Fabrication strategies and potential applications of the “green” microstructured optical fibers

Abstract

Biodegradable microstructured polymer optical fibers have been created using synthetic biomaterials such as poly(L-lactic acid), poly(epsilon-caprolactone), and cellulose derivatives. Original processing techniques were utilized to fabricate a variety of biofriendly microstructured fibers that hold potential for in vivo light delivery, sensing, and controlled drug-release.

Optical Waveguides and Integrated Optical Devices for Medical Diagnosis, Health Monitoring and Light Therapies

“…Another incorporated fabrication process with co-rolling of plastic films, powder-filling and solution-casting has been investigated to manufacture fibers with functionalized hollow microstructures [ 30 ]. Particularly, microstructured fibers with functionalized hollow microstructure can be used in vivo for real-time detection of biomolecule binding events.…”

“…Step-index fibers with multicore can be used in vivo for fluorescence microscopy by delivering high power light in a smaller core and collecting fluorescence in a larger core with higher numeric aperture (NA). Finally, the in-vivo direct use of biopolymer optical fibers promises a more compact alternative to endoscopes [ 30 ]. Figure 2 d shows the transmitting light profiles of the diverse cross-sections of cellulose-based fibers.…”

“…Figure 2 d shows the transmitting light profiles of the diverse cross-sections of cellulose-based fibers. Made of biomaterials with great physical and optical quality (e.g., poly( l -lactic acid) (PLLA), polycaprolactone (PCL) and cellulose derivatives), these fibers can be used in in-vivo optical imaging and light sensing [ 30 ].…”

“…( d ) Images of the transmitted light in diverse cross-sections of cellulose-based fibers. Reprinted with permission from [ 30 ]. Copyright 2008, SPIE.…”

Cellulose photonic crystal film sensor for alcohols

“…Some researchers have already fabricated free-standing films with mesoporous structures using CNCs as templates for the applications including catalysis, separation and sensing [23,24]. Simultaneously, other cellulose derivatives were doped into the microstructured optical fibers to increase the sensitivity of sensor probe or for imaging in vivo [25][26][27]. Sahcear et al reported a new strategy to build large-scale solvent-responsive elastomeric opal films, in which hard-soft coreinterlayer-shell (CIS) beads were used to prepare paper-supported elastomeric opal films with remarkably distinct iridescent reflection colors.…”