SYSTEMS AND METHODS BASED ON RADIATION INDUCED HEATING OR IGNITION OF FUNCTIONALIZED FULLERENES

• US 20090302029A1
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Koopman, Ben, Krishna, Vijay, Moudgil, Brij
• Granted Patent: US 9,475,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/678
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/025 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/121 Coherent waves, e.g. laser beams lasers per se H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/125 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/126 Microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/127 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/128 Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/129 Radiofrequency
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 23/001 Fillers, gelling and thickening agents (e.g. fibres) , absorbents for nitroglycerine binders, plasticisers for propellants C06B45/10; crosslinking or curing agents C06B45/10
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 9/00 : Chemical contact igniters; Chemical lighters

Abstract

A method of irradiating a target region containing at least one fullerene comprising molecule promotes the heating or combustion of the target region. The heating method can be employed in a variety of applications including: selective targeting and destruction of cancer cells, detonation of explosives, ignition of a combustible mixture, photolithographic processes, and writing of optical storage media.

Claims

1. A method of localized heating, comprising the steps of:

disposing a plurality of fullerene comprising molecules in at least one target region; and

irradiating said fullerene comprising molecules with electromagnetic radiation to convert said radiation to thermal energy at said fullerene comprising molecules to heat or ignite said target region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said fullerene comprising molecules comprises fullerenes, endohedral fullerenes, substituted fullerenes, functionalized fullerenes or any mixture thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region is within or in contact with a material comprising:

an organic gas, liquid or solid;

an inorganic gas, liquid, or solid;

a polymer or polymer composite;

water, an aqueous solution or aqueous suspension;

a nonaqueous solution or nonaqueous suspension;

a metal or metal alloy;

a glass or ceramic;

or a biological or biologically derived material or mixtures thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic radiation ranges from 10⁻

12 m to 10¹² m in wavelength and comprises gamma rays, x-rays, extreme ultraviolet, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave, radio wave or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said thermal energy heats said fullerene comprising molecules to a state of combustion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said heat dissipates as a photoacoustic wave emanating from said fullerene comprising molecule.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region is within a resist coating, wherein said fullerene comprising molecules are disposed within or in contact with said coating, wherein irradiation of said fullerene comprising molecules promotes heating and decomposition of said coating in the target region, and wherein negative features are formed in said resist coating.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of etching, wherein said target region is within a resist coating, wherein said fullerene comprising molecules are disposed within or in contact with said coating, and wherein irradiation of said fullerene comprising molecules promotes heating induced changes in said coating in said target region that upon etching of said heated target regions results in negative features from the surface of the coating or channels within said coating, or upon etching of non-target regions of said coating results in positive features from said coating.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region comprises an interface defined by the contact of a plurality of solid pieces composed of at least one organic material, inorganic material, metal, metal alloy, composite material, or living tissue, wherein said fullerene comprising molecules are disposed within or in contact with said interface, and wherein thermal energy at said fullerene comprising molecules promotes melting of said solid pieces that upon suspension of said irradiation cools to form a weld between said pieces.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region is a surface or portion of a solder comprising organic material, inorganic material, metal, metal alloy, or composite material, wherein said fullerene comprising molecules are disposed within or in contact with said solder, and wherein said thermal energy at said target region melts said solder.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region comprises a layer of an inorganic dye, organic dye, or a metal alloy within a writable memory media, wherein said fullerene comprising molecules are disposed within or in contact with said layer, and wherein thermal energy at said fullerene comprising molecules promotes at least one physical or chemical change in said layer that changes optical properties of said layer in said target region.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region comprises a layer of said fullerene comprising molecules within a writable memory media, wherein said radiation results in decomposition of said fullerene comprising molecules in said target region to alter optical properties of said layer in said target region.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of delivering said fullerene comprising molecules from a reservoir to said target region, wherein said target region contacts a combustion chamber containing a fuel-oxidizer mixture and wherein irradiation results in ignition of said fullerene comprising molecules and said fuel oxidizer mixture in said chamber.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region is within a combustion chamber containing a fuel-oxidizer mixture, wherein said fullerene comprising molecules are dissolved or suspended in at least a portion of said fuel prior to introduction to said chamber and wherein said radiation results in ignition of said fullerene comprising molecules and said fuel oxidizer mixture in said chamber.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of contacting said fullerene comprising molecules with a bioparticulate, wherein said target region is said fullerene comprising molecules that further comprise an aptamer, antibody, functionalized fluorescent antibody, or dye/quantum dot doped particles, wherein a plurality of said fullerene comprising molecules conjugate to the bioparticulate, and wherein irradiation with a low intensity of said radiation promotes fluorescence of said conjugated bioparticulates to locate said target regions for a second irradiation of said located targets with sufficient intensity to inactivate said bioparticulate through heating or ignitition of said fullerene comprising molecules in said located target region.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region is within a patient, said target region including cancer cells, wherein said thermal energy at said target region causes said cancer cells to undergo apoptosis, necrosis, bursting or other transformation that inhibits growth of said cancer cells.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said fullerene comprising molecule further comprises a conjugated targeting agent, wherein said targeting agent associates said fullerene comprising molecule with said cancer cells.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region comprises an explosive material, wherein said thermal energy results in combustion of said fullerene comprising molecules at said target region and detonation of said explosive material.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region comprises said fullerene comprising molecules resident in a tube and wherein irradiation of said target region combusts said fullerene comprising molecules to produce combustion gases that are directed out one end of said tube to provide a thrust whereby said tube acts as a thruster.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said target region further comprises a propellant.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region comprises a surface of a metal decorated with said fullerene comprising molecules, wherein irradiation of said target region by sunlight promotes heating of the metal.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region comprises said fullerene comprising molecules coated on or dispersed in an organic material, inorganic material, metal, metal alloy, or a composite material, wherein irradiation of said target region causes division of said target region.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said target region is within a patient, said target region comprises tissue including said fullerene comprising molecules, wherein said thermal energy at said target region causes said tissue to split or to weld together.

24. A system for heating a target region comprising at least one fullerene comprising molecule disposed in said target region, an irradiation source, and a means of controlling irradiation to said target region.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said irradiation source is a laser.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said means of controlling irradiation comprises a switch or a shutter.