Open AccessNanoparticle-enabled terahertz imaging for cancer diagnosis
Author(s) -
Seung Jae Oh,
Jinyoung Kang,
Inhee Maeng,
Jin Suck Suh,
Yong Min Huh,
Seungjoo Haam,
JooHiuk Son
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.003469
Subject(s) - terahertz radiation , materials science , optics , optoelectronics , laser , plasmon , nanoparticle , surface plasmon , far infrared laser , nanotechnology , physics
This paper demonstrates the principle of the nanoparticle-contrast-agent-enabled terahertz imaging (CATHI) technique, which yields a dramatic sensitivity of the differential signal from cancer cells with nanoparticles. The terahertz (THz) reflection signal increased beam by 20% in the cancer cells with nanoparticles of gold nano-rods (GNRs) upon their irradiation with a infrared (IR) laser, due to the temperature rise of water in cancer cells by surface plasma ploritons. In the differential mode, the THz signal from the cancer cells with GNRs was 30 times higher than that from the cancer cells without GNRs. As the high sensitivity is achieved by the surface plasmon resonance through IR laser irradiation, the resolution of the CATHI technique can be as good as a few microns and THz endoscopy becomes more feasible.