Bio-photonics and medical engineering

1) Magnetically triggerable microporous sponges for on-demand delivery of an anti-cancer drugs

Magnetically triggerable microporous sponges (Top) and Mouse intestine section labeled with fluorescent dyes (bottom)

Collaborator: TexasPharmacy

  • The above images show magnetically triggerable microporous sponges (top) and mouse intestine section labeled with fluorescent dyes (bottom)

  • Colorectal cancer (CRC), is the development of cancer from the colon (parts of the large intestine.
  • Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stools. Targeted drug delivery is aimed to reduce the effects of drugs within the patient
  • Non contact metrology is used to characterize the compression of the microporous sponges at a range of different compositions (pre-polymer / curing agent ) for on demand anticancer drug delivery.
  • The exact amount of drug delivered is characterized using Selective plane illumination allowing its quantification with pico to microliter resolution.
  • Determining the magnetic field relation to the sponge compression is crucial for the exact delivery of drug on the patient

2) Non contact metrology: Characterization of catheters for aortic valve implantation

Top: Healthy vs stenotic valve. Bottom: recorded data from non compliant aortic balloon

Collaborator: NHS

  • The above image shows Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (top) and Balloon calibration curve (bottom)
  • Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is a simple and low-cost treatment method for patients with severe aortic stenosis.
  • As the BAV procedural technique is not well standardised it is likely that inflations often reach well above the rated burst pressure of individual devices.
  • Non contact metrology is used to allow measurement of BAV balloons at a range of pressures corresponding to those used in the real world during BAV procedures.
  • Determining the exact balloon size is paramount for minimizing the risks of coronary occlusion, annular damage or THV embolization during transcatheter heart valve (THV) implantation.

3) Optoelectronic: Laser sources for biomedical applications

The image shows a high peak-power picosecond quantum-dot-based external-cavity mode-locked laser and tapered optical amplifier

Collaborators: ICFO, Aston

  • The image shows a high peak-power picosecond quantum-dot-based external-cavity mode-locked laser and tapered optical amplifier

  • Ultrashort pulsed lasers are key devices for its use on biomedical applications such as nonlinear imaging.
  • These lase’s footprint and price (> £50K) has limited its widespread adoption for biomedical applications.
  • We aim to produce alternative ultrashort pulsed laser technologies based on quantum dots, reducing its price and footprint to be used for biomedical applications
  • Potential applications include lab-on-a-chip devices, micro-endoscopes and non linear microscopy.