# US 2013/0156905 A1 · Plasmonic assisted systems and methods for interior energy-activation from an exterior source

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2013/0156905 A1
- Document ID: US20130156905A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/713,931
- Filed: 2012-12-13
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2008-03-11
- Assignees: Immunolight, LLC
- Inventors: Frederic Avery BOURKE, JR.; Tuan Vo-Dinh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156905A1

## CPC

- B01J 19/123: {Ultraviolet light}
- A23B 2/50: by irradiation without heating
- A23B 2/503: {with corpuscular or ionising radiation, i.e. X, alpha, beta or omega radiation}
- A23B 2/53: with ultraviolet light
- A23B 70/50: by irradiation or electric treatment, without heating
- A23L 5/32: {using phonon wave energy, e.g. sound or ultrasonic waves}
- A61K 41/0057: {Photodynamic therapy with a photosensitizer, i.e. agent able to produce reactive oxygen species upon exposure to light or radiation, e.g. UV or visible light; photocleavage of nucleic acids with an agent}
- A61K 41/0066: {Psoralene-activated UV-A photochemotherapy (PUVA-therapy), e.g. for treatment of psoriasis or eczema, extracorporeal photopheresis with psoralens or fucocoumarins}
- A61L 2/02: using physical processes
- A61L 2/082: X-rays
- A61L 2/088: using photocatalysts or photosensitisers
- A61L 2/10: Ultraviolet [UV] radiation
- A61L 2/16: using chemical substances
- A61M 1/3683: {using photoactive agents}
- A61N 5/062: {Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent}
- A61N 5/0624: {for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body}
- A61N 5/10: X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy (A61N5/01 takes precedence)
- A61P 7/08: Plasma substitutes; Perfusion solutions; Dialytics or haemodialytics; Drugs for electrolytic or acid-base disorders, e.g. hypovolemic shock (artificial tears A61P27/04)
- A61P 31/04: Antibacterial agents
- A61P 31/18: for HIV
- A61P 35/00: Antineoplastic agents
- B01J 19/082: {Gamma-radiation only}
- B01J 19/085: {Electron beams only}
- B01J 19/12: employing electromagnetic waves
- B01J 19/125: {X-rays}
- B01J 19/127: {Sunlight; Visible light}
- B01J 19/128: {Infrared light}
- B01J 23/50: Silver
- B01J 23/52: Gold
- B01J 31/0275: {also containing elements or functional groups covered by B01J31/0201 - B01J31/0269}
- B01J 31/2295: {Cyclic compounds, e.g. cyclopentadienyls}
- B01J 35/19: {Catalysts containing parts with different compositions}
- B01J 35/39: Photocatalytic properties
- B01J 35/45: Nanoparticles
- B01J 37/0072: {Preparation of particles, e.g. dispersion of droplets in an oil bath}
- B01J 37/0221: {of particles}
- C02F 1/30: by irradiation
- C02F 1/305: {with electrons}
- C02F 1/307: {with X-rays or gamma radiation}
- C02F 1/32: with ultraviolet light
- C02F 1/725: {by catalytic oxidation}
- C08J 3/24: Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules (mechanical aspects B29C35/00; crosslinking agents C08K)
- C08J 3/28: Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation
- C08J 7/18: using wave energy or particle radiation
- C09D 201/00: Coating compositions based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
- C09J 5/00: Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
- C09J 201/00: Adhesives based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
- C12H 1/06: Precipitation by physical means, e.g. by irradiation, vibrations
- G02B 5/008: {Surface plasmon devices (diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553)}
- G21K 5/00: Irradiation devices (discharge tubes for irradiating H01J37/00)
- A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
- A61L 2103/05: Living organisms or biological materials
- A61L 2103/09: Blood or products thereof
- A61N 2005/0661: {ultraviolet}
- A61N 2005/0662: {Visible light}
- A61N 2005/1087: {Ions; Protons}
- A61N 2005/1089: {Electrons}
- A61N 2005/1098: {Enhancing the effect of the particle by an injected agent or implanted device}
- B01J 2219/0877: Liquid
- B01J 2219/0879: Solid
- B01J 2219/0892: involving catalytically active material
- B01J 2219/1203: Incoherent waves
- B01J 2231/005: General concepts, e.g. reviews, relating to methods of using catalyst systems, the concept being defined by a common method or theory, e.g. microwave heating or multiple stereoselectivity
- B01J 2531/005: Catalytic metals
- B01J 2531/008: Methods or theories
- B82Y 20/00: Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 40/00: Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
- C02F 1/302: {with microwaves}
- C02F 2305/10: Photocatalysts
- C08J 2300/00: Characterised by the use of unspecified polymers
- C09J 2301/416: use of irradiation
- Y02W 10/37: using solar energy
- Y10S 977/774: Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots
- Y10S 977/777: Metallic powder or flake
- Y10S 977/896: Chemical synthesis, e.g. chemical bonding or breaking
- Y10S 977/915: Therapeutic or pharmaceutical composition
- Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
- C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes)
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H)
- C12H: PASTEURISATION, STERILISATION, PRESERVATION, PURIFICATION, CLARIFICATION OR AGEING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; METHODS FOR ALTERING THE ALCOHOL CONTENT OF FERMENTED SOLUTIONS OR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (simulation ageing by flavouring C12G3/06)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
- A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium disposed in an artificial container. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one of a plasmonics agent and an energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy through the artificial container to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the plasmonics agent or the energy modulation agent.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing a change in a medium, comprising:
(1) placing inside the medium to be treated an energy modulation agent and a photoactivatable agent, said energy modulation agent comprising a photon emitter which emits at least one of ultraviolet and visible light into the medium to be treated upon interaction with an initiation energy;
(2) applying the initiation energy from an energy source including at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or an electron beam to the medium in order to provide said at least one of ultraviolet and visible light at one or more positions displaced from the energy modulation agent inside the medium to be treated; and
(3) inducing from the light emitted into the medium a photoreactive change to the photoactivatable agent displaced from the energy modulation agent inside the medium to be treated.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein inducing a photoreactive change includes at least one or more of:
photocuring the medium to be treated;
photocuring an adhesive as the medium to be treated;
sterilizing the medium to be treated;
pasteurizing the medium to be treated;
deactivating fermentation in the medium to be treated;
reducing contaminants in waste water comprising said medium to be treated;
activating a photoreactive drug in the medium to be treated; or
activating in vivo a photoreactive drug in the medium to be treated.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing in the medium a plasmonics agent which 1) enhances or modifies said light from the energy modulation agent or 2) enhances or modifies the initiation energy.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the plasmonics agent comprises metal structures.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the metal structures comprise at least one of nanospheres, nanorods, nanocubes, nanopyramids, nanoshells, multi-layer nanoshells, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein:
the plasmonics agent comprises a dielectric-metal composite; or
the plasmonics agent comprises a plurality of metal nanoparticles disposed in vicinity of each other.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises at least one of a sulfide, a telluride, a selenide and an oxide semiconductor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises at least one of Y2O3; ZnS; ZnSe; MgS; CaS; Mn, Er ZnSe; Mn, Er MgS; Mn, Er CaS; Mn, Er ZnS; Mn, Yb ZnSe; Mn, Yb MgS; Mn, Yb CaS; Mn, Yb ZnS:Tb3+, Er3+; ZnS:Tb3+; Y2O3:Tb3+; Y2O3:Tb3+, Er3+; ZnS:Mn2+; ZnS:Mn,Er3+.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the medium comprises a change in organism activity.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the change in activity comprises at least one of a sterilization of the medium or a deactivation of fermentation in the medium.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the change in activity comprises a cold pasteurization of the medium.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein applying comprises sterilizing a medium including at least one organism selected from the group consisting of bacteria, viruses, yeasts, and fungi.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the photoactivatable agent comprises an active agent contained within a photocage, wherein upon exposure to said initiation energy source, the photocage is configured to disassociate from the active agent, rendering the active agent available to the medium.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the photoactivatable agent is selected from psoralens, pyrene cholesteryloleate, acridine, porphyrin, fluorescein, rhodamine, 16-diazorcortisone, ethidium, transition metal complexes of bleomycin, transition metal complexes of deglycobleomycin organoplatinum complexes, alloxazines, vitamin Ks, vitamin L, vitamin metabolites, vitamin precursors, naphthoquinones, naphthalenes, naphthols and derivatives thereof having planar molecular conformations, porphorinporphyrins, dyes and phenothiazine derivatives, coumarins, quinolones, quinones, and anthroquinones.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the photoactivatable agent comprises a psoralen, a coumarin, or a derivative thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of a cancer cell, a tumor cell, an autoimmune deficiency symptom virus, or a blood-borne germicide is treated by the psoralen, the coumarin, or the derivative thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the photoactivatable agent comprises a photocatalyst.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the photocatalyst agent comprises at least one of TiO2, ZnO, CdS, CdSe, SnO2, SrTiO3, WO3, Fe2O3, and Ta2O5.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said photon emitters comprise a plurality of luminescent agents.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein said luminescent agents comprise phosphorescent compounds and fluorescent compounds.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein said luminescent agents comprise semiconducting or metallic materials.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein placing comprises providing segregated within the medium the energy modulation agent.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein providing segregated within the medium comprises providing encapsulations of the energy modulation agent in the medium.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein providing encapsulations comprises:
providing said encapsulations in a fluidized bed;
providing said encapsulations in re-entrant structures extending into the artificial container holding said medium; or
providing said encapsulations on interior walls of the artificial container holding said medium.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein UV/VIS energy from the energy modulation agent activates the photoactivatable agent.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein applying comprises applying the initiation energy to waste water to reduce contaminants in the waste water.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein applying comprises sterilizing parts of a utensil in a joint region adhering one region of the utensil to another region of the utensil.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein applying comprises applying the initiation energy to fluids to sterilize the fluids.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein applying comprises at least one of:
sterilizing blood products or food products; or
pasteurizing the fluids or the food products.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein applying comprises applying the initiation energy to alter a surface structure of an article in the medium.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein applying comprises photo-grafting a molecular species onto a surface of the article.