Terahertz-to-infrared converters for imaging the human skin cancer: challenges and feasibility

Kamil A. Moldosanov; Alexander V. Bykov; Nurlanbek Z. J. Kairyev; Mikhail K. Khodzitsky; Grigory Kropotov; Valery M. Lelevkin; Igor V. Meglinski; Andrei V. Postnikov; Alexey A. Shakhmin

doi:10.1117/1.JMI.10.2.023501

14 March 2023 Terahertz-to-infrared converters for imaging the human skin cancer: challenges and feasibility

Kamil A. Moldosanov, Alexander V. Bykov, Nurlanbek Z. J. Kairyev, Mikhail K. Khodzitsky, Grigory Kropotov, Valery M. Lelevkin, Igor V. Meglinski, Andrei V. Postnikov, Alexey A. Shakhmin

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Medical Imaging, Vol. 10, Issue 2, 023501 (March 2023). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.10.2.023501

Abstract

Purpose

Terahertz (THz) medical imaging is a promising noninvasive technique for monitoring the skin’s conditions, early detection of the human skin cancer, and recovery from burns and wounds. It can be applied for visualization of the healing process directly through clinical dressings and restorative ointments, minimizing the frequency of dressing changes. The THz imaging technique is cost effective, as compared to the magnetic resonance method. Our aim was to develop an approach capable of providing better image resolution than the commercially available THz imaging cameras.

Approach

The terahertz-to-infrared (THz-to-IR) converters can visualize the human skin cancer by converting the latter’s specific contrast patterns recognizable in THz radiation range into IR patterns, detectable by a standard IR imaging camera. At the core of suggested THz-to-IR converters are flat matrices transparent both in the THz range to be visualized and in the operating range of the IR camera, these matrices contain embedded metal nanoparticles (NPs), which, when irradiated with THz rays, convert the energy of THz photons into heat and become nanosources of IR radiation detectable by an IR camera.

Results

The ways of creating the simplest converter, as well as a more complex converter with wider capabilities, are considered. The first converter is a gelatin matrix with gold 8.5-nm diameter NPs, and the second is a polystyrene matrix with 2-nm diameter NPs from copper–nickel MONEL^® alloy 404.

Conclusions

An approach with a THz-to-IR converter equipped with an IR camera is promising in that it could provide a better image of oncological pathology than the commercially available THz imaging cameras do.

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Kamil A. Moldosanov, Alexander V. Bykov, Nurlanbek Z. J. Kairyev, Mikhail K. Khodzitsky, Grigory Kropotov, Valery M. Lelevkin, Igor V. Meglinski, Andrei V. Postnikov, and Alexey A. Shakhmin "Terahertz-to-infrared converters for imaging the human skin cancer: challenges and feasibility," Journal of Medical Imaging 10(2), 023501 (14 March 2023). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.10.2.023501

Received: 16 October 2022; Accepted: 6 February 2023; Published: 14 March 2023

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KEYWORDS

Terahertz radiation

Phonons

Infrared cameras

Gold nanoparticles

Cameras

Photons

Gold

Purpose

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