Super-Poissonian Light Statistics from Individual Silicon Vacancy Centers Coupled to a Laser-Written Diamond Waveguide

Modifying light fields at the single-photon level is a key challenge for upcoming quantum technologies and can be realized in a scalable manner through integrated quantum photonics. Laser-written diamond photonics offers 3D fabrication capabilities and large mode-field diameters matched to fiber optic technology, though limiting the cooperativity at the single-emitter level. To realize large coupling efficiencies, we combine excitation of single shallow-implanted silicon vacancy centers via high numerical aperture optics with detection assisted by laser-written type-II waveguides. We demonstrate single-emitter extinction measurements with a cooperativity of 0.0050 and a relative beta factor of 13%. The transmission of resonant photons reveals single-photon subtraction from a quasi-coherent field resulting in super-Poissonian light statistics. Our architecture enables light field engineering in an integrated design on the single quantum level although the intrinsic cooperativity is low. Laser-written structures can be fabricated in three dimensions and with a natural connectivity to optical fiber arrays.

Morphological Study of Nanostructures Induced by Direct Femtosecond Laser Ablation on Diamond

High spatial frequency laser induced periodic surface structure (HSFL) morphology induced by femtosecond laser with 230 fs pulse duration, 250 kHz repetition rate at 1030 nm wavelength on CVD diamond surface is investigated and discussed. The spatial modification was characterized and analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and 2D-Fast Fourier Transform (2D-FFT). We studied the effect of pulse number and laser power on the spatial development of nanostructures, and also deduced the impact of thermal accumulation effect on their morphology. A generalized plasmonic model has been used to follow the optical evolution of the irradiated surface and to determine the periodic value of the nanostructures. We suggest that non-thermal melting and plasmonic excitation are the main processes responsible for the formation of HSFL-type nanostructures.

Micro-Hole Generation by High-Energy Pulsed Bessel Beams in Different Transparent Materials

Micro-drilling transparent dielectric materials by using non-diffracting beams impinging orthogonally to the sample can be performed without scanning the beam position along the sample thickness. In this work, the laser micromachining process, based on the combination of picosecond pulsed Bessel beams with the trepanning technique, is applied to different transparent materials. We show the possibility to create through-apertures with diameter on the order of tens of micrometers, on dielectric samples with different thermal and mechanical characteristics as well as different thicknesses ranging from two hundred to five hundred micrometers. Advantages and drawbacks of the application of this technique to different materials such as glass, polymer, or diamond are highlighted by analyzing the features, the morphology, and the aspect-ratio of the through-holes generated. Alternative Bessel beam drilling configurations, and the possibility of optimization of the quality of the aperture at the output sample/air interface is also discussed in the case of glass.

Femtosecond laser writing of integrated photonic circuits in diamond

Integrated photonic circuits pave the way for next generation technologies for quantum information and sensing applications. Femtosecond laser writing has emerged as a valuable technique for fabricating such devices when combined with diamond’s properties and its nitrogen vacancy color center. Such color centers are fundamental for sensing applications, being possible to excite them and read them out optically through the fabrication of optical waveguides in the bulk of diamond. We show how to integrate these building blocks in diamond, to develop proof-of-concept devices with unprecedented electric and magnetic field sensitivities.

Laser-Inscribed Glass Microfluidic Device for Non-Mixing Flow of Miscible Solvents

In recent years, there has been significant research on integrated microfluidic devices. Microfluidics offer an advantageous platform for the parallel laminar flow of adjacent solvents of potential use in modern chemistry and biology. To reach that aim, we worked towards the realization of a buried microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip which enables the separation of the two components by exploiting the non-mixing properties of laminar flow. To fabricate the aforementioned chip, we employed a femtosecond laser irradiation technique followed by chemical etching. To optimize the configuration of the chip, several geometrical and structural parameters were taken into account. The diffusive mass transfer between the two fluids was estimated and the optimal chip configuration for low diffusion rate of the components was defined.

Laser surface structuring of diamond with ultrashort Bessel beams

We investigate the effect of ultrafast laser surface machining on a monocrystalline synthetic diamond sample by means of pulsed Bessel beams. We discuss the differences of the trench-like microstructures generated in various experimental conditions, by varying the beam cone angle, the energy and pulse duration, and we present a brief comparison of the results with those obtained with the same technique on a sapphire sample. In diamond, we obtain V-shaped trenches whose surface width varies with the cone angle, and which are featured by micrometer sized channels having depths in the range of 10-20 μm. By laser writing crossed trenches we are also able to create and tailor on the diamond surface pillar-like or tip-like microstructures potentially interesting for large surface functionalization, cells capturing and biosensing.

Integrated waveguides and deterministically positioned nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond created by femtosecond laser writing

Diamond's nitrogen vacancy (NV) center is an optically active defect with long spin coherence times, showing great potential for both efficient nanoscale magnetometry and quantum information processing schemes. Recently, both the formation of buried 3D optical waveguides and high-quality single NVs in diamond were demonstrated using the versatile femtosecond laser-writing technique. However, until now, combining these technologies has been an outstanding challenge. In this Letter, we fabricate laser-written photonic waveguides in quantum grade diamond which are aligned to within micron resolution to single laser-written NVs, enabling an integrated platform providing deterministically positioned waveguide-coupled NVs. This fabrication technology opens the way toward on-chip optical routing of single photons between NVs and optically integrated spin-based sensing.

Optical NP problem solver on laser-written waveguide platform

Cognitive photonic networks are researched to efficiently solve computationally hard problems. Flexible fabrication techniques for the implementation of such networks into compact and scalable chips are desirable for the study of new optical computing schemes and algorithm optimization. Here we demonstrate a femtosecond laser-written optical oracle based on cascaded directional couplers in glass, for the solution of the Hamiltonian path problem. By interrogating the integrated photonic chip with ultrashort laser pulses, we were able to distinguish the different paths traveled by light pulses, and thus infer the existence or the absence of the Hamiltonian path in the network by using an optical correlator. This work proves that graph theory problems may be easily implemented in integrated photonic networks, down scaling the net size and speeding up execution times.

Femtosecond laser inscription of Bragg grating waveguides in bulk diamond

Femtosecond laser writing is applied to form Bragg grating waveguides in the diamond bulk. Type II waveguides are integrated with a single pulse point-by-point periodic laser modification positioned toward the edge of the waveguide core. These photonic devices, operating in the telecommunications band, allow for simultaneous optical waveguiding and narrowband reflection from a fourth-order grating. This fabrication technology opens the way toward advanced 3D photonic networks in diamond for a range of applications.

Visible to Infrared Diamond Photonics Enabled by Focused Femtosecond Laser Pulses

Diamond’s nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers show great promise in sensing applications and quantum computing due to their long electron spin coherence time and because they can be found, manipulated, and read out optically. An important step forward for diamond photonics would be connecting multiple diamond NVs together using optical waveguides. However, the inertness of diamond is a significant hurdle for the fabrication of integrated optics similar to those that revolutionized silicon photonics. In this work, we show the fabrication of optical waveguides in diamond, enabled by focused femtosecond high repetition rate laser pulses. By optimizing the geometry of the waveguide, we obtain single mode waveguides from the visible to the infrared. Additionally, we show the laser writing of individual NV centers within the bulk of diamond. We use µ-Raman spectroscopy to gain better insight on the stress and the refractive index profile of the optical waveguides. Using optically detected magnetic resonance and confocal photoluminescence characterization, high quality NV properties are observed in waveguides formed in various grades of diamond, making them promising for applications such as magnetometry, quantum information systems, and evanescent field sensors.

Optical realization of the dissipative quantum oscillator

An optical realization of the damped quantum oscillator, based on transverse light dynamics in an optical resonator with slowly-moving mirrors, is theoretically suggested. The optical resonator setting provides a simple implementation of the time-dependent Caldirola-Kanai Hamiltonian of the dissipative quantum oscillator and enables the visualization of the effects of damped oscillations in the classical (ray optics) limit and wave packet collapse in the quantum (wave optics) regime.

Role of ion migrations in ultrafast laser written tellurite glass waveguides

We report on a strong cross migration of ions in a Tellurite (Te) based glass to form waveguides using a high repetition rate femtosecond laser. The tellurite glass matrix was modified using oxides of P, Na and Zn elements of which Te and Na ions play an important role to form waveguides upon laser irradiation. Tellurium was observed to migrate causing a positive index change zone whereas sodium cross migrates to the tellurium deficient zone forming a relatively low index change region. We have used micro-Raman analysis to scan across the waveguide cross-section to understand the state of the glass network and the relation between ion migration and glass densification for waveguiding. We have found that there is an increase in TeO3 units and reduction of TeO4 units in the Te rich zones enabling densification. This work will help guide the new commercial glass manufacturing industries that aim at producing mid-infrared transparent glasses like tellurite, tellurides and chalcogenides for the production of waveguide based devices.

Three-dimensional structural niches engineered via two-photon laser polymerization promote stem cell homing

A strategy to modulate the behavior of stem cells in culture is to mimic structural aspects of the native cell/extracellular matrix interaction. We applied femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization (2PP) to fabricate three-dimensional (3-D) microscaffolds, or "niches", using a hybrid organic-inorganic photoresist called SZ2080. The niches, of sizes fitting in a volume of 100×100×100 μm(3), were made by an external containment grid of horizontal parallel elements and by an internal 3-D lattice. We developed two niche heights, 20 and 80-100 μm, and four lattice pore dimensions (10, 20, 30 μm and graded). We used primary rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to study cell viability, migration and proliferation in the niches, up to 6 culture days. MSCs preferentially stayed on/in the structures once they ran into them through random migration from the surrounding flat surface, invaded those with a lattice pore dimension greater than 10 μm, and adhered to the internal lattice while the cell nuclei acquired a roundish morphology. In the niches, the highest MSC density was found in those areas where proliferation was observed, corresponding to the regions where the scaffold surface density available for cell adhesion was highest. The microgeometry inducing the highest cell density was 20 μm high with graded pores, in which cell invasion was favored in the central region of large porosity and cell adhesion was favored in the lateral regions of high scaffold surface density. Cell density in the niches, 17±6 cells/(100×100 μm(2)), did not significantly differ from that of the flat surface colonies. This implies that MSCs spontaneously homed and established colonies within the 3-D niches. This study brings to light the crucial role played by the niche 3-D geometry on MSC colonization in culture, with potential implications for the design of biomaterial scaffolds for synthetic niche engineering.

Femtosecond laser microstructuring for polymeric lab-on-chips

This paper provides an overview of femtosecond laser microfabrication in polymeric materials, with emphasis on lab-on-chip applications. Due to the nonlinear interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with polymers, laser-induced modifications are localized to the focal volume, enabling high resolution patterning in 3D. Femtosecond laser microfabrication offers unmatched versatility in fabricating surface microchannels and diffractive optics by means of laser ablation, buried optical waveguides and micro-optics through refractive index modification and complex 3D microstructures in photoresists by two-photon polymerization. Femtosecond laser microfabrication technology opens the door to fabricating integrated lab-on-chip devices with a single tool.

Integrated three-dimensional filter separates nanoscale from microscale elements in a microfluidic chip

We report on the integration of a size-based three-dimensional filter, with micrometre-sized pores, in a commercial microfluidic chip. The filter is fabricated inside an already sealed microfluidic channel using the unique capabilities of two-photon polymerization. This direct-write technique enables integration of the filter by post-processing in a chip that has been fabricated by standard technologies. The filter is located at the intersection of two channels in order to control the amount of flow passing through the filter. Tests with a suspension of 3 μm polystyrene spheres in a Rhodamine 6G solution show that 100% of the spheres are stopped, while the fluorescent molecules are transmitted through the filter. We demonstrate operation up to a period of 25 minutes without any evidence of clogging. Preliminary validation of the device for plasma separation from whole blood is shown. Moreover, the filter can be cleaned and reused by reversing the flow.

High-fidelity solvent-resistant replica molding of hydrophobic polymer surfaces produced by femtosecond laser nanofabrication

We demonstrate that hydrophobic areas formed by femtosecond laser irradiation on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) polymer substrates can be faithfully replicated on samples of the same material via a solvent-resistant perfluoropolyether (PFPE) elastomer mold. The replicated PMMA and PS samples show nearly identical micro-nanoscale topography and hydrophobic wetting characteristics as the laser-patterned master substrates. This work combines the femtosecond laser capability of spatially tailoring the wettability with a high-resolution parallel replication method, offering the potential for the efficient production of microfluidic devices with selectively tailored flow behavior.

Fabrication of binary Fresnel lenses in PMMA by femtosecond laser surface ablation

We report on the fabrication of binary Fresnel lenses by femtosecond laser surface ablation of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates. Tight focusing of the laser pulses produced a minimum ablated feature size of 600 nm, enabling the creation of lenses with numerical apertures as high as 0.5 and focal lengths ranging from 500 µm to 5 mm. A precise control of the ablation depth allowed the achievement of a 30% focusing efficiency, close to the maximum theoretical value for this kind of lenses.

Femtosecond laser written optical waveguide amplifier in phospho-tellurite glass

We report on the first demonstration of an optical waveguide amplifier in phospho-tellurite glass providing net gain at 1.5 μm. The device was fabricated using a high repetition rate femtosecond laser and exhibited internal gain across 100-nm bandwidth covering the entire C + L telecom bands.

Surface properties of femtosecond laser ablated PMMA

The effects of femtosecond laser ablation on the physical and chemical properties at the surface of poly methylmethacrylate (PMMA) were studied. Femtosecond laser microfabrication caused the initially wetting behavior of PMMA to become nonwetting, mainly because of the laser-induced surface porosity at the submicroscale. Static and dynamic contact angle measurements along with morphological characterization revealed that after the laser irradiation, the system lies in an intermediate regime between those theorized by Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter. Spectroscopic analysis did not evidence any significant variation in the chemical properties of the processed polymeric surfaces.

Three-dimensional optical sensing network written in fused silica glass with femtosecond laser

A single-step fast-writing method of burst ultrafast laser modification was applied to form a mesh network of multi-wavelength Bragg grating waveguides in bulk fused silica glass. Strain-optic and thermo-optic responses of the laser-written internal sensors are reported for the first time. A dual planar layout provided independent temperature- and strain-compensated characterization of temperature and strain distribution with coarse spatial resolution. The grating responses were thermally stable to 500 masculineC. To our best knowledge, the grating network represents the first demonstration of 3D distributed optical sensing network in a bulk transparent medium. Such 3D grating networks open new directions for strain and temperature sensing in optical circuits, optofluidic, MEMS or lab-on-a-chip microsystems, actuators, and windows and other large display or civil structures.

Broadband directional couplers fabricated in bulk glass with high repetition rate femtosecond laser pulses

A femtosecond fiber laser was applied to fabricate broadband directional couplers inside bulk glass for general power splitting application in the 1250 to 1650-nm wavelength telecom spectrum. The broadband response was optimized over the 400-nm bandwidth by tailoring the coupling strength and the waveguide interaction length to balance the differing wavelength dependence of the straight interaction and bent transition regions. High spatial finesse of the femtosecond-laser writing technique enabled close placement (approxiamtely 6 microm) of adjacent waveguides that underpinned the wavelength-flattened broadband response at any coupling ratio in the 0% to 100% range. The spectral responses were well-represented by coupled mode theory, permitting simple design and implementation of broadband couplers for bulk 3D optical circuit integration.

Transition from thermal diffusion to heat accumulation in high repetition rate femtosecond laser writing of buried optical waveguides

A variable (0.2 to 5 MHz) repetition rate femtosecond laser was applied to delineate the role of thermal diffusion and heat accumulation effects in forming low-loss optical waveguides in borosilicate glass across a broad range of laser exposure conditions. For the first time, a smooth transition from diffusion-only transport at 200 kHz repetition rate to strong heat accumulation effects at 0.5 to 2 MHz was observed and shown to drive significant variations in waveguide morphology, with rapidly increasing waveguide diameter that accurately followed a simple thermal diffusion model over all exposure variables tested. Amongst these strong thermal trends, a common exposure window of 200 mW average power and approximately 15-mm/s scan speed was discovered across the range of 200 kHz to 2 MHz repetition rates for minimizing insertion loss despite a 10-fold drop in laser pulse energy. Waveguide morphology and thermal modeling indicate that strong thermal diffusion effects at 200 kHz give way to a weak heat accumulation effect at approximately 1 microJ pulse energy for generating low loss waveguides, while stronger heat accumulation effects above 1-MHz repetition rate offered overall superior guiding. A comprehensive characterization of waveguide properties is presented for laser writing in the thermal diffusion and heat accumulation regimes. The waveguides are shown to be thermally stable up to 800 degrees C and can be written in a convenient 520 microm depth range with low spherical aberration.

Low-loss waveguides fabricated in BK7 glass by high repetition rate femtosecond fiber laser

For the first time femtosecond-laser writing has inscribed low-loss optical waveguides in Schott BK7 glass, a commercially important type of borosilicate widely used in optical applications. The use of a variable repetition rate laser enabled the identification of a narrow processing window at 1 MHz repetition rate with optimal waveguides exhibiting propagation losses of 0.3 dB/cm and efficient mode matching to standard optical fibers at a 1550 nm wavelength. The waveguides were characterized by complementary phase contrast and optical transmission microscopy, identifying a micrometer-sized guiding region within a larger complex structure of both positive and negative refractive index variations.

Single-step writing of Bragg grating waveguides in fused silica with an externally modulated femtosecond fiber laser

For the first time to our knowledge, high-strength (>30 dB) first-order Bragg grating waveguides were fabricated in bulk fused silica glass in a single-scanning step by modulating a high-repetition-rate femtosecond fiber laser with an external acousto-optic modulator. The modulation induced a waveguide segmentation by delivering controlled bursts of laser pulses to define an array of partially overlapped refractive index voxels. With appropriate choice of modulation frequency and sample scanning speed, low loss waveguides could be formed at high writing speeds to yield sharp Bragg spectral resonances tunable over the 1300 to 1550 nm telecom band. Effects of acousto-optic modulation duty cycle on propagation loss and grating strength are characterized. This modulation method offers facile control and integration of multiwavelength Bragg grating devices to enhance overall functionality of optical circuits in three-dimensional geometries.

Type II high-strength Bragg grating waveguides photowritten with ultrashort laser pulses

A one-step type II photosensitivity process has been optimized for inscribing strong >30-dB first-order Bragg-gratings during laser formation of buried waveguides in borosilicate glass. Mode profiles, propagation losses, waveguide birefringence and transmission and reflection spectra were systematically studied in the 1550-nm telecom band over a wide range of laser exposure conditions. Low-loss and birefringence-free waveguides are reported for a narrow laser processing window of 1.0 +/- 0.2 ps pulse duration, yielding highly stable Bragg resonances to temperatures up to 500 degrees C.

Femtosecond laser direct writing of multiwavelength Bragg grating waveguides in glass

Novel Bragg grating waveguide structures have been fabricated in bulk borosilicate glass through a type II photosensitivity mechanism driven by single femtosecond laser pulses. Low-loss single-mode waveguides and narrow-linewidth Bragg gratings were generated simultaneously by forming an array of refractive index voxels in a single laser scan. Laser pulse duration is shown to significantly affect the grating strength and waveguide loss. Bragg wavelengths, defined by the periodicity of laser-modified volumes, were fully controlled by the sample scan speed to provide resonances anywhere in the 1200-1620 nm telecommunication bands. Four linear Bragg filters with distinct resonant wavelengths are presented that define the first demonstration of laser writing of multiple-wavelength and cascaded Bragg grating waveguides in a single process step.

Low-loss Type II waveguide writing in fused silica with single picosecond laser pulses

A new domain of rapid waveguide writing with non-overlapping pulses of a 1-kHz ultrashort laser is demonstrated to produce low loss waveguides in fused silica glass. This new regime is distinguishable in two ways from traditional approaches in laser waveguide writing. First, an examination of a wide 50-fs to 5-ps range of pulse duration shows the lowest loss waveguides to form in a narrow 1.0 +/- 0.2 ps window that significantly exceeds the 50 - 200 fs duration reported as optimal in other studies. Second, an unusually high scan speed of 1.0 +/- 0.2 mm/s points to a novel Type-II photosensitivity mechanism for generating low-loss refractive index structures. The waveguides comprise of an array of nearly isolated single-pulse interaction volumes that sharply contrast with the high exposures of tens to thousands of overlapping laser pulses typically applied along a slowly moving focal volume. A minimum propagation loss of ~0.2 dB/cm and a slightly asymmetric mode diameter of ~9 mum is reported for 633-nm light. The low loss waveguides fabricated with picosecond pulses enables 3-D photonics circuit fabrication with simpler and lower cost picosecond laser systems.

Reciprocal regulation of polarized cytokine production by effector B and T cells

Although B cells produce cytokines it is not known whether B cells can differentiate into effector subsets that secrete polarized arrays of cytokines. We have identified two populations of "effector" B cells (Be1 and Be2) that produce distinct patterns of cytokines depending on the cytokine environment in which the cells were stimulated during their primary encounter with antigen and T cells. These effector B cell subsets subsequently regulate the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells to TH1 and TH2 cells through production of polarizing cytokines such as interleukin 4 and interferon gamma. In addition, Be1 and Be2 cells could be identified in animals that were infected with pathogens that preferentially induce a Type 1 and Type 2 immune response. Together these results suggest that, in addition to their well defined role in antibody production, B cells may regulate immune responses to infectious pathogens through their production of cytokines.

The defects in effector generation associated with aging can be reversed by addition of IL-2 but not other related gamma(c)-receptor binding cytokines

Aged naive CD4 T cells produce low levels of IL-2, leading to inefficient generation of effectors. The cells expand poorly, giving rise to few effectors with less activated phenotypes and reduced ability to produce cytokines. The aged cells also respond less vigorously in vivo. Addition of exogenous IL-2 or other gamma(c) receptor-signaling cytokines, restores expansion. However, only effectors generated in the presence of IL-2, are able to produce IL-2 in normal amounts and to become polarized to secrete Th2 cytokines. The defect in IL-2 production may be the only critical deficiency of aged naive CD4 T cells. Importantly, memory CD4 T cells generated from the IL-2 "restored" effectors are also deficient in IL-2 production, suggesting that a heritable change occurs during aging which effects production of IL-2 by resting naive and memory CD4 T cells, but not by optimally generated effectors.

Interleukin 2, but not other common gamma chain-binding cytokines, can reverse the defect in generation of CD4 effector T cells from naive T cells of aged mice

Development of effectors from naive CD4 cells occurs in two stages. The early stage involves activation and limited proliferation in response to T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation by antigen and costimulatory antigen presenting cells, whereas the later stage involves proliferation and differentiation in response to growth factors. Using a TCR-transgenic (Tg(+)) model, we have examined the effect of aging on effector generation and studied the ability of gamma(c) signaling cytokines to reverse this effect. Our results indicate that responding naive CD4 cells from aged mice, compared with cells from young mice, make less interleukin (IL)-2, expand poorly between days 3 to 5, and give rise to fewer effectors with a less activated phenotype and reduced ability to produce cytokines. When exogenous IL-2 or other gamma(c) signaling cytokines are added during effector generation, the Tg(+) cells from both young and aged mice proliferate vigorously. However, IL-4, IL-7, and IL-15 all fail to restore efficient effector production. Only effectors from aged mice generated in the presence of IL-2 are able to produce IL-2 in amounts equivalent to those produced by effectors generated from young mice, suggesting that the effect of aging on IL-2 production is reversible only in the presence of exogenous IL-2.

SPECT imaging of ischemic myocardium using a technetium-99m-nitroimidazole ligand

This investigation evaluates the efficacy of a 99mTc-labeled nitroimidazole (BMS-181321) in identifying oxygen-deprived tissue in two canine models of myocardial ischemia.

METHODS

For both models (A and B), epicardial microvascular oxygen pressure (mPO2) was monitored by measuring the oxygen-dependent quenching of phosphorescence lifetime of Palladium mesotetra (4-carboxyphenyl) porphine. In Model A (beagles, n = 5), BMS-181321 was administered intravenously and a distal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was ligated completely 40 sec later. Ten minutes later, the ligature was released establishing tissue reoxygenation. In Model B, flow through the LAD was reduced until the mPO2 was about 2 Torr. After bolus administration of BMS-181321 (50-60 mCi), coronary ischemia was continued for a residence period of up to 4 hr.

RESULTS

With Model A, SPECT reconstructions revealed a small ischemic area in three of five dogs, however, a transmural accumulation of the compound was evident in the autoradiograms from all dogs. In the two animals in which the defect was not observed by SPECT, the ischemic episode had nominal effects on the ratio of +/- dp/dt (< 4% change as compared to baseline values). In Model B, SPECT reconstructions showed positive images of the oxygen-deprived area within the mid- to apical regions of the left ventricle (n = 5). Autoradiographic analysis showed a transmural association with cells resulting in an ischemic-to-nonischemic ratio of 3.5 +/- 0.4 (n = 4) for animals with similar residence times.

CONCLUSION

The results from both models suggest that BMS-181321 provides a noninvasive marker of regional ischemia in the heart and that this compound may have clinical utility for detection of coronary artery disease.

Physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution of gadoteridol injection in rats and dogs

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The physicochemical properties of gadoteridol, a macrocyclic nonionic gadolinium complex, were studied together with its pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in rats and dogs.

METHODS

Studies in rats were conducted after single intravenous injections at 0.1 or 0.35 mmol/kg using 153Gd-labeled gadoteridol or with seven daily doses of 0.1 mmol/kg to examine the levels of residual gadolinium in organs. Nonradioactive biodistribution and excretion studies were performed in dogs following injection at 0.1 mmol/kg.

RESULTS

After injection, the dose was rapidly cleared from rat blood and excreted such that more than 90% of the dose appeared in the urine within 4 hr of injection. At 7 and 14 days postinjection, only extremely low levels of gadolinium were observed in liver and bone; these levels were two to eight times lower than the levels reported after the injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine.

CONCLUSION

The extracellular distribution and rapid urinary excretion of gadoteridol is in agreement with data obtained with other gadolinium-containing chelates used as intravascular magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Differences observed in the long-term retention of gadolinium between gadoteridol and gadopentetate dimeglumine were consistent with the reported greater in vivo resistance to transmetallation of gadolinium macrocycles compared with the linear gadolinium chelate molecules.

A multi-organ, axially distributed model of capillary permeability for a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent

Capillary permeability was resolved from uptake data for eight rat organs with gadoteridol, which is a stable, well-tolerated, nonionic, highly water soluble, gadolinium-containing, magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. The extracellular kinetics were elucidated with an axially distributed, plasma interstitial fluid model and measured plasma flow, organ plasma volume, and interstitial fluid volume. The molecular and biological properties of gadoteridol and this kinetic model provide magnetic resonance imaging with a tool to begin measuring physiologic processes.

Filipino GN to Filipino RN. A well-developed plan leads to success

This article describes the authors' experience in designing a hospital orientation program for newly recruited Filipino nurses. The nursing department's educational and administrative efforts helped to orient the newly recruited nurses to the hospital and to nursing practice in the United States and prepared them to pass the NCLEX examination. Specific classes included in the orientation are presented. Topic title, time frame, facilitator, components, and rationale for each class are discussed. Suggestions for timing of recruitment and clinical orientation assignments are given. Staff preparation to Philippine culture and nursing practice is also reviewed. The authors believe this information would assist other nursing departments prepare for recruited Filipino nurses on their staff.

Comparative chemical structure and pharmacokinetics of MRI contrast agents

The blood clearance kinetics of five gadolinium complexes, Gd(L), were determined in rats and the results interpreted in terms of an open two-compartment pharmacokinetic model. The complexes were tested in vitro for stability in serum and in aqueous solutions of ions that they might encounter in vivo and that might be expected to react with the Gd(L) complexes to produce uncomplexed gadolinium. Reaction with serum was observed in two instances. Chemical structural differences among the chelating ligands appear to govern the overall reactivity of their Gd(L) complexes. It may be inferred from the results that a preferred structural feature of the ligand is the presence of a 12-membered 1,4,7,10-tetraaza macrocycle.

A predictive test for adverse reactions to contrast media. Preliminary results

In a prospective study, whole blood samples drawn from patients prior to their being injected with contrast media were incubated with zymosan to activate the complement cascade. The samples were tested for various analytes, including C3a, thromboxane B2 (TxB2), beta thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 (PF4). Of 207 patients receiving contrast media, only eight experienced reactions, which were mild. Levels of the platelet constituents were generally elevated in these patients. Specificity and sensitivity were 89% and 83%, respectively, for the combined TxB2 and PF4 radioimmunoassay data. Using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum test, both PF4 and TxB2 were collected with RCM reactions at the R less than .05 level. Although preliminary, the results suggest that RCM reactions are predictable by the in vitro test procedures described.

The isolation of an antigen binding factor from cultured murine T-lymphocytes

BALB/c mice were immunized with the random sequence polypeptide [Glu60 Ala40] (GA). 125I-lymphocyte suspensions were prepared from lymph nodes, radiolabelled with 125I and cultured for 18 hours. Supernatant fluids were collected and passed over an immunoabsorbant composed of [D-Glu60 D-Ala40] (D-GA) bound to Sepharose. The non-adherent fraction was then applied to GA Sepharose and the adherent material eluted with 2 M NaSCN. The eluate was relabelled with 125I, reabsorbed to GA Sepharose and eluted. This fraction bound well to GA-Sepharose (50-80%) but not to the enantiomorphic D-GA Sepharose (5-10%). This material did not react with goat antisera directed against murine IgG, IgM or IgA. It was capable of binding to rabbit antiidiotypic sera raised against BALB/c anti-GA, but not to those antibodies raised against BALB/c anti-GAT. It also showed some reaction with rabbit antiserum to a rat T cell factor (TCF). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a major component with an approximate molecular weight of 63,000 which was not affected by reduction and alkylation.