies.

Laser heating tunability by off-resonant irradiation of gold nanoparticles

Temperature changes in the vicinity of a single absorptive nanostructure caused by local heating have strong implications in technologies such as integrated electronics or biomedicine. Herein, the temperature changes in the vicinity of a single optically trapped spherical Au nanoparticle encapsulated in a thermo-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) shell (Au@pNIPAM) are studied in detail. Individual beads are trapped in a counter-propagating optical tweezers setup at various laser powers, which allows the overall particle size to be tuned through the phase transition of the thermo-responsive shell. The experimentally obtained sizes measured at different irradiation powers are compared with average size values obtained by dynamic light scattering (DLS) from an ensemble of beads at different temperatures. The size range and the tendency to shrink upon increasing the laser power in the optical trap or by increasing the temperature for DLS agree with reasonable accuracy for both approaches. Discrepancies are evaluated by means of simple models accounting for variations in the thermal conductivity of the polymer, the viscosity of the aqueous solution and the absorption cross section of the coated Au nanoparticle. These results show that these parameters must be taken into account when considering local laser heating experiments in aqueous solution at the nanoscale. Analysis of the stability of the Au@pNIPAM particles in the trap is also theoretically carried out for different particle sizes.

Gold nanoparticle mediated laser transfection for efficient siRNA mediated gene knock down

Laser based transfection methods have proven to be an efficient and gentle alternative to established molecule delivery methods like lipofection or electroporation. Among the laser based methods, gold nanoparticle mediated laser transfection bears the major advantage of high throughput and easy usability. This approach uses plasmon resonances on gold nanoparticles unspecifically attached to the cell membrane to evoke transient and spatially defined cell membrane permeabilization. In this study, we explore the parameter regime for gold nanoparticle mediated laser transfection for the delivery of molecules into cell lines and prove its suitability for siRNA mediated gene knock down. The developed setup allows easy usage and safe laser operation in a normal lab environment. We applied a 532 nm Nd:YAG microchip laser emitting 850 ps pulses at a repetition rate of 20.25 kHz. Scanning velocities of the laser spot over the sample of up to 200 mm/s were tested without a decline in perforation efficiency. This velocity leads to a process speed of ∼8 s per well of a 96 well plate. The optimal particle density was determined to be ∼6 particles per cell using environmental scanning electron microscopy. Applying the optimized parameters transfection efficiencies of 88% were achieved in canine pleomorphic adenoma ZMTH3 cells using a fluorescent labeled siRNA while maintaining a high cell viability of >90%. Gene knock down of d2-EGFP was demonstrated and validated by fluorescence repression and western blot analysis. On basis of our findings and established mathematical models we suppose a mixed transfection mechanism consisting of thermal and multiphoton near field effects. Our findings emphasize that gold nanoparticle mediated laser transfection provides an excellent tool for molecular delivery for both, high throughput purposes and the transfection of sensitive cells types.

Laser-induced cell detachment, patterning, and regrowth on gold nanoparticle functionalized surfaces

We report on the selective cell detachment from nanoengineered gold nanoparticle (AuNP) surfaces triggered by laser irradiation, which occurs in a nonthermal manner. The gold nanoparticle-based surfaces reveal good adhesion of NIH3T3 fibroblast cells. Patterning is achieved by lithographic microcontact printing, selective gold nanoparticle deposition, and by laser beam profiling. It is shown that the effectiveness of fibroblast cell detachment depends on the cell age, laser power, and AuNP patterning profile. Heat distribution and temperature rise around gold nanoparticle functionalized surfaces is modeled, revealing low heating of nanoparticles by laser illumination. The nonthermal photochemical mechanism of cell detachment due to production of reactive oxygen species under illumination of gold nanoparticles by green laser light is studied. We also demonstrate that cells migrate from unirradiated areas leading to their reattachment and surface recovery which is important for controlled spatial organization of cells in wound healing and tissue engineering. Research presented in this work is targeted at designing biointerfaces for cell cultures.

Nanowire heating by optical electromagnetic irradiation

The dissipative absorption of electromagnetic energy by 1D nanoscale structures at optical frequencies is applicable to several important phenomena, including biomedical photothermal theranostics, nanoscale photovoltaic materials, atmospheric aerosols, and integrated photonic devices. Closed-form analytical calculations are presented for the temperature rise within infinite circular cylinders with nanometer-scale diameters (nanowires) that are irradiated at right angles by a continuous-wave laser source polarized along the nanowire's axis. Solutions for the heat source are compared to both numerical finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulations and well-known Mie scattering cross sections for infinite cylinders. The analysis predicts that the maximum temperature increase is affected not only by the cylinder's composition and porosity but also by morphology-dependent resonances (MDRs) that lead to significant spikes in the local temperature at particular diameters. Furthermore, silicon nanowires with high thermal conductivities are observed to exhibit extremely uniform internal temperatures during electromagnetic heating to 1 part in 10(6), including cases where there are substantial fluctuations of the internal electric-field source term that generates the Joule heating. For a highly absorbing material such as carbon, much higher temperatures are predicted, the internal temperature distribution is nonuniform, and MDRs are not encountered.

Theoretical study of bone cancer therapy by plasmonic nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

Progress made by the scientific community in the understanding of cell receptors and metabolic pathways has led to discovery of chemical and protein agents which act as delivery vectors to specific tissues. Conjugating these agents to noble-metal nanoparticles allows for subsequent accumulation on or within targeted cells. Utilizing the unique light absorption properties of these nanoparticles then allows for photothermal heating of the particles and surrounding tissue.

DISCUSSION

The heat equations are solved for the case of gold nanoparticles in biological hard tissues, such as bone, for applications to two future cancer therapies: nanophotothermolysis and nanophotohyperthermia.

CONCLUSIONS

A survey of recent research in bone-targeting bioconjugates and simulations of nanoparticle thermal fields shows promise for these therapies in the near future.

Large-scale orientation dependent heating from a single irradiated gold nanorod

We quantify the extreme heating associated with resonant irradiation of individual gold nanorods by using a novel assay based on partitioning of lipophilic dyes between membrane phases. The temperature increase is sensitively dependent on the angle between the laser polarization and the orientation of the nanorod. A dramatic and irreversible decrease in the heating of a nanorod occurs at high-illumination intensities; this effect is attributed to surface melting of the nanorod causing it to restructure into a more spherical shape and lose its extreme photothermal properties.

Optimizing magnetic nanoparticle based thermal therapies within the physical limits of heating

Magnetic nanoparticle (mNP) based thermal therapies have demonstrated relevance in the clinic, but effective application requires an understanding of both its strengths and limitations. This study explores two critical limitations for clinical use: (1) maximizing localized mNP heating, while avoiding bulk heating due to inductive coupling of the applied field with the body and (2) the limits of treatable volumes, related to basic heat transfer. Two commercially available mNPs are investigated, one superparamagnetic and one ferromagnetic, thereby allowing a comparison between the two fundamental types of mNPs (both of which are being evaluated for clinical use). Important results indicate that in dispersed solutions, the superparamagnetic mNPs outperform on a per mass basis (2× better), but the ferromagnetic mNPs outperform on a per nanoparticle basis (170× better), at the fields of highest clinical relevance (approximately 100 kHz and 20 kA/m). We also demonstrate a new method of observing heating in microliter droplets of mNP solution, leading to scaling analyses that suggest treatable tumor volumes should be ≥2 mm in diameter (for mNP loading of ≥10 mg Fe/g tumor), to achieve therapeutic temperatures ≥43 °C. This technique also provides a novel platform for quantifying heating from microgram quantities of mNPs.

Nanoplasmonics for dual-molecule release through nanopores in the membrane of red blood cells

A nanoplasmonics-based opto-nanoporation method of creating nanopores upon laser illumination is applied for inducing diffusion and triggered release of small and large molecules from red blood cells (RBCs). The method is implemented using absorbing gold nanoparticle (Au-NP) aggregates on the membrane of loaded RBCs, which, upon near-IR laser light absorption, induce release of encapsulated molecules from selected cells. The binding of Au-NPs to RBCs is characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The process of release is driven by heating localized at nanoparticles, which impacts the permeability of the membrane by affecting the lipid bilayer and/or trans-membrane proteins. Localized heating and temperature rise around Au-NP aggregates is simulated and discussed. Research reported in this work is relevant for generating nanopores for biomolecule trafficking through polymeric and lipid membranes as well as cell membranes, while dual- and multi-molecule release is relevant for theragnostics and a wide range of therapies.

Optical properties of metallic nanoparticles: manipulating light, heat and forces at the nanoscale

We present to a general readership an overview of the rich variety of phenomena and applications that arise from the interaction of metallic nanoparticles with light. First, we present the fundamental physics of localized surface plasmon resonances, the most relevant theories and numerical methods, as well as optical detection schemes. Finally, we explain how the localized surface plasmon resonances are currently exploited for the nanoscale manipulation of light, heat and forces in various applications and experimental investigations.

Water-dispersible multifunctional hybrid nanogels for combined curcumin and photothermal therapy

We design a class of water-dispersible hybrid nanogels for intracellular delivery of hydrophobic curcumin. The core-shell structured hybrid nanogels were synthesized by coating the Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) with a hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) gel layer as inner shell, and a subsequent thin hydrophilic nonlinear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based gel layer as outer shell. The uniqueness of these hybrid nanogels lies in the integration of the functional building blocks for combined curcumin and photothermal therapy to significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy. The Ag/Au core NPs cannot only emit strong fluorescence for imaging and monitoring at the cellular level, but also exhibit strong absorption in the near-infrared (NIR) region for photothermal conversion. While the inner PS gel layer is introduced to provide strong hydrophobic interactions with curcumin for high drug loading yields, the external nontoxic and thermo-responsive PEG analog gel layer is designed to trigger the release of the pre-loaded curcumin either by variation of surrounding temperature or exogenous irradiation with NIR light. Such designed multifunctional hybrid nanogels are well suited for in vivo studies and clinical trials, thereby likely to bring this promising natural medicine of curcumin to the forefront of therapeutic agents for cancers and other diseases.

Geometrical characteristics and damage morphology of nodules grown from artificial seeds in multilayer coating

Nodules have been planted in an HfO(2)/SiO(2) multilayer system with absorptive gold nanoparticle seeds located on the surface of a substrate. The topography of nodules was scanned by an atomic force microscope and imaged by a scanning electron microscope. The underlying characteristics of nodules were revealed by a focused ion beam. The cross-sectional profiles reveal that nodules grown from small seeds have a continuous boundary and better mechanical stability. A laser-induced damage test shows that nodules decrease the laser-induced damage threshold by up to 3 times. The damage pits are exclusively caused by nodular ejection and triggered by the absorptive seeds. The distribution of electric field and average temperature rise in the nodules were analyzed. Theoretical results met experimental results very well. The strong absorptive seed and microlens effect of the nodule play important roles in laser-induced damage of a planted nodule.

Remarkable photothermal effect of interband excitation on nanosecond laser-induced reshaping and size reduction of pseudospherical gold nanoparticles in aqueous solution

An in situ spectroscopic study of the nanosecond laser-induced melting and size reduction of pseudospherical gold nanoparticles with 54 +/- 7 nm diameter allowed the observation of a heating efficiency that was very dependent on the excitation wavelength. A remarkably greater efficiency was observed for the photothermal effect of interband excitation than that of intraband excitation. This noteworthy observation is ascribed to an altered electron heat capacity, c(e), during photoexcitation depending on the excitation energy, which is a phenomenon that has not been realized previously. As a result, a 60% reduction of the specific heat capacity, c(p), compared to that of bulk gold was obtained for interband excitation at 266 nm whereas the c(p) value for the excitation of the intraband transition at 532 nm was unaltered. A semiquantitative explanation was given for this striking phenomenon induced by interband excitation in which excitation-relaxation cycles of electrons upon excitation of 5d electrons to the 6sp band lead to a reduced number of electrons contributing to the electron temperature rise in the vicinity of the Fermi level during the nanosecond laser pulse duration. By contrast, electronic excitation within the 6sp band results in no net reduction in the number of electrons near the Fermi level, giving rise to a value of c(p) similar to that of bulk gold. Our finding that the heat capacity of gold nanoparticles can be changed upon UV laser excitation is important for understanding the fundamental nature of noble metal nanoparticles. Furthermore, this finding might be useful for preparing new metal alloy particles as well as for manipulating the thermodynamic properties of the nanoparticles.

Direct measurements of heating by electromagnetically trapped gold nanoparticles on supported lipid bilayers

Absorption of electromagnetic irradiation results in significant heating of metallic nanoparticles, an effect which can be advantageously used in biomedical contexts. Also, metallic nanoparticles are presently finding widespread use as handles, contacts, or markers in nanometer scale systems, and for these purposes it is essential that the temperature increase associated with electromagnetic irradiation is not harmful to the environment. Regardless of whether the heating of metallic nanoparticles is desired or not, it is crucial for nanobio assays to know the exact temperature increase associated with electromagnetic irradiation of metallic nanoparticles. We performed direct measurements of the temperature surrounding single gold nanoparticles optically trapped on a lipid bilayer, a biologically relevant matrix. The lipid bilayer had incorporated fluorescent molecules which have a preference for either fluid or gel phases. The heating associated with electromagnetic radiation was measured by visualizing the melted footprint around the irradiated particle. The effect was measured for individual gold nanoparticles of a variety of sizes and for a variety of laser powers. The temperatures were highly dependent on particle size and laser power, with surface temperature increments ranging from a few to hundreds of degrees Celsius. Our results show that by a careful choice of gold nanoparticle size and strength of irradiating electromagnetic field, one can control the exact particle temperature. The method is easily applicable to any type of nanoparticle for which the photothermal effect is sought to be quantified.

Image patterned molecular delivery into live cells using gold particle coated substrates

An image-patterned molecular delivery system for mammalian cells is demonstrated by pulsed laser irradiation of gold particles immobilized on a substrate below a cell monolayer. Patterned cavitation bubble nucleation was captured using a time-resolved imaging system and molecular delivery verified by observing the uptake of a membrane-impermeable fluorescent dye, calcein. Delivery efficiency as high as 90% was observed and multiplexed, patterned dye delivery was demonstrated.

Experimental analysis of recoil effects induced by fluorescence photons

The momentum transfer to a scatterer from fluorescence photons was detected using an optical system that permits one to simultaneously measure the radiation force exerted on and fluorescence emission from the scatterer. The core of this technique is a partially metal covered dielectric bead optically trapped in a liquid with dye molecules. Fluorescence emission from the volume that includes the bead is measured simultaneously with the Brownian motion of the bead. The perturbed motion of the bead is a result of photon momentum transfer from the fluorescence of the dye to the trapped scatterer. The bead position fluctuations indicate the presence of the fluorescence and its bleaching nature. The results demonstrate the capability of the photonic force microscopy technique to be a complement to spectroscopy in the study of optical processes.

Heat generation by optically and thermally interacting aggregates of gold nanoparticles under illumination

The generation of heat by clusters and arrays of gold nanoparticles under illumination is investigated theoretically. The nanoparticles are embedded in a homogeneous dielectric medium, and the finite thermal resistance at the interface between the nanoparticle and the medium is taken into account. An analytic solution is derived for the case of a single nanoparticle. The T-matrix method is used to calculate the energy absorption efficiency of groups of nanoparticles, taking into account their optical interactions. Heat transfer equations are developed that take into account thermal interactions between nanoparticles. The equations are solved numerically using the finite element software COMSOL. Periodic boundary conditions are applied to treat the thermal interactions between the nanoparticles for arrays of nanoparticles. Results are presented for illumination by a standard xenon flash lamp. The thermal resistance at the nanoparticle-medium interface is found to strongly influence the nanoparticle temperature, but to have negligible influence on the temperature of the dielectric medium after a few tens of nanoseconds of exposure to the flash lamp pulse. Optical interactions are found to be important if particle centres are separated by about twice the particle diameter or less. Thermal interactions between nanoparticles via the medium are found to be the dominant factor in determining the temperature increase in the dielectric medium. The maximum temperature increase is proportional to the volume fraction of the nanoparticles in the medium.

Influence of laser parameters on nanoparticle-induced membrane permeabilization

Light-absorbing nanoparticles that are heated by short laser pulses can transiently increase membrane permeability. We evaluate the membrane permeability by flow cytometry assaying of propidium iodide and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-D) using different laser sources. The dependence of the transfection efficiency on laser parameters such as pulse duration, irradiant exposure, and irradiation mode is investigated. For nano- and also picosecond irradiation, we show a parameter range where a reliable membrane permeabilization is achieved for 10-kDa FITC-D. Fluorescent labeled antibodies are able to penetrate living cells that are permeabilized using these parameters. More than 50% of the cells are stained positive for a 150-kDa IgG antibody. These results suggest that the laser-induced permeabilization approach constitutes a promising tool for targeted delivery of larger exogenous molecules into living cells.

Influence of plasma treatment on laser-induced damage characters of HfO2 thin films at 355 nm

HfO(2) thin films were deposited by e-beam evaporation, and were post-treated with plasma under different flow rate ratios of argon to oxygen. By measuring the surface defect density, weak absorption, laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and damage morphology, the influence of the flow rate ratio of argon to oxygen on the laser-induced damage characters of HfO(2) thin films were analyzed. The experimental results show that plasma treatment is effective in reducing the surface defect density of thin films. Compared with the as-grown sample, the absorption reduction is obvious after plasma treatment when argon and oxygen flow rate ratio is 5:25, but the absorption increases gradually with the continued increase of argon and oxygen flow rate ratio. LIDT measurements in 1-on-1 mode demonstrate that plasma treatment is not effective in improving LIDT of the samples at 355 nm. Damage morphologies reveal that the LIDT is dominated by nanoscale absorbing defects in subsurface layers, which agrees well with our numerical simulation result based on a spherical absorber model.

Mechanisms of laser nanoparticle-based techniques for gene transfection-a calculation study

Cell plasma membranes can be transiently permeabilized to uptake exogenous molecules with high efficiency using a laser nanoparticle-based gene transfection technique. In combination with experimental results, a theoretical model is set up to calculate the temperature distribution and variance around the nanoparticles. This paper also provides a thorough discussion of the underlying mechanisms of cell permeabilization. We find that, rapid heating of the particles and the accompanying extreme temperature rise can lead to microbubble formation around laser-heated particles, which is the origin of photoacoustic effects and other nonlinear optical responses. This transient heat is also capable of causing protein denaturation through thermal inactivation and photochemistry. Furthermore, the dynamic mode that involves the overlapping of bubbles is presented. This mode can significantly increase the plasma membrane permeability of the cells without affecting their viability.

Imaging of cancer cells by multiphoton microscopy using gold nanoparticles and fluorescent dyes

Due to their unique optical properties, optical probes, including metal nanoparticles (NPs) and fluorescent dyes, are increasingly used as labeling tools in biological imaging. Using multiphoton microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) at 750-nm excitation, we recorded intensity and FLIM images from gold NPs (30 nm) and the fluorescent dye Alexa 488 (A488) conjugated with monoclonal ACT-1 antibodies as well as Hoechst 33258 (H258) after incubation with the lymphoma cell line (Karpas-299). From the FLIM images, we can easily discriminate the imaging difference between cells and optical probes according to their distinct fluorescence lifetimes (cellular autofluorescence: 1 to 2 ns; gold NPs: <0.02 ns; A488: 3.5 ns; H258: 2.5 ns). The NP-ACT-1 and A488-ACT-1 conjugates were bound homogeneously on the surface of cells, whereas H258 stained the cell nucleus. We demonstrate that the emission intensity of gold NPs is about ten times stronger than that of the autofluorescence of Karpas-299 cells at the same excitation power. Compared with fluorescent dyes, stronger emission is also observed from gold NPs. Together with their high photostability, these observations suggest that gold NPs are a viable alternative to fluorescent dyes for cellular imaging and cancer diagnosis.

Optical detection of intracellular cavitation during selective laser targeting of the retinal pigment epithelium: dependence of cell death mechanism on pulse duration

Selective laser targeting of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is an attractive method for treating RPE-associated disorders. We are developing a method for optically detecting intracellular microcavitation that can potentially serve as an immediate feedback of the treatment outcome. Thermal denaturation or intracellular cavitation can kill RPE cells during selective targeting. We examined the cell damage mechanism for laser pulse durations from 1 to 40 micros ex vivo. Intracellular cavitation was detected as a transient increase in the backscattered treatment beam. Cavitation and cell death were correlated for individual cells after single-pulse irradiation. The threshold radiant exposures for cell death (ED(50,d)) and cavitation (ED(50,c)) increased with pulse duration and were approximately equal for pulses of up to 10 micros. For 20 micros, the ED(50,d) was about 10% lower than the ED(50,c); the difference increased with 40-micros pulses. Cells were killed predominantly by cavitation (up to 10-micros pulses); probability of thermally induced cell death without cavitation gradually increases with pulse duration. Threshold measurements are discussed by modeling the temperature distribution around laser-heated melanosomes and the scattering function from the resulting cavitation. Detection of intracellular cavitation is a highly sensitive method that can potentially provide real-time assessment of RPE damage during selective laser targeting.

Current-induced magnetization switching with a spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope

Switching the magnetization of a magnetic bit by injection of a spin-polarized current offers the possibility for the development of innovative high-density data storage technologies. We show how individual superparamagnetic iron nanoislands with typical sizes of 100 atoms can be addressed and locally switched using a magnetic scanning probe tip, thus demonstrating current-induced magnetization reversal across a vacuum barrier combined with the ultimate resolution of spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Our technique allows us to separate and quantify three fundamental contributions involved in magnetization switching (i.e., current-induced spin torque, heating the island by the tunneling current, and Oersted field effects), thereby providing an improved understanding of the switching mechanism.

Thermodynamic damage mechanism of transparent films caused by a low-power laser

A new model for analyzing the laser-induced damage process is provided. In many damage pits, the melted residue can been found. This is evidence of the phase change of materials. Therefore the phase change of materials is incorporated into the mechanical damage mechanism of films. Three sequential stages are discussed: no phase change, liquid phase change, and gas phase change. To study the damage mechanism and process, two kinds of stress have been considered: thermal stress and deformation stress. The former is caused by the temperature gradient and the latter is caused by high-pressure drive deformation. The theory described can determine the size of the damage pit.