Ultrafast photoacoustic cavitation pumped by picosecond laser for high-efficient and long-term shockwave theranostics

Dandan Cui; Jie Mi; Zhenhui Zhang; Xiaoye Su; Xiaodong Sun; Gen Mu; Yujiao Shi; Sihua Yang

doi:10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100546

Ultrafast photoacoustic cavitation pumped by picosecond laser for high-efficient and long-term shockwave theranostics

Photoacoustics. 2023 Aug 23:33:100546. doi: 10.1016/j.pacs.2023.100546. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Dandan Cui^{1

2}, Jie Mi^{1

2}, Zhenhui Zhang^{1

2}, Xiaoye Su^{1

2}, Xiaodong Sun^{1

2}, Gen Mu^{1

2}, Yujiao Shi^{1

2}, Sihua Yang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
² Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.

Abstract

Photoacoustic (PA) theranostics is a new emerging field that uniquely combines diagnosis and treatment in one modality. However, its current status is compromised by the indispensable dependence on nonreversible phase-change nanoprobes that provides one-time-only action. Here, we demonstrate a picosecond-laser-pumped ultrafast PA cavitation technique for highly efficient shockwave theranostics, guaranteeing sustained PA cavitation by using non-phase-change nanoprobes. Theoretical simulations validate that, when compressing the excitation laser pulse width to hundred-picosecond, the thermal confinement effects of a conventional nanoprobe will induce transient heating of the extremely thin surrounding liquid layer of the nanoprobes beyond its cavitation point in a localized area at nanoscale, resulting in intense cavitation and PA shockwaves by the environment rather than the nanoprobes. Both cellular and mouse model experiments have demonstrated the highly effective anti-tumor effects. This method provides a sustainable, reproducible, and highly effective strategy for PA theranostics, prefiguring great potential for the clinical applications.

Keywords: Photoacoustic cavitation; Picosecond laser; Shockwaves; Theranostics.