Engineered Particles with Polarization Contrast and Alignment Control for Enhanced Imaging

摘要

An engineered particle for detecting analytes in an environment includes an electromagnetic receiver that is configured to preferentially receive electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization relative to the orientation of the electromagnetic receiver. The engineered particle additionally includes an energy emitter coupled to the electromagnetic receiver such that a portion of electromagnetic energy received by the electromagnetic receiver is transferred to and emitted by the energy emitter. The engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte. The engineered particle can additionally be configured to align with a directed energy field in the environment. The selective reception of electromagnetic radiation of a specified polarization and/or alignment with a directed energy field can enable orientation tracking of individual engineered particles, imaging in high-noise environments, or other applications. A method for detecting properties of the analyte of interest by interacting with the engineered particle is also provided.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
exposing an environment to electromagnetic radiation, wherein the environment includes engineered particles, wherein each engineered particle includes at least one electromagnetic receiver that receives electromagnetic energy in response to the exposure of the environment to the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the at least one electromagnetic receiver is configured to receive polarized electromagnetic radiation that is aligned with an axis of the at least one electromagnetic receiver more than polarized electromagnetic radiation that is not aligned with the axis of the at least one electromagnetic receiver, wherein each engineered particle includes at least one energy emitter, wherein the engineered particles are functionalized to selectively interact with an analyte in the environment, and wherein the at least one electromagnetic receiver has a level of coupling with the at least one energy emitter such that a portion of the electromagnetic energy received by the at least one electromagnetic receiver is transferred to the at least one energy emitter and a portion of the transferred energy is emitted by the at least one energy emitter; and detecting one or more properties of the energy emitted by the engineered particles in response to the exposure to the electromagnetic radiation.