Implantable micro-optical semiconductor devices for optical theranostics in deep tissue

Abstract

Abstract Optical therapy and diagnostics using photoactivatable molecular tools are promising approaches in medical applications; however, a method for the delivery of light deep inside biological tissues remains a challenge. Here, we present a method of illumination and detection of light using implantable micro-optical semiconductor devices. Unlike in conventional transdermal light delivery methods using low-energy light (>620 nm or near-infrared light), in our method, high-energy light (470 nm) can also be used for illumination. Implanted submillimeter-sized light-emitting diodes were found to provide sufficient illumination (0.6–4.1 mW/cm 2 ), and a complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor image sensor enabled the detection of fluorescence signals.