Rossi, Barbara (2025) Optical Fiber Devices for Precision Medicine. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

Precision medicine increasingly demands technologies for localized, patient specific diagnosis and therapy. The maturity of Lab-on-Fiber technology enables fiber-optic devices for minimally invasive, high-precision medical applications, integrating multiple sensing and imaging modalities toward the “Hospital-in-the-Needle” theranostic tool,a compact theranostic tool combining diagnostic and therapeutic functions. Among the various possible applications, this thesis focuses on ultrasound, which represents a promising approach for both localized high-resolution imaging and therapy. All-optical ultrasound systems, using functionalized optical fiber, emerge as an innovative solution due to their biocompatibility, electrical passivity, and compactness. A central challenge is that emerging materials and fabrication technologies are not yet fully exploited. In this context, the advantages and limitations of different Lab-on-Fiber configurations, each associated with a distinct technology, were systematically analyzed, by employing multiphysics models to investigate polymer-based acoustic detectors and acoustic generation. Three fiber-optic ultrasound detector geometries were investigated: a curved Fabry–Pérot cavity for improved optical confinement, a multilayer structure for higher optical response, and a membrane-based design enabling high-sensitivity, frequency-selective detection. A photoacoustic generation model integrating optical, thermal, and acoustic phenomena was used to investigate the polymer IP-PDMS coated with a thin gold layer, achieving broadband pressure generation up to 100,MHz. Preliminary optical characterization of IP-PDMS in the NIR region was performed to assess its potential as a fiber-optic ultrasound detector. Overall, this work provides a framework for designing and optimizing all-optical ultrasound probes, supporting the development of multifunctional Lab-on-Fiber devices.

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