Modality switching between therapy and imaging based on the excitation wavelength dependence of dual-function agents in folic acid-conjugated graphene oxides.

Owing to its near infrared (NIR) absorption, graphene oxide (GO) is promising for both photothermal (PT) therapy and multiphoton (MP) imaging. Novel therapy/imaging modality switching is proposed here based on the selected excitation wavelength of femtosecond (FS) laser. GO-based destruction of cancer cells is demonstrated when the laser power of 800-nm-wavelength FS laser is increased above 7 mW.

Unfolding displacement measurement method for the aliasing interferometer signal of a wavelength-comb-swept laser.

We demonstrate an unfolding displacement measurement method to overcome the aliasing problem of wavelength-comb-swept laser (WCSL). Compared to the conventional wavelength-swept laser (WSL), the WCSL exhibits an extended coherence length, owing to the narrowing spectral linewidth of the etalon filter. However, the aliasing interference signal induces an unexpected back-bounced phenomenon during displacement measurement because of the discretely distributed comb-like periodic spectra of the etalon filter.

Acousto-Optic-Based Wavelength-Comb-Swept Laser for Extended Displacement Measurements.

We demonstrate a novel wavelength-comb-swept laser based on two intra-cavity filters: an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) and a Fabry-Pérot etalon filter. The AOTF is used for the tunable selection of the output wavelength with time and the etalon filter for the narrowing of the spectral linewidth to extend the coherence length. Compared to the conventional wavelength-swept laser, the acousto-optic-based wavelength-comb-swept laser (WCSL) can extend the measureable range of displacement measurements by decreasing the sensitivity roll-off of the point spread function.

Effects of maternal genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D-binding protein and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration on infant birth weight.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem during pregnancy and might contribute to adverse birth outcomes. Vitamin D-binding protein plays a key role in regulating vitamin D metabolism. We investigated whether maternal genetic variation in GC, the gene encoding vitamin-D binding protein, modulates the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and infant birth weight.

The use of chitosan as a condensing agent to enhance emulsion-mediated gene transfer.

Previously we have formulated a new cationic emulsion, composed of 3beta [N-(N',N'-dimethylaminoethane) carbamoyl] cholesterol and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine, castor oil and Tween 80, and it efficiently delivered plasmid DNA into various cancer cells with low toxicity. Chitosan is a natural cationic polysaccharide and is able to form polyelectrolyte complexes with DNA, in which the DNA is condensed and protected against nuclease degradation. Based on these facts, chitosan was used as a condensing agent to enhance the transfection efficiency of cationic emulsion-mediated gene delivery vehicle.