GlowTrack - In-vivo imaging device based on biophotonic implants

Implants can find multiple different applications in medicine, from in bone reconstruction to treatment of teeth sensitivity. One important problem is their imaging post-operation as they are invisible in X-ray imaging. Recently, a new optical imaging technique was developed using persistent luminescence (PeL) nanoparticles. However, this technique presents major limitations: the nanoparticles need to be charged before injection and these particles are not biocompatible. The proposing team showed the potential of merging glass with PeL particles. We plan to develop clinically relevant implants which not only are bioactive but also emit PeL from Red to NIR. The novel implants, based on novel PeL particles, could be then charged through the skin to be imaged in-vivo allowing one to monitor in-vivo and over time the implant resorption without the use of X-Ray. This research will have a major impact not only in bio-imaging and but also in all light-based materials for photonics.