The fundamental understanding of molecular quantum electrodynamics via the strong light–matter interactions between a nanophotonic cavity and quantum emitters opens various applications in quantum ...biology, biophysics, and chemistry. However, considerable obstacles to obtaining a clear understanding of coupling mechanisms via reliable experimental quantifications remain to be resolved before this field can truly blossom toward practical applications in quantitative life science and photochemistry. Here, we provide recent advancements of state-of-the-art demonstrations in plexcitonic and vibro-polaritonic strong couplings and their applications. We highlight recent studies on various strong coupling systems for altering chemical reaction landscapes. Then, we discuss reports dedicated to the utilization of strong coupling methods for biomolecular sensing, protein functioning studies, and the generation of hybrid light–matter states inside living cells. The strong coupling regime provides a tool for investigating and altering coherent quantum processes in natural biological processes. We also provide an overview of new findings and future avenues of quantum biology and biochemistry.
Obtaining single–molecular–level fingerprints of biomolecules and electron–transfer dynamic imaging in living cells are critically demanded in postgenomic life sciences and medicine. However, the ...possible solution called plasmonic resonance energy transfer (PRET) spectroscopy remains challenging due to the fixed scattering spectrum of a plasmonic nanoparticle and limited multiplexing. Here, multiplexed metasurfaces‐driven PRET hyperspectral imaging, to probe biological light–matter interactions, is reported. Pixelated metasurfaces with engineered scattering spectra are first designed over the entire visible range by the precision nanoengineering of gap plasmon and grating effects of metasurface clusters. Pixelated metasurfaces are created and their full dark‐field coloration is optically characterized with visible color palettes and high‐resolution color printings of the art pieces. Furthermore, three different biomolecules (i.e., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and cytochrome c) are applied on metasurfaces for color palettes to obtain selective molecular fingerprint imaging due to the unique biological light–matter interactions with application‐specific biomedical metasurfaces. This metasurface‐driven PRET hyperspectral imaging will open up a new path for multiplexed real‐time molecular sensing and imaging methods.
Multiplexed metasurface–driven plasmonic resonance energy transfer (PRET) hyperspectral imaging is created to probe biological light–matter interactions. Pixelated metasurfaces with engineered scattering spectra over the entire visible range, by the precision nanoengineering of gap plasmon and optical effects of metasurface clusters, are designed, fabricated, characterized by their full dark‐field coloration, and are demonstrated for multiplexed real‐time molecular sensing and imaging methods.
Metasurfaces
A metasurface‐driven hyperspectral imaging method via multiplexed plasmonic resonance energy transfer is presented by Inhee Choi, Junsuk Rho, Luke P. Lee, and co‐workers in article ...number 2300229. The metasurface chip is designed for label‐free multifunctional quantitative biological sensing such as reactive oxygen species secretion from the living cells. The platform can significantly contribute to label‐free multifunctional molecular diagnosis, real‐time secretome monitoring, and cellular imaging.
Metasurfaces have revolutionized optical biosensing and diagnostic assays due to their sensitivity, compactness, and label-free operation. However, metasurface applications in analyzing complex ...biological systems and quantum bioscience phenomena remain scarce. In this Perspective, we discuss current developments in metasurface biosensors and propose promising future applications for probing or adopting quantum bioscience effects and improving spatial omics analysis in live cells and tissues. We discuss the capabilities of the current metasurface platforms for monitoring relevant biomarkers of viral diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. Metasurface-empowered examination of cell morphology and secretome, virus detection, and tissue imaging can improve the accuracy of early diagnosis. Furthermore, we review device-integration approaches for point-of-care testing settings that could constitute pathways toward technology commercialization. Altogether, we provide a perspective for exploring metasurface applications in precision health and medicine.
A MICROMEGAS (MICRO Mesh GASeous) detector is developed to monitor neutrons with a continuous energy spectra generated by bombarding protons on a thick Be target at the MC-50 cyclotron of the Korea ...Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS). Two different neutron spectra are produced by protons of 20 and 40 MeV, and are detected by using the MICROMEGAS detector with a boron converter. Boron carbides (B
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C) are deposited on the cathode of the detector and are used as a neutron-to-charged particle converter. α particles and
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Li nuclei produced by the
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B(n,α)
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Li reaction are detected by using the MICROMEGAS detector. Monte Carlo simulations for the detector system are performed to compare the experimental data with the simulation results. For measuring the energies of the α particles and the
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Li nuclei, we vary the geometry of detector in both the simulations and the experiments to fully stop the α particles and the
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Li nuclei in the detector. The changes of the positions of the α and the
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Li peaks observed in the distribution of the deposited energy for different detector geometries agree more or less with those from the simulation results. The neutron conversion efficiency of the detector is studied.
A silicon detector combined with a thin polyethylene converter and a collimator is designed as a simple proton recoil telescope (PRT) detector for detecting 2.45 MeV neutrons from a D-D neutron ...generator. Monte Carlo simulations are performed for a quantitative optimization of the geometrical parameters of the detector that determine the statistics and the spectrum of recoil protons. On the basis of the optimized geometry, a 15 μm polyethylene converter and a 2.5 mm thick stainless steel collimator are chosen for the design of a PRT. A test experiment is done by using 2.45 MeV neutrons from a D-D generator at the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science. Energy calibration of the silicon detector is done by using proton beams from the MC-50 cyclotron at the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences. A peak corresponding to 2.45 MeV neutrons is observed. Neutron detection efficiency of our PRT detector for 2.45 MeV neutrons is found to be about 3 × 10
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.
Although the high incidence and recurrence rates of urothelial cancer of the bladder (UCB) are heavy burdens, a noninvasive tool for effectively detecting UCB as an alternative to voided urine ...cytology, which has low sensitivity, is yet to be reported. Herein, we propose an intelligent discrimination method between normal (SV-HUC-1) and cancerous (TCCSUP) urothelial cells by using a combination of micro-dimensional electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (µEIS) with machine learning (ML) for a noninvasive and high-accuracy UCB diagnostic tool. We developed a unique valved flow cytometry, equipped with a pneumatic valve to increase sensitivity without cell clogging. Since contact between a cell and electrodes is tight with a high volume fraction, the electric field can be effectively confined to the cell. This enables the proposed sensor to highly discriminate different cell types at frequencies of 10, 50, 100, 500 kHz, and 1 MHz. A total of 236 impedance spectra were applied to six ML models, and systematic comparisons of the ML models were carried out. The hyperparameters were estimated by conducting a grid search or Bayesian optimization. Among the ML models, random forest strongly discriminated between SV-HUC-1 and TCCSUP, with an accuracy of 91.7%, sensitivity of 92.9%, precision of 92.9%, specificity of 90%, and F1-score of 93.8%.
A demand for a cost-effect and portable methane gas sensor has been increasing since new world-wide greenhouse gas regulations have been aggressively targeting methane emissions. Here, we present a ...methane sensing device which is made of Cu-BDC on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The Cu-BDC film is simply and rapidly fabricated using a facile intense pulsed light technique for in-situ growth of the film on the QCM. The fabricated sensor is characterized in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility under room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The experimental results show that resonant frequency change is linearly proportional to the methane concentration from 100 to 500 ppm. The fabricated sensor also exhibits higher selectivity for the methane gas compared to volatile organic compounds and water. Five gas sensors were fabricated with the same procedure at the same time and demonstrated good reproducibility.
Platinum-based chemotherapy is the cornerstone treatment for female high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), but choosing an appropriate treatment for patients hinges on their responsiveness to ...it. Currently, no available biomarkers can promptly predict responses to platinum-based treatment. Therefore, we developed the Pathologic Risk Classifier for HGSOC (PathoRiCH), a histopathologic image-based classifier. PathoRiCH was trained on an in-house cohort (n = 394) and validated on two independent external cohorts (n = 284 and n = 136). The PathoRiCH-predicted favorable and poor response groups show significantly different platinum-free intervals in all three cohorts. Combining PathoRiCH with molecular biomarkers provides an even more powerful tool for the risk stratification of patients. The decisions of PathoRiCH are explained through visualization and a transcriptomic analysis, which bolster the reliability of our model's decisions. PathoRiCH exhibits better predictive performance than current molecular biomarkers. PathoRiCH will provide a solid foundation for developing an innovative tool to transform the current diagnostic pipeline for HGSOC.
The objective of this study is to examine the determinants influencing the efficacy of intravesical administration of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) in patients suffering from overactive bladder (OAB). ...The study included 32 females diagnosed with OAB, with or without urge urinary incontinence. All participants underwent BoNT-A injections (100 units) at the posterior bladder wall (20 points) from our institution between March 2017 and June 2020. Clinical data was gathered, and the severity of OAB was evaluated both before and four weeks following the procedure utilizing the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence (ICIG-UI) and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). The study also looked into the status of medication for OAB four weeks after the procedure. Total mean ICIQ-UI and OABSS were significantly improved four weeks after BoNT-A injection (14.00 ± 3.46 to 7.00 ± 6.82, p < 0.001 and 11.40 ± 5.01 to 6.40 ± 1.25, p = 0.009, respectively). Younger age, longer OAB duration, and ongoing OAB medication were the factors that significantly improved the effectiveness of BoNT-A injection.
