Abstract

We demonstrate experimental results for measurement of thermo-elastic expansion of laser excited tissue phantoms containing near-infrared absorbing nanoparticles we call nanorose. Our technique uses excitation at 1210nm and PhS-OCT at 1328nm. We hypothesize the infrared absorbing nanoroses absorb incident laser energy in near infrared and cause thermoelastic expansion in the tissue phantoms. In addition, we expect to quantify the absorption coefficient of the nanorose samples via transmission measurements of these samples. Thermoelastic expansion in tissue phantoms was detected using Phase Sensitive Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography (PhS-OCT). Tissue phantoms containing dextran coated metallic nanorose capable of absorbing 1210nm light were prepared. Our results suggest tissue phantoms with increased nanorose concentration show higher thermoelastic expansion. Transmission measurements were taken of various nanorose concentrations in a glass chamber probing with a 1210nm diode laser. Our transmission results demonstrate an increased absorption coefficient of nanorose as nanorose concentration was increased. Our results of increased thermoelastic expansion in tissue phantoms and increased absorption coefficient in nanorose samples can be attributed to specific targeting of nanorose by 1210nm laser irradiation.

© 2009 Optical Society of America