Investigation of Nanoparticle-Assisted Laser Tissue Soldering by Terahertz Radiation

Laser tissue soldering is an attractive approach for surgical repair. The principle is to use laser light in combination with a solder solution, such as albumin, to ‘stitch’ wound openings together. The soldering process can be enhanced by combining albumin with plasmonic nanoparticles, which act as localized absorbers that effectively transfer the impinging light into heat localized within the wound area. Advantages of laser tissue soldering over conventional sutures are a less inflammatory response of the tissue, a reduced chance of infection post-surgery, and no allergic reactions to foreign materials being introduced by traditional stitches [1]. Yet, laser tissue soldering has not been widely used for clinical applications. The underlying reason is that elevated temperatures reached due to laser light absorption and concomitant heat generation can cause significant photothermal tissue damage. Therefore, a rigorous monitoring of the heated solder solution and underlying tissue is necessary to minimize tissue damage and optimize the soldering process.