Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Nat Commun. 2022 Dec 15;13(1):7757. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-35455-3.
Electronic patches, based on various mechanisms, allow continuous and noninvasive monitoring of biomolecules on the skin surface. However, to date, such devices are unable to sense biomolecules in deep tissues, which have a stronger and faster correlation with the human physiological status than those on the skin surface. Here, we demonstrate a photoacoustic patch for three-dimensional (3D) mapping of hemoglobin in deep tissues. This photoacoustic patch integrates an array of ultrasonic transducers and vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes on a common soft substrate. The high-power VCSEL diodes can generate laser pulses that penetrate >2 cm into biological tissues and activate hemoglobin molecules to generate acoustic waves, which can be collected by the transducers for 3D imaging of the hemoglobin with a high spatial resolution. Additionally, the photoacoustic signal amplitude and temperature have a linear relationship, which allows 3D mapping of core temperatures with high accuracy and fast response. With access to biomolecules in deep tissues, this technology adds unprecedented capabilities to wearable electronics and thus holds significant implications for various applications in both basic research and clinical practice.
电子贴片基于各种机制，可实现对皮肤表面生物分子的连续、非侵入式监测。然而，迄今为止，此类设备无法检测深层组织中的生物分子，与皮肤表面的生物分子相比，深层组织中的生物分子与人体生理状态的相关性更强、变化更快。在此，我们展示了一种用于深层组织中血红蛋白的三维（3D）测绘的光声贴片。这种光声贴片在一个普通的软基底上集成了一组超声换能器和垂直腔面发射激光器（VCSEL）二极管。高功率 VCSEL 二极管可产生激光脉冲，穿透深度超过 2 厘米进入生物组织，并激活血红蛋白分子产生声波，这些声波可被换能器收集，用于血红蛋白的 3D 成像，具有较高的空间分辨率。此外，光声信号幅度与温度呈线性关系，这使得能够以高精度和快速响应进行核心温度的 3D 测绘。通过获取深层组织中的生物分子，这项技术为可穿戴电子设备增添了前所未有的功能，因此在基础研究和临床实践的各种应用中都具有重要意义。
