Utilizing the power of Cerenkov light with nanotechnology.
The characteristic blue glow of Cerenkov luminescence (CL) arises from the interaction between a charged particle travelling faster than the phase velocity of light and a dielectric medium, such as water or tissue. As CL emanates from a variety of sources, such as cosmic events, particle accelerators, nuclear reactors and clinical radionuclides, it has been used in applications such as particle detection, dosimetry, and medical imaging and therapy. The combination of CL and nanoparticles for biomedicine has improved diagnosis and therapy, especially in oncological research. Although radioactive decay itself cannot be easily modulated, the associated CL can be through the use of nanoparticles, thus offering new applications in biomedical research. Advances in nanoparticles, metamaterials and photonic crystals have also yielded new behaviours of CL. Here, we review the physics behind Cerenkov luminescence and associated applications in biomedicine. We also show that by combining advances in nanotechnology and materials science with CL, new avenues for basic and applied sciences have opened.
Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|Department of Chemistry, Hunter College and Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10065, USA.
Travis M
TM
Shaffer
Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Edwin C
EC
Pratt
Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.|Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA.|Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Jan
J
Grimm
D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing