Influence of Halogen-Solvent Hydrogen Bonding on Gold Nanocluster Photoluminescence.

The influence of gold nanocluster-solvent interactions on nanostructure optical properties was determined. Using [Au(BINAP)X], where X = Cl or Br, as a model system, the dramatic influence of halogen-solvent hydrogen bonding on nanocluster optical properties was resolved. The creation of a nanocluster-solvent hydrogen-bond network yielded intense photoluminescence (PL) and an accompanying 2-fold reduction in vibration-mediated nonradiative decay rates.

Role of higher-order scattering in solutions to the forward and inverse optical-imaging problems in random media.

From analytical and numerical solutions that predict the scattering of diffuse photon density waves and from experimental measurements of changes in phase shift theta and ac amplitude demodulation M caused by the presence of single and double cylindrical heterogeneities, we show that second- and higher-order perturbations can affect the prediction of the propagation characteristics of diffuse photon density waves. Our experimental results for perfect absorbers in a lossless medium suggest that the performance of fast inverse-imaging algorithms that use first-order Born or Rytov approximations might have inherent limitations compared with inverse solutions that use iterative solutions of a linear perturbation equation or numerical solutions of the diffusion equation.

Sutureless ophthalmic surgery: a scaffold-enhanced bioadhesive technique.

Purpose: Bioadhesives have had limited use in ophthalmic surgery. Problems with these adhesives have included inadequate tensile strength and difficulty with their application to the tissue site. We evaluated a scaffold-enhanced cyanoacrylate bioadhesive composite as an alternative to sutures in ophthalmic surgery, including strabismus procedures.

A new technique of tissue repair for ophthalmic surgery.

Ophthalmic surgery currently utilizes suture materials to repair wounds created during eye operations. Although effective, suture-based techniques can result in complications that further impair the patient's vision, such as retinal detachment and scleral perforation associated with strabismus (eye muscle) surgery. Two techniques currently under development avoid sutures altogether, yielding similar strength results, reduced operating time, and simpler methods of repair.

Scaffold-enhanced albumin and n-butyl-cyanoacrylate adhesives for tissue repair: ex vivo evaluation in a porcine model.

An ex vivo study was conducted in a porcine model to compare the tensile strength of tissue samples repaired by three different repair methods: (i) scaffold-enhanced light-activated albumin protein solder, (ii) scaffold-enhanced n-butyl-cyanoacrylate adhesive, and (iii) conventional sutures. Biodegradable polymer scaffolds of controlled porosity were fabricated with poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and salt particles using a solvent-casting and particulate-leaching technique. Repairs were conducted on seventeen different tissues including the carotid, femoral, splenic, coronary, and pulmonary arteries, aorta, small intestine, ureter, sciatic nerve, spleen, atrium, kidney, muscle, skin, lung, liver and pancreas.