Controllable Synthesis of Au NRs and Its Flexible SERS Optical Fiber Probe with High Sensitivity

The surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS) optical fiber probes were successfully prepared by self-assembling on polyelectrolyte multilayers. Gold nanorods(Au NRs) were used as SERS enhancement material to give excellent biological affinity and stability to the SERS optical fiber probes. Au NRs were synthesized by seed growth method. The synergistic effect between AgNO_(3) and surfactant was investigated, and the highest yield was found when AgNO_(3) was 500 uL. Meanwhile, different SERS optical fiber probes were obtained by selecting silane coupling agent, polyelectrolyte multilayer and graphene oxide(GO) to treat quartz fiber. It was found that the SERS optical fiber probes obtained by the self-assembled on polyelectrolyte multilayers method performed better than those by other methods. In addition, Mapping was combined with finite element simulation to analyze the electromagnetic field distribution at the fiber end face.The electromagnetic field distribution of Au NRs was investigated, the difference of electromagnetic field intensity around the Au NRs with different arrangements was compared, the strongest signal was obtained when the Au NRs were head-to-head. Finally, sensitivity of the optimized SERS optical fiber probes could reach 10^(-9)mol/L, with excellent stability and repeatability.

Fiber lenses for ultra-small probes used in optical coherent tomography

We present a design, construction and characterization of different variations of GRIN and ball fiber lenses, which were recently proposed for ultra-small biomedical imaging probes. Those fiber lens modules are made of a single mode fiber and a GRIN or ball fiber lens with or without a fiber spacer between them. The lens diameters are smaller than 0.3 mm. We discuss design methods, fabrication techniques, and measuring performance of the fiber lenses. The experimental results are compared to their modeling results. The fabrication of a high quality beam director for both lens types is presented as well. These fiber integrated beam directors could be added on the tips of the fiber lenses for side-view probes. A needle probe made by these fiber lenses is demonstrated as a sample of the ultra-small probe for biomedical imaging application. In vivo human finger images acquired by a swept source optical coherence tomography using the fiber lenses with different beam profiles were shown, which indicates the important impact of

ACTIVATABLE SMART PROBES FOR MOLECULAR OPTICAL IMAGING AND THERAPY

Recent years have seen the design and implementation of many optical activatable smart probes.These probes are activatable because they change their optical properties and are smart because they can identify specific targets.This broad class of detection agents has allowed previously unperformed visualizations,facilitating the study of diverse biomolecules including enzymes,nucleic acids,ions and reactive oxygen species.Designed to be robust in an in vivo environment,these probes have been used in tissue culture cells and in live small animals.An emerging class of smart probes has been designed to harness the potency of singlet oxygen generating photosensitizers.Combining the discrimination of activatable agents with the toxicity of photosensitizers represents a new and powerful approach to disease treatment.This review highlights some applications of activatable smart probes with a focus on developments of the past decade.

3D printed fiber-optic nanomechanical bioprobe

Ultrasensitive nanomechanical instruments,e.g.atomic force microscopy(AFM),can be used to perform delicate biomechanical measurements and reveal the complex mechanical environment of biological processes.However,these instruments are limited because of their size and complex feedback system.In this study,we demonstrate a miniature fiber optical nanomechanical probe(FONP)that can be used to detect the mechanical properties of single cells and in vivo tissue measurements.A FONP that can operate in air and in liquids was developed by programming a microcantilever probe on the end face of a single-mode fiber using femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization nanolithography.To realize stiffness matching of the FONP and sample,a strategy of customizing the microcantilever’s spring constant according to the sample was proposed based on structure-correlated mechanics.As a proof-of concept,three FONPs with spring constants varying from 0.421 N m^(−1)to 52.6 N m^(−1)by more than two orders of magnitude were prepared.The highest microforce sensitivity was 54.5 nmμN^(−1)and the detection limit was 2.1 nN.The Young’s modulus of heterogeneous soft materials,such as polydimethylsiloxane,muscle tissue of living mice,onion cells,and MCF-7 cells,were successfully measured,which validating the broad applicability of this method.Our strategy provides a universal protocol for directly programming fiber-optic AFMs.Moreover,this method has no special requirements for the size and shape of living biological samples,which is infeasible when using commercial AFMs.FONP has made substantial progress in realizing basic biological discoveries,which may create new biomedical applications that cannot be realized by current AFMs.

Zemax-Based Optimum Structural Design of Probe of an Optical-Fiber Sensor

Bubble plumes are important during the process of air-sea exchange,and optical-fiber phase detection is a suitable way to observe bubble plumes entrained by breaking waves.This paper designs a new optical-fiber probe(OFP)made of sapphire to overcome the limitations of existing materials(e.g.,high brittleness,poor corrosion resistance,and narrow bandwidth)and thereby enhance the detection performance of the OFP by improving its structure.Based on total internal reflection and light refraction,a simulation model of the probe is established in the Zemax optical design software to optimize the probe tip and matching mode of the two probe tips.The results show that the optimum OFP tip is a conical sapphire one with a cone angle of 35°.Tests are then conducted on a bespoke OFP sensor,the results of which are consistent with those predicted theoretically.The simulation results lay the foundation for the integrated design of OFP sensors and the optimization of their internal optics.The findings could also be applied to OFPs with multiple tips.

Au@Ag Core-shell Nanorods Self-assembled on Polyelectrolyte Multilayers for Ultra-High Sensitivity SERS Fiber Probes

We demonstrated a chemical process in the fabrication of a SERS fiber probe with an ultrahigh sensitivity.The synthesis was carried out by preparing Au@Ag core-shell nanorods (Au@Ag-NRs) selfassembled on polyelectrolyte (PE) multilayers,for which Au@Ag-NRs were controlled by adjusting the silver layer thickness.The effect of silver layer thickness of Au@Ag-NRs on the SERS performance of the fiber probe was investigated.The SERS fiber probe shows the best performance when the silver layer thickness is controlled at 8.57 nm.Under the condition of optimizing silver layer thickness,the fiber probe exhibits ultra-high sensitivity (i e,10^(-10) M crystalline violet,CV),good reproducibility (i e,RSD of 3.5%) and stability.Besides,electromagnetic field distribution of the SERS fiber probe was also investigated.The strongest enhancement is found within the core of fiber,whereas a weakened electromagnetic field exists in the fiber cladding layer.The SERS fiber probe can be a good candidate in ultra-trace detection for biomedical and environmental areas.

Autonomous optical navigation of Mars probe aided by one-way Doppler measurements in capture stage

The optical navigation errors of Mars probe in the capture stage depend closely on which targets are selected to be observed in the Mars system.As for this problem,an integrated navigation scheme is proposed wherein the optical observation is aided by one-way Doppler measurements.The errors are then analyzed respectively for the optical observation and one-way Doppler measurements.The real-time calculating scheme which exploits the extended Kalman filter(EKF)framework is designed for the integrated navigation.The simulation tests demonstrate that the errors of optical navigation,which select the Mars moon as the observation target,are relatively smaller than those in the Mars-orientation optical navigation case.On one hand,the integrated navigation errors do not depend on the selecting pattern of optical observation targets.On the other hand,the integrated navigation errors are significantly reduced as compared with those in the optical-alone autonomous navigation mode.

Single Camera 3-D Coordinate Measuring System Based on Optical Probe Imaging

A new vision coordinate measuring system--single camera 3 D coordinate measuring system based on optical probe imaging is presented. A new idea in vision coordinate measurement is proposed. A linear model is deduced which can distinguish six freedom degrees of optical probe to realize coordinate measurement of the object surface. The effects of some factors on the resolution of the system are analyzed. The simulating experiments have shown that the system model is available.

Diagnostics of Parameters by Optical Emission Spectroscopy and Langmuir Probe in Mixtures (SiH_4/C_2H_4/Ar) Radio-Frequency Discharge

Optical emission spectroscopy and Langmuir Probe diagnostics were incorporated into the experiment, in which dust particles were formed in-situ by using reactive mixture gases （SiHa/C2H4/Ar） in a radio-frequency （RF） discharge plasma. The excitation temperature was first calculated by combining several optical emission spectra of argon lines and using a Boltzmann distribution to fit the experimental data, then the excitation temperature as functions of both gas pressure and RF power in SiH4/C2Ha/Ar discharges for different discharge conditions were obtained. Correspondingly, based on the measurement of the electron temperature by a Langmuir probe, the excitation temperature was compared with the electron temperature, and some discussions were presented. Finally the emission intensities of spectral lines of Si 390.6 ran, Si2＋ 380.6 nm and C＋ 426.7 nm were measured and presented as functions of pressure, RF power and flow rate of SiH4/C2H4.

Development of Optical Coherence Tomography Using KTN Optical Probe

We have developed optical coherence tomography system with KTN optical probe for a diagnosis in the orthopedic surgery fields. The present system demonstrates that biological image was measured by using KTN optical scanner for having degree of freedom in sample arm as optical coherence tomography. In addition, the developed optical coherence tomography (OCT) system has shown feasibility for imaging biological tissue in orthopedics. The system was shown to have a resolution 14.2 μm for biological tissue in few mm depths. The sensitivity to be measured is 92.3 dB.

Optical Noninvasive Diagnostic of Semiconductor Devices by Using Laser Beam Probe

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A SIMULTANEOUS MULTI-PROBE DETECTION LABEL-FREE OPTICAL-RESOLUTION PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY TECHNIQUE BASED ON MICROCAVITY TRANSDUCER

We demonstrate the feasibility of simultancous multi-probe detection for an optcal-resolution photoacoustic microscopy(OR-PAM)system.OR-P AM has elicited the attention of biomedical imaging researchers because of its optical absorption contrast and high spatial resolution with great imaging depth.OR-PAM allows label-free and noninvasive imaging by maximizing the optical absorption of endogenous biomolecules.However,given the inadequate absoption of some biomolcules,detection sensitivity at the same incident intensity requires improvement.In this study,a modulated continuous wave with power density less than 3mW/cm^(2)(1/4 of the ANSI safety limit)excited the weak photoacoustic(PA)signals of biological cells.A microcavity traneducer is developed based on the bulk modulus of gas five orders of magnitude lower than that of solid;air pressure variation is inversely proportional to cavity volume at the same temperature increase.Considering that a PA wave expands in various directions,detecting PA signals from different positions and adding them together can increase detection sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio.Therefore,we employ four detectors to acquire tiny PA signals simul-taneously.Experimental results show that the developed OR-PAM system allows the label-free imaging of cells with weak optical absorption.

Influence of the probe-sample interaction on scanning near-field optical microscopic images in the far field

We have studied the influence of probe-sample interaction in a scanning near-field optical microscopy （SNOM） in the far field by using samples with a step structure. For a sample with a step height of - λ/4, the SNOM image contrast between the two sides of the step changes periodically at different scan heights. For a step height of-λ/2, the image contrast remains approximately the same. The probe-sample interaction determines the SNOM image contrast here. The influence of different refractive indices of the sample has been also analysed by using a simple theoretical model.

New Measuring Temperature Setup with Optical Probe

Abstract: A new setup of measuring temperature is developed, which the probe is a micro- power consumptive one with CMOS circuit and is driven by optical power. For transmitting the measured signal and optical power signal in a long distance, the fiber technology is applied in this setup.

Plasma Uniformity in a Dual Frequency Capacitively Coupled Plasma Reactor Measured by Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Local measurement of plasma radial uniformity was performed in a dual frequency capacitively coupled argon plasma （DF-CCP） reactor using an optical probe. The optical probe collects the light emission from a small separate volume in plasma, thus enabling to diagnose the plasma uniformity for different experimental parameters. Both the gas pressure and the low- frequency （LF） power have apparent effects on the radial uniformity of argon plasma. With the increase in either pressure or LF power, the emission profiles changed from a bell-shaped to a double-peak distribution. The influence of a fused-silica ring around the electrodes on the plasma uniformity was also studied using the optical probe. Possible reasons that result in nonuniform plasmas in our experiments are discussed.

THE OPTICALLY PUMPED CESIUM BEAM FREQUENCY STANDARD AT PEKING UNIVERSITY

An optically pumped cesium beam frequency standard with bias-saturated absorption lock of laser diodes has been built up at Peking University.The frequency stability of 1.2×10-11/t1/2 was obtained.A new idea of sharp angle incidence of probing laser beam has been tested experimentally and fairly good results were achieved.Further improvements are discussed.

Photo-Thermal Induced Optical Scattering Modulation Sensor for Malaria Diagnosis

Malaria is one of the leading killer diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the disease is curable, early and accurate diagnosis is key to effective therapy. Existing malaria diagnostic techniques have low detection accuracy especially when the parasite load in the blood is low. In this paper, we report on a simple photo-thermal based technique for detection of the Plasmodium parasites’ biomarker (hemozoin) in blood smear samples. The technique has demonstrated 100% Plasmodium detection sensitivity and specificity from the ten blood smear test samples used.

Transmission Properties of Fiber Probes

Transmission properties of tapered fiber including right cone fiber and bend optical fiber are discussed.The transmission efficiency of the tapered fiber is measured.The curve of transmission efficiency versus taper cone angle is given.By the scalar wave equation and Gaussian approximation,transmission properties of the two kinds of tapered fibers are analyzed,the power losses caused by taper cone angle and by the bending are also calculated.From the experiments and theoretical analysis,it could come to a conclusion that the wider the taper cone angle is,the higher the transmission efficiency will be.

New Optical Fiber Pressure Sensor with Reflection Capsule

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