At the laboratory of Transport Phenomena for Biomedical Applications (LTPBA) at UCR, we have carried out studies aimed at understanding how lasers can better assist in a variety of biomedical applications. Originally, we are interested in understanding how sprays can be more effective in removing surface heat during laser light delivery into the skin, which is needed for thermal control. Then we looked at feasible ways to improve transdermal drug delivery by taking advantage of the thermal and mechanical property changes of tissue induced by cryogen liquid deposition on the skin surface. Yet another set of studies was aimed at using CW laser radiation to generate multiple vapor bubbles within a thin liquid layer. This phenomenon is called thermocavitation and results from the formation of an overheated region followed by an explosive phase transition and consequently the formation of vapor-gas bubbles. These bubbles expand and later collapse, emitting intense shockwaves capable of producing damage to various surfaces such as skin and even harder metallic surfaces. Currently, one of the research thrusts in my research group aims at developing a novel transparent polycrystalline Yttria-Stablized-Zirconia (YSZ) cranial implant (“window”) that enables life-long, non-invasive delivery and/or collection of laser light into and from shallow and deep brain tissue on demand. Such an implant would allow for real-time and highly precise visualization and treatment of diverse brain pathologies, such as those resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI) or brain tumors, without the need of highly-invasive craniotomies or trepanation procedures. The window could be permanently covered with native scalp that can be rendered temporarily transparent on demand in a minimally-invasive manner using percutaneous drug delivery of optical clearing agents (OCAs) with microneedles.

A summary of these results as well as ongoing and future studies pertaining to this research thrust will be presented.


Wednesday, July 13, 2016, 12:00. Seminar Room

Hosted by Prof. Pablo Loza-Álvarez