Light is used in a wide range of methods in chemistry, biology, and medicine, such as photosynthesis, fluorescence imaging, optogenetics, and light-activated therapy for cancers and viral infections. A critical challenge of applying light in vivo, such as deep-brain optogenetic neuromodulation and photochemotherapy in deep organs, is the poor penetration of photons in biological tissue due to scattering and absorption. Therefore, delivering light deep into the body requires invasive procedures, such as the insertion of optical fibers, as well as surgical dissection of overlying tissues. The very invasiveness of these procedures also precludes easy repositioning of the illuminated region in the same subject. Leveraging the endogenous circulatory system in the body and systemically delivered phosphors, we aim to develop a general tool of noninvasive light delivery for any biological applications that need light deep inside the body. Specifically, trap-engineered phosphors in the circulatory system act as an optical flow battery to transport recharging light incident on the skin to local light emission in deep tissues (e.g., brain, liver, and lungs) gated by tissue-penetrant ultrasound and infrared light. Read our papers in PNAS and Science to find out more.
A circulatory light source enabled by trap-engineered phosphors
