A Fiber Optic Sensor for Monitoring the Spectral Alterations and Depth in Ex Vivo and In Vivo Cryosurgery.

This article discusses how to monitor the freezing depth during cryotherapy using a fiber optic array sensor. The sensor was used to measure the backscattered and transmitted light from frozen and unfrozen ex vivo porcine tissue and in vivo human skin tissue (finger). The technique exploited the variations in optical diffusion properties of the frozen and unfrozen tissues to determine the extent of freezing. Ex vivo and in vivo measurements yielded comparable results, despite spectral variations attributable to the hemoglobin absorption peak in the human frozen and unfrozen tissues. However, because the spectral fingerprints of the freeze-thaw process in the ex vivo and in vivo experiments were similar, we could extrapolate the maximum depth of freezing. Therefore, this sensor has the potential to be utilized for monitoring cryosurgery in real time.

Silver Nanoparticles from Oregano Leaves' Extracts as Antimicrobial Components for Non-Infected Hydrogel Contact Lenses.

The oregano leaves' extract (ORLE) was used for the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs(ORLE)). ORLE and AgNPs(ORLE) (2 mg/mL) were dispersed in polymer hydrogels to give the pHEMA@ORLE_2 and pHEMA@AgNPs(ORLE)_2 using hydroxyethyl-methacrylate (HEMA). The materials were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD), thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), derivative thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (DTG/DSC), ultraviolet (UV-Vis), and attenuated total reflection mode (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopies in solid state and UV-Vis in solution. The crystallite size value, analyzed with XRPD, was determined at 20 nm. The antimicrobial activity of the materials was investigated against Gram-negative bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The Gram-positive ones of the genus of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) are known to be involved in microbial keratitis by the means of inhibitory zone (IZ), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The IZs, which developed upon incubation of P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. epidermidis, and S. aureus with paper discs soaked in 2 mg/mL of AgNPs(ORLE), were 11.7 ± 0.7, 13.5 ± 1.9, 12.7 ± 1.7, and 14.3 ± 1.7 mm. When the same dose of ORLE was administrated, the IZs were 10.2 ± 0.7, 9.2 ± 0.5, 9.0 ± 0.0, and 9.0 ± 0.0 mm. The percent of bacterial viability when they were incubated over the polymeric hydrogel discs of pHEMA@AgNPs(ORLE)_2 was interestingly low (66.5, 88.3, 77.7, and 59.6%, respectively, against of P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. epidermidis, and S. aureus) and those of pHEMA@ORLE_2 were 89.3, 88.1, 92.8, and 84.6%, respectively. Consequently, pHEMA@AgNPs(ORLE)_2 could be an efficient candidate toward the development of non-infectious contact lenses.

Shaping Beam Profiles Using Plastic Optical Fiber Tapers with Application to Ice Sensors.

Using either bulk or fiber optics the profile of laser beams can be altered from Gaussian to top-hat or hollow beams allowing enhanced performance in applications like laser cooling, optical trapping, and fiber sensing. Here, we report a method based on multimode Plastic Optical Fibers (POF) long-tapers, to tweak the beam profile from near Gaussian to a hollow beam, by generating surface irregularities on the conical sections of the taper with a heat-and-pull technique. Furthermore, a cutback technique applied on long tapers expanded the output beam profile by more than twice the numerical aperture (NA) of the fiber. The enhanced sensitivity and detection efficiency of the extended profile was tested on a fiber optical ice sensor related to aviation safety.

Photosensitivity of ion-exchanged Er-doped phosphate glass using 248nm excimer laser radiation.

The photosensitivity to 248nm excimer laser radiation of Er-doped Schott IOG-1 phosphate glass is presented. The photosensitive mechanism is investigated by employing a grating recording process. Index changes of up to ~2.0x10(-3) were measured in silver ion-exchanged samples using diffraction efficiency measurements; whereas changes of only ~10(-5) were measured for non-ion-exchanged samples. Absorption measurements allowed the identification of specific color center bands, which were attributed to the glass matrix and to the silver ions. Investigation of the exposed ion-exchanged glass using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis revealed that in addition to the color centers formed, silver ion migration and ionization contribute significantly to the UV-induced index changes.