Spectrophotometer for exploratory photoacoustic spectroscopy and molecular theragnostics

人们正在开发新的方法来光学表征生物材料、组织和组织工程模块。这些方法包括依赖于光散射和吸收的传统方法，如近红外成像，以及包括光声成像在内的新方法。此外，小型纳米颗粒正在被开发成对比剂，与上述方法一起用于早期发现肿瘤并进行治疗。瑞尔森大学（Ryerson University）的生物医学光学小组今年增加了两名新教员，他们在很大程度上依赖于了解所研究材料的光学特性。在这项资助中，要求使用高端分光光度计来测量生物材料和组织工程模块的光学特性。该仪器具有足够的灵敏度，可以探测到从大大降低光强或根本不改变光强的材料发出的光，但更重要的是，它能够测量许多不同波长的光。这些特性将极大地扩展实验条件的范围，可以用于光学表征生物材料和组织工程结构。因此，预计该仪器将帮助许多研究生和高素质人员进行所需的测量，以了解所使用的生物材料的光学特性。

New methods are being developed to optically characterize biomaterials, tissues and tissue engineered modules. These methods include more conventional methods that rely on optical scattering and absorption such as near infrared imaging, and novel methods that include photoacoustic imaging. Moreover, small nanoparticles are being developed as contrast agents that would be used with the methods mentioned above to detect tumors early and to then treat them. The biomedical optics group at Ryerson University added two new faculty members this year that heavily rely on knowing the optical properties of the materials examined. In this grant, a high-end spectrophotometer is requested to achieve the measurement of the optical properties of biomaterials and tissue engineered modules. The instrument has sufficient sensitivity to detect light from materials that either greatly reduce the light intensity or do not change it at all, but also more importantly would be able to make the measurement for many different wavelengths of light. These attributes will greatly expand the range of experimental conditions that can be used optically characterize the biomaterials and tissue engineered constructs. Therefore, it is anticipated that the instrument will help many graduate students and highly qualified personnel in making the measurements required to understand the optical properties of the biomaterials being used.