Abstract:
Photothermolysis is the process that converts radiation energy into thermal energy, which results in the destruction of surrounding tissues or cells through thermal diffusion. Laser therapy that is based on photothermolysis has been a widely used treatment for various skin diseases such as skin cancers and port-wine stains. It offers several benefits such as non-invasiveness and selective treatment. However, the use of light, e.g., laser, for safe and effective photothermolysis becomes challenging due to the limited penetration of light into skin tissue as well as the presence of melanin, which absorbs this light. To solve the current issues, we propose an optical microneedle-lens array (OMLA) coated with gold in this work to directly deliver light to targeted skin layers without being absorbed by surrounding tissues as well as melanin, which results in the improvement of the efficiency of photothermal therapy. We developed a novel fabrication method, frame-guided micromolding, to prepare the OMLA by assembling two negative molds with simultaneous alignment. In addition, evaluations of the optical and heat transfer characteristics of the OMLA were performed. We expect our developed OMLA to play a crucial role in realizing more effective laser therapy by allowing the precise delivery of photons to the target area.
摘要:
光热解是将辐射能转化为热能的过程,通过热扩散导致周围组织或细胞的破坏。基于光热解的激光治疗已被广泛用于治疗各种皮肤疾病,例如皮肤癌和葡萄酒色斑。它提供了一些好处,如非侵入性和选择性治疗。然而,光的使用,例如,激光,对于安全和有效的光热解变得具有挑战性,由于光进入皮肤组织的有限渗透以及黑色素的存在,它吸收了这种光。为了解决当前的问题,在这项工作中,我们提出了一种涂有金的光学微针透镜阵列(OMLA),可以直接将光传递到目标皮肤层,而不会被周围组织以及黑色素吸收,从而提高了光热治疗的效率。我们开发了一种新颖的制造方法,框架引导的微成型,通过组装两个同时对齐的阴模来准备OMLA。此外,对OMLA的光学和传热特性进行了评估。我们希望我们开发的OMLA能够通过将光子精确传递到目标区域,在实现更有效的激光治疗方面发挥关键作用。