Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to a system. According to various embodiments the present disclosure provides a system. The system includes a movable sample stage configured to receive a sample. The movable sample stage includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. A portion of the first major surface and the second major surface can be transparent. An excitation light source is aligned with and is in optical communication with the first major surface of the sample stage. A microscope objective is disposed on the second major surface and is substantially aligned with the excitation light source. A laser source is in optical communication with the sample stage.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods, of treating a skin abnormality in a mammalian subject, that involve introducing, into a vasculature of the subject, red blood cells (RBCs) that comprise a photosensitive compound; and then permitting to pass a time-period sufficient for some of the RBCs to enter a region of the subject that comprises the skin abnormality; and then exposing RBCs in the region to an amount of radiation energy sufficient to result in the photosensitive compound mediating a hyperthermic therapy, a thermal therapy, an oxygen singlet therapy, a radical molecule therapy, or a combination thereof on the skin abnormality. In some embodiments, the photosensitive compound comprises a dye and is substantially encapsulated within the RBCs. In some embodiments, the radiation energy consists essentially of radiation wavelengths absorbed substantially more efficiently by the photosensitive compound than by an epidermal tissue of the subject.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods, of treating a skin abnormality in a mammalian subject, that involve introducing, into a vasculature of the subject, red blood cells (RBCs) that comprise a photosensitive compound; and then permitting to pass a time-period sufficient for some of the RBCs to enter a region of the subject that comprises the skin abnormality; and then exposing RBCs in the region to an amount of radiation energy sufficient to result in the photosensitive compound mediating a hyperthermic therapy, a thermal therapy, an oxygen singlet therapy, a radical molecule therapy, or a combination thereof on the skin abnormality. In some embodiments, the photosensitive compound comprises a dye and is substantially encapsulated within the RBCs. In some embodiments, the radiation energy consists essentially of radiation wavelengths absorbed substantially more efficiently by the photosensitive compound than by an epidermal tissue of the subject.

Abstract: Novel phototherapeutic methods and compositions are described herein. Nanoparticle-assembled microcapsules as a new type of delivery vehicle for photosensitive compounds may be synthesized through a two-step assembly process. Charged polymer chains and counterions may be combined with a photosensitive compound to form photosensitive aggregates, and then nanoparticles may be combined with the aggregates to form the microcapsules. The shell may be composed of nanoparticles and/or polymer, and the core interior may contain the photosensitive compound. Formation occurs rapidly (on the order of seconds) and the conditions are very mild (at room temperature, in aqueous solution, and at neutral pH). The microcapsule synthesis is highly suitable as an encapsulation method, particularly for a charged photosensitive molecule like ICG.

Abstract: A nano-capsule construct for imaging and therapeutic uses and method for production are provided. One nano-probe embodiment based on genome-depleted plant brome mosaic virus (BMV) whose interior is doped with indocyanine green (ICG), an FDA-approved near infrared fluorescent dye, is used to illustrate the invention. The material encapsulated in viral shell components may be coated with functionalized coatings such as branched, dendritic polymer coatings to improve longevity and distribution in the body as well as antibody conjugation for increased target specificity. The constructs can also be coated with ferromagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, enabling the ICG-containing capsules to be used as nano-probes with the capability of being detected in both optical and magnetic resonance imaging. The capsules may be produced by purifying a plant or animal viruses and disassembling the viruses to provide virus shell components.

Abstract: Novel phototherapeutic methods and compositions are described herein. Nanoparticle-assembled microcapsules as a new type of delivery vehicle for photosensitive compounds may be synthesized through a two-step assembly process. Charged polymer chains and counterions may be combined with a photosensitive compound to form photosensitive aggregates, and then nanoparticles may be combined with the aggregates to form the microcapsules. The shell may be composed of nanoparticles and/or polymer, and the core interior may contain the photosensitive compound. Formation occurs rapidly (on the order of seconds) and the conditions are very mild (at room temperature, in aqueous solution, and at neutral pH). The microcapsule synthesis is highly suitable as an encapsulation method, particularly for a charged photosensitive molecule like ICG.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving hearing by irradiating the cochlea with a laser beam. In one embodiment, an apparatus for improving hearing comprises a laser source that emits at least one laser beam to irradiate at least a portion of a basilar membrane. The laser source emits the at least one laser beam under suitable conditions to change a frequency response of the basilar membrane. In an embodiment, the laser source irradiates the cochlea at a defined pulse duration to change the physical properties of the cochlea. The irradiated portion of the cochlea may be the basilar membrane.

Abstract: A method for performing laser treatment of biological tissues is performed by cooling a selected portion of the biological tissue for a predetermined first time period to establish a predetermined nonequilibrium dynamic temperature gradient through the tissue so that substantially only the selected portion of the biological tissue is cooled by a predetermined minimum temperature drop. The temperature gradient is established by providing a spurt of a predetermined amount of cryogenic liquid in direct contact with the biological tissue. A superficial and deeper part of the selected portion of the biological tissue is immediately irradiated for a time period which is approximately equal to or in excess of one millisecond. The irradiation is effective to thermally treat the deeper part of the biological tissue while leaving the superficial part of the biological tissue substantially undamaged.

Abstract: Cryogen spray cooling of skin surface with millisecond cryogen spurts is an effective method for establishing a controlled temperature distribution in tissue and protecting the epidermis from nonspecific thermal injury during laser mediated dermatological procedures. Control of humidity level, spraying distance and cryogen boiling point is material to the resulting surface temperature. Decreasing the ambient humidity level results in less ice formation on the skin surface without altering the surface temperature during the cryogen spurt. For a particular delivery nozzle, increasing the spraying distance to 85 millimeters lowers the surface temperature. The methodology comprises establishing a controlled humidity level in the theater of operation of the irradiation site of the biological tissues before and/or during the cryogenic spray cooling of the biological tissue. At cold temperatures calibration was achieved by mounting a thermistor on a thermoelectric cooler.

Abstract: Successful laser treatment of hemangiomas requires selective photocoagulation of subsurface targeted blood vessels without thermal damage to the overlying epidermis. An apparatus for in vivo exposure of laser radiation from a continuous Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm delivers repetitive cryogen spurts, each having a duration of the order of milliseconds during continuous laser irradiation. Control of the cryogen spray cooling is achieved through monitoring of the radiometric surface temperature of the tissue site and either controlling the repetition rate of the cryogen spurts according to temperature or according to a threshold temperature of the irradiated surface and/or repetition rate of the cryogen spurts according to power density and the duration of continuous irradiation.