Plasmonic assisted systems and methods for interior energy-activation from an exterior source

• US 8,376,013 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke University, Immunolight, LLC
• Original Assignee: Duke University, Immunolight, LLC
• Inventors: Vo-Dinh, Tuan, Bourke, Frederic Avery Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCLENDON, SANZA L
• Application Number:
  US12/401,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20090294692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 522/71, 522/81, 522/82, 522/83, 522/1, 522 33- 70, 250/459.1, 250/492.1, 250/492.3, 204/157.1, 204/157.6, 204/157.63, 523/105, 523/113, 523/118, 523/137, 623/66.1, 156/349, 156/379.6, 252/583, 252/589
• US Class Current: 156/379.6
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/50 by irradiation or electric treatment without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/26 by irradiation without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/263 with corpuscular or ionising radiation, i.e. X, alpha, beta or omega radiation laser plasma radiation A23L3/26
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/32 using phonon wave energy, e.g. sound or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0057 Photodynamic therapy with a photosensitizer, i.e. agent able to produce reactive oxygen species upon exposure to light or radiation, e.g. UV or visible light; photocleavage of nucleic acids with an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0066 Psoralene-activated UV-A photochemotherapy (PUVA-therapy), e.g. for treatment of psoriasis or eczema, extracorporeal photopheresis with psoralens or fucocoumarins
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0047 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0076 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/088 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/21 Pharmaceuticals, e.g. medicaments, artificial body parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/22 Blood or products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3683 using photoactive agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 : Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1089 : Electrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1098 : Enhancing the effect of the particle by an injected agent or implanted device
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 : for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 : X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 : Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 : for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 : Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/08 : Plasma substitutes; Perfusion solutions; Dialytics or haemodialytics; Drugs for electrolytic or acid-base disorders, e.g. hypovolemic shock artificial tears A61P27/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/082 : Gamma-radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/085 : Electron beams only
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/12 : employing electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 : Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/125 : X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/127 : Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/128 : Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 : Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0879 : Solid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 : involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1203 : Incoherent waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2231/005 : General concepts, e.g. reviews, relating to methods of using catalyst systems, the concept being defined by a common method or theory, e.g. microwave heating or multiple stereoselectivity
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/50 : Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/52 : Gold
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/005 : Catalytic metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/008 : Methods or theories
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/0275 : also containing elements or functional groups covered by B01J31/0201 - B01J31/0269
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/2295 : Cyclic compounds, e.g. cyclopentadienyls
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/19 : Catalysts containing parts with different compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/23 : in a colloidal state
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 : Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0072 : Preparation of particles, e.g. dispersion of droplets in an oil bath
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0221 : of particles
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 : Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 : Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/30 : by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/302 : with microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/305 : with electrons
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/307 : with X-rays or gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 : with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 : by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/10 : Photocatalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/00 : Characterised by the use of unspecified polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/24 : Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules mechanical aspects B29C35/00; crosslinking agents C08K
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/28 : Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/18 : using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 201/00 : Coating compositions based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 201/00 : Adhesives based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/416 : use of irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 : Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: C12H 1/06 : Precipitation by physical means, e.g. by irradiation, vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/008 : Surface plasmon devices diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/00 : Irradiation devices discharge tubes for irradiating H01J37/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/774 : Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/777 : Metallic powder or flake
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/896 : Chemical synthesis, e.g. chemical bonding or breaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/915 : Therapeutic or pharmaceutical composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.

Claims

1. A method for curing of a radiation-curable medium, comprising:

disposing a composition in between at least two objects, said composition comprising

     1) an uncured radiation-curable medium and

     2) an energy modulation agent;

applying energy from at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or an electron beam through at least one of the two objects and into the composition, wherein the energy interacts with the energy modulation agent comprising a photon emitter which emits light within the uncured medium that directly or indirectly cures the uncured medium by polymerization of polymers in the medium; and

with the emitted light, curing the radiation-curable medium by activating a photoinitiator in the radiation-curable medium so that the at least two objects are fixed together.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising emitting ultraviolet light from the energy modulation agent to cure the radiation-curable medium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposing comprises providing with the uncured radiation-curable medium a plasmonics agent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying comprises:

applying the energy from an external energy source to cure the uncured medium and fix the at least two objects together.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy comprises x-ray energy and the activation energy is UV/VIS energy.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises at least one of Y₂O₃;

ZnS;

ZnSe;

MgS;

CaS;

Mn, Er ZnSe;

Mn, Er MgS;

Mn, Er CaS;

Mn, Er ZnS;

Mn,Yb ZnSe;

Mn,Yb MgS;

Mn, Yb CaS;

Mn,Yb ZnS;

Tb³⁺, Er;

³⁺;

ZnS;

Tb³⁺;

Y₂O₃;

Tb³⁺;

Y₂O₃;

Tb³⁺, Er3⁺;

ZnS;

Mn²⁺;

ZnS;

Mn,Er³⁺.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the plasmonics agent comprises a metal structure.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating light from the least one energy modulation agent for activation of the photoinitiator in the medium,

wherein the plasmonics agent enhances the generated light such that enhanced radiant light activates the photoinitiator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said photoinitiator comprises at least one of benzoin, substituted benzoins, alkyl ester substituted benzoins, Michler'"'"'s ketone, dialkoxyacetophenones, diethoxyacetophenone, benzophenone, substituted benzopheuones, acetophenone, substituted acetophenones, xanthone, substituted xanthones, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, diethoxyxanthone, chloro-thio-xanthone, azo-bisisobutyronitrile, N-methyl diethanolaminebenzophenone, camphoquinone, peroxyester initiators, non-fluorene-carboxylic acid peroxyesters and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said energy modulation agent comprises a plurality of luminescent agents.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said energy modulation agent, upon exposure to the energy, emits one or more photons that cures the uncured medium.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises luminescent particles distributed throughout the uncured medium whose emission cures the uncured medium throughout the medium.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the energy modulation agent is disposed adjacent at least one metal nanoparticle serving as the plasmonics agent;

the energy modulation agent is at least partially coated with a metal serving as the plasmonics agent;

or

the energy modulation agent includes a magnetic substance.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein:

a metal nanoparticle serving as the plasmonics agent is at least partially covered with the energy modulation agent;

or

the metal nanoparticle includes a magnetic substance.

15. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the plasmonics agent comprises a dielectric-metal nanocomposite;

or

the plasmonics agent comprises a plurality of metal nanoparticles disposed in vicinity of each other.

16. A method for producing a patterned element inside a human or animal body, comprising:

(1) placing inside the human or animal body an uncured radiation curable medium including an energy modulation agent, said energy modulation agent is configured to emit light into the uncured radiation curable medium upon interaction with an initiation energy from at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or an electron beam; and

(2) applying to the radiation curable medium said initiation energy,

wherein the applied initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to generate light at local regions inside the human or animal body to cure locally the radiation curable medium to form the patterned element inside the human or animal body.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the applying forms for the patterned element a prosthetic device in the human or animal body.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the applying comprises applying said initiation energy from a directed or focused energy source.

18. A method for curing of a radiation-curable medium, comprising:

disposing a composition inside an object to be cured, said composition comprising

     1) an uncured radiation-curable medium and

     2) an energy modulation agent;

applying at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or an electron beam through the object and into the composition, wherein the initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent which emits light within the radiation-curable medium to directly or indirectly cure the uncured medium by polymerization of polymers in the medium; and

with the emitted light, curing the radiation-curable medium by activating a photoinitiator in the radiation-curable medium.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the applying comprises applying said initiation energy from a directed or focused energy source.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

filling a gap inside the object and curing the radiation-curable medium in the gap.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the gap is inside an artificial object.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the artificial object comprises at least one of a bottle cap, a prosthetic device, and a building material,

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the storage tank comprises a man-made underground storage tank.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the artificial object comprises medical device.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the disposing comprises pressure injecting said composition into said object.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the curing the radiation-curable medium comprises closing a hole or a pathway in the object.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the artificial object comprises at least one of a concrete structure and a storage tank.