Near-infrared ray exposure system for biological studies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018305679-A1
Application number	US-201715491137-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2017
Priority date	Apr 19, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus and methods of using the same for conducting photonic and optical treatments on biological samples with additional functions including temperature monitoring and real-time microscopic imaging are provided. The photonic and optical treatments can be conducted using light with wavelengths in the near-infrared region (NIR) on biological samples, including in-vitro brain cell cultures, in-vivo central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) tissue samples, and other body tissues. The apparatus and methods can be combined with magnetic nanoparticles treatment to accomplish non-invasive, on-demand drug targeting, brain cell specific gene delivery, and magnetized photo-biomodulation for treating various CNS disorders.

First claim

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a light source; a sample stage capable of fixing thereon a biological sample and adjusting a temperature of the sample, maintaining the temperature of the sample, or both; a microscope apparatus capable of capturing and processing real-time images of the sample as it is subjected to the light emitted from the light source; a temperature-sensing device connected to the sample stage and measuring a temperature of the sample stage; and a magnetic coil configured to provide the sample stage with a magnetic force, the light source having a power density in a range of from 1 W/cm 2 to 100 W/cm 2 , the light source and the microscope apparatus being disposed above the same top surface of the sample stage, and the magnetic coil being disposed below the sample stage.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the light source being a near-infrared (NIR) light source, and the NIR light of the NIR light source having a wavelength in a range of from 700 nm to 3000 nm.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , the wavelength of the NIR light being in a range of from 700 nm to 1000 nm, and the NIR light having a power density in a range of from 1 W/cm 2 to 10 W/cm 2 .

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the biological sample comprising brain cells selected from human primary astrocytes, SK-N-MC human neuroepithelioma cells, CIIME-5 human microglia cells, and a combination thereof.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the light source emitting intermittent light waves.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the light source emitting continuous light waves.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the microscope apparatus comprising a microscope selected from an electron microscope, a laser scanning microscope, and a scanning probe microscope, and
the microscope apparatus further comprising computer hardware and software capable of capturing and processing real-time images of the biological sample.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the temperature-sensing device monitoring the real-time temperature of the sample as it is fixed on or with the sample stage.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , the temperature-sensing device being selected from a thermometer, a thermistor, and a thermocouple.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , the temperature-sensing device being a thermocouple.

11 . An apparatus comprising:
a near-infrared (NIR) light source; a sample stage capable of fixing thereon a biological sample comprising brain cells and also capable of adjusting a temperature of the sample, maintaining the temperature of the sample, or both; a temperature-sensing device connected to the sample stage and measuring a temperature of the sample stage; a magnetic coil configured to provide the sample stage with a magnetic force; a microscope apparatus, the microscope apparatus comprising a microscope selected from an electron microscope, a laser scanning microscope, and a scanning probe microscope, the microscope apparatus further comprising computer hardware and software capable of capturing and processing real-time images of the sample as it is subjected to NIR light of the NIR light source, the NIR light of the NIR light source having a wavelength in a range of from 700 nm to 1000 nm and the NIR light source having a power density in a range of from 1 W/cm 2 to 10 W/cm 2 , and the NIR light source and the microscope being disposed above the same top surface of the sample stage, and the magnetic coil being disposed below the sample stage.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , the temperature-sensing device monitoring the real-time temperature of the sample as it is fixed on the sample stage.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , the temperature-sensing device being a thermocouple.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , the brain cells being selected from human primary astrocytes, SK-N-MC human neuroepithelioma cells, CHME-5 human microglia cells, and a combination thereof.

15 . A method of applying a photonic and optical treatment to a cell culture, the method comprising:
providing the cell culture needing treatment; providing an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a light source; a sample stage capable of fixing thereon the cell culture and adjusting a temperature of the cell culture, maintaining the temperature of the cell culture, or both; a temperature sensing device connected to the sample stage and measuring a temperature of the sample stage, the temperature sensing device monitoring the real-time temperature of the cell culture as it is fixed on the sample stage; a magnetic coil disposed below the sample stage and providing the sample stage with a magnetic force; and a microscope apparatus capable of capturing and processing real-time images of the cell culture, the light source and the microscope apparatus being disposed above the same top surface of the sample stage; and exposing the cell culture to the light emitted from the light source, the light having a power density in a range of from 1 W/cm 2 to 100 W/cm 2 , and the duration of exposure being between 1 minute and 3 minutes.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , the light source being a near-infrared (NIR) light source having a power density in a range of from 1 W/cm 2 to 10 W/cm 2 , and the NIR light of the NIR light source having a wavelength in a range of from 700 nm to 3000 nm.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , the cell culture being treated with nanoparticles prior to receiving the photonic and optical treatment.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , the nanoparticles being magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) that each comprises at least one of Fe 3 O 4 and Fe 2 O 3 , and the MNPs each having a size in a range of from 10 nm to 1 μM.

19 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the light source being a near-infrared (NIR) light source, the NIR light of the NIR light source having a wavelength in a range of from 700 nm to 1000 nm, and the NIR light having a power density in a range of from 1 W/cm 2 to 10 W/cm 2 ,
the temperature-sensing device monitoring the real-time temperature of the sample as it is fixed on or with the sample stage, and the biological sample being a sample treated with magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated by a light sensitive material.

22 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , the temperature-sensing device monitoring the real-time temperature of the sample as it is fixed on or with the sample stage, and
the biological sample being a sample treated with magnetic nanoparticles encapsulated by a light sensitive material.

Assignees

• Sagar Vidya
• Nair Madhavan
• The Florida International Univ Board Of Trustees

Inventors

• Sagar Vidya
• Nair Madhavan

Classifications

• G01N15/1468

  with spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle · CPC title

• G02B21/0076

  arrangements using fluorescence or luminescence · CPC title

• G01N2015/1006

  for cytology · CPC title

• C12N13/00 Primary

  Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves · CPC title

• G02B21/26

  Stages; Adjusting means therefor · CPC title