Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating cell proliferation disorders comprising (1) administering to the subject at least one activatable pharmaceutical agent that is capable of activation by a simultaneous two photon absorption event and of effecting a predetermined cellular change when activated, (2) administering at least one plasmonics-active agent to the subject, and (3) applying an initiation energy from an initiation energy source to the subject, wherein the plasmonics-active agent enhances or modifies the applied initiation energy, such that the enhanced or modified initiation energy activates the activatable pharmaceutical agent by the simultaneous two photon absorption event in situ, thus causing the predetermined cellular change to occur, wherein said predetermined cellular change treats the cell proliferation related disorder, and the use of plasmonics enhanced photospectral therapy (PEPST) and exiton-plasmon enhanced phototherapy (EPEP) in the treatment of various cell proliferation

Abstract: Plasmonics-active nanostructure substrates—developed on a wafer scale in a reliable and reproducible manner such that these plasmonics-active nanostructures have nano-scale gaps (that include but are not limited to sub-10 nm gaps or sub-5 nm gaps) that provide the highest EM field enhancement between neighboring plasmonics-active metallic or metal-coated nanostructures. The plasmonics-active nanostructure substrates relate to environmental sensing based on SERS, SPR, LSPR, and plasmon enhanced fluorescence based sensing as well as for developing plasmonics enhanced devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, and light sources. Controllable development of sub-2 nm gaps between plasmonics-active nanostructures can also be achieved. Also, the size of the nano-scale gap regions can be tuned actively (e.g., by the application of voltage or current) to develop tunable sub-5 nm gaps between plasmonic nanostructures in a controllable manner.

Abstract: A functionalized nanoparticle, having a core, optionally having a shell on at least a portion thereof, wherein the core contains a material that can convert applied X-ray energy into emitted UV energy and wherein the shell, when present, contains a plasmonics active material; wherein the nanoparticle has on a surface thereof at least one psoralen compound capable of activation by the emitted UV energy, and the use of the functionalized nanoparticle in a method of treating a cell proliferation disorder such as cancer.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide-based SERS molecular probe (SMP) includes a nanoparticle having at least a metal component, and at least one pin loop, the pin loop including a loop sequence complementary to at least one target sequence, a first stem attached to one end of the loop sequence, a second stem attached to the other end of the loop sequence, and at least one SERS active label attached to the first stem. The nanoparticle is attached to the second stem. The probe generates a stronger SERS signal upon irradiation with excitation radiation when not bound to the target sequence as compared to the SERS signal generated following hybridization of the probe with the target sequence.

Abstract: Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by placing a nanoparticle having a metallic shell on at least a fraction of a surface in a vicinity of a target structure in a subject and applying an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The nanoparticle is configured, upon exposure to a first wavelength ?1, to generate a second wavelength ?2 of radiation having a higher energy than the first wavelength ?1.

Abstract: Psoralen compounds of Formula (I): wherein (N+ Aryl) is a member selected from the group consisting of nitrogen containing aromatic heterocycles of formulae (i)-(iii): wherein Z is a group of formula: wherein R is C1-C30 hydrocarbyl, which may be linear, branched or cyclic and contains from 1 to 15 carbon-carbon double bonds, which may be conjugated or unconjugated with one another or may include an aryl ring, and may contain one or more substituents; R1 is hydrogen, aryl, heteroaryl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkene-aryl, alkene-heteroaryl, alkene-heterocyclyl, alkene-cycloalkyl, fused cycloalkylaryl, fused cycloalkylheteroaryl, fused heterocyclylaryl, fused heterocyclyheteroaryl, alkylene-fused cycloalkylaryl, alkylene-fused cycloalkylheteroaryl, alkylene-fused heterocyclylaryl, alkylene-fused heterocyclyheteroaryl; n is an integer from 1 to 8 and X is a pharmaceutically acceptable counter ion; and their use in methods for the treatment of a cell proliferat

Abstract: A system for energy upconversion and/or down conversion and a system for producing a photostimulated reaction in a medium. These systems include 1) a nanoparticle configured, upon exposure to a first wavelength ?1 of radiation, to generate a second wavelength ?2 of radiation having a higher energy than the first wavelength ?1 and 2) a metallic structure disposed in relation to the nanoparticle. A physical characteristic of the metallic structure is set to a value where a surface plasmon resonance in the metallic structure resonates at a frequency which provides a spectral overlap with either the first wavelength ?1 or the second wavelength ?2, or with both ?1 and ?2. The system for producing a photostimulated reaction in a medium includes a receptor disposed in the medium in proximity to the nanoparticle which, upon activation by the second wavelength ?2, generates the photostimulated reaction.

Abstract: Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by application of an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The methods may further be performed by application of an initiation energy to a subject in situ to activate a pharmaceutical agent directly or via an energy modulation agent, optionally in the presence of one or more plasmonics active agents, thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure. Kits containing products or compositions formulated or configured and systems for use in practicing these methods.

Abstract: The use of plasmonics enhanced photospectral therapy (PEPST) and exiton-plasmon enhanced phototherapy (EPEP) in the treatment of various cell proliferation disorders, and the PEPST and EPEP agents and probes used therein.

Abstract: A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide-based SERS molecular probe (SMP) includes a nanoparticle having at least a metal component, and at least one pin loop, the pin loop including a loop sequence complementary to at least one target sequence, a first stem attached to one end of the loop sequence, a second stem attached to the other end of the loop sequence, and at least one SERS active label attached to the first stem. The nanoparticle is attached to the second stem. The probe generates a stronger SERS signal upon irradiation with excitation radiation when not bound to the target sequence as compared to the SERS signal generated following hybridization of the probe with the target sequence.

Abstract: A Raman integrated sensor system for the detection of targets including biotargets includes at least one sampling platform, at least one receptor probe disposed on the sampling platform, and an integrated circuit detector system communicably connected to the receptor. The sampling platform is preferably a Raman active surface-enhanced scattering (SERS) platform, wherein the Raman sensor is a SERS sensor. The receptors can include at least one protein receptor and at least one nucleic acid receptor.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and associated system includes the steps of exposing at least one sample location with excitation radiation through a single optical waveguide or a single optical waveguide bundle, wherein the sample emits emission radiation in response to the excitation radiation. The same single optical waveguide or the single optical waveguide bundle receives at least a portion of the emission radiation from the sample, thus providing co-registration of the excitation radiation and the emission radiation. The wavelength of the excitation radiation and emission radiation is synchronously scanned to produce a spectrum upon which an image can be formed. An increased emission signal is generated by the enhanced overlap of the excitation and emission focal volumes provided by co-registration of the excitation and emission signals thus increasing the sensitivity as well as decreasing the exposure time necessary to obtain an image.

Abstract: A scanning tunable detection system and related method for analyzing samples includes a source of time varying excitation signals and a tunable optical filter for selectively transmitting time-varying optical signals emanated from a sample following irradiation with the time varying excitation signals. A detector is provided for converting the time-varying optical signals to electrical detection signals. The system can identify components in a sample using phase sensitive or time sensitive detection. A slew scan mode can be used to permit slow scanning through spectral regions rich in information but quickly in regions without such information.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and associated system includes the steps of exposing at least one sample location with excitation radiation through a single optical waveguide or a single optical waveguide bundle, wherein the sample emits emission radiation in response to the excitation radiation. The same single optical waveguide or the single optical waveguide bundle receives at least a portion of the emission radiation from the sample, thus providing co-registration of the excitation radiation and the emission radiation. The wavelength of the excitation radiation and emission radiation is synchronously scanned to produce a spectrum upon which an image can be formed. An increased emission signal is generated by the enhanced overlap of the excitation and emission focal volumes provided by co-registration of the excitation and emission signals thus increasing the sensitivity as well as decreasing the exposure time necessary to obtain an image.

Abstract: An oligonucleotide-based SERS molecular probe (SMP) includes a nanoparticle having at least a metal component, and at least one pin loop, the pin loop including a loop sequence complementary to at least one target sequence, a first stem attached to one end of the loop sequence, a second stem attached to the other end of the loop sequence, and at least one SERS active label attached to the first stem. The nanoparticle is attached to the second stem. The probe generates a stronger SERS signal upon irradiation with excitation radiation when not bound to the target sequence as compared to the SERS signal generated following hybridization of the probe with the target sequence.

Abstract: An integrated circuit based analyte detection system includes a plurality of bioprobe microarrays, each of the microarrays having a plurality of probe elements for combining with at least one target molecule. The probe elements generate an identifiable signal when combined with target molecules responsive to incident electromagnetic radiation. Structure is provided for translating the microarrays, allowing microarrays used by the system to be replaced by other microarrays. An integrated circuit microchip includes a plurality of detection channels to which the probe elements are brought into optical alignment.

Abstract: A scanning tunable detection system and related method for analyzing samples includes a source of time varying excitation signals and a tunable optical filter for selectively transmitting time-varying optical signals emanated from a sample following irradiation with the time varying excitation signals. A detector is provided for converting the time-varying optical signals to electrical detection signals. The system can identify components in a sample using phase sensitive or time sensitive detection. A slew scan mode can be used to permit slow scanning through spectral regions rich in information but quickly in regions without such information.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring vapor phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a high-temperature environment has an excitation source producing electromagnetic radiation, an optical path having an optical probe optically communicating the electromagnetic radiation received at a proximal end to a distal end, a spectrometer or polychromator, a detector, and a positioner coupled to the first optical path. The positioner can slidably move the distal end of the optical probe to maintain the distal end position with respect to an area of a material undergoing combustion. The emitted wavelength can be directed to a detector in a single optical probe 180° backscattered configuration, in a dual optical probe 180° backscattered configuration or in a dual optical probe 90° side scattered configuration. The apparatus can be used to monitor an emitted wavelength of energy from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon as it fluoresces in a high temperature environment.

Abstract: An integrated biosensor system for the simultaneously detection of a plurality of different types of targets includes at least one sampling platform, the sampling platform including a plurality of receptors for binding to the targets. The plurality of receptors include at least one protein receptor and at least one nucleic acid receptor. At least one excitation source of electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency is provided for irradiating the receptors, wherein electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency different from the first frequency is emitted in response to irradiating when at least one of the different types of targets are bound to the receptor probes. An integrated circuit detector system having a plurality of detection channels is also provided for detecting electromagnetic radiation at said second frequency, the detection channels each including at least one detector.