Bioabsorbable polymer optical waveguides for deep-tissue photomedicine

Sedat Nizamoglu, Malte C. Gather, Matjaž Humar, Myunghwan Choi, Seonghoon Kim, Ki Su Kim, Sei Kwang Hahn, Giuliano Scarcelli, Mark Randolph, Robert W. Redmond and Seok Hyun Yun ()
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Sedat Nizamoglu: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Malte C. Gather: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Matjaž Humar: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Myunghwan Choi: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Seonghoon Kim: Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Ki Su Kim: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Sei Kwang Hahn: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Giuliano Scarcelli: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Mark Randolph: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Robert W. Redmond: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
Seok Hyun Yun: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Advances in photonics have stimulated significant progress in medicine, with many techniques now in routine clinical use. However, the finite depth of light penetration in tissue is a serious constraint to clinical utility. Here we show implantable light-delivery devices made of bio-derived or biocompatible, and biodegradable polymers. In contrast to conventional optical fibres, which must be removed from the body soon after use, the biodegradable and biocompatible waveguides may be used for long-term light delivery and need not be removed as they are gradually resorbed by the tissue. As proof of concept, we demonstrate this paradigm-shifting approach for photochemical tissue bonding (PTB). Using comb-shaped planar waveguides, we achieve a full thickness (>10 mm) wound closure of porcine skin, which represents ∼10-fold extension of the tissue area achieved with conventional PTB. The results point to a new direction in photomedicine for using light in deep tissues.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10374

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