Laser-heated crystal growth technique implantation and the preparation of single crystals with zonal eutectic concentration for medical applications

• Grant number: 13/17071-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Marcello Rubens Barsi Andreeta
• Grantee: Marcello Rubens Barsi Andreeta
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Edwin Tamashiro ; Lucia Adriana Villas Bôas Goulart

Abstract

The importance of technology-based single crystals, applied to medicine, is relevant and well recognized (computed tomography systems, pacemakers, pH sensors, etc.), However this strategic area is continually losing expertise for developing new devices due to lack of training of people in crystal growth technology. Three are the main reasons for the lack of interest in the field, the high cost of conventional equipment (hundreds of thousands of dollars), the amount of reagents used (in the order of hundreds of grams) and the long time for the preparation of single crystals (days or weeks). The technique of laser melting, known as Laser-Heated Pedestal Growth (LHPG), is an alternative to this scenario. This technique is best suited for the production of single crystals in the shape of fibers due to its versatility (it does not use crucibles), their high pulling rates (mm/min, single crystals can be obtained in a matter of hours) and size reduced regarding the molten zone (<1 mm3), enabling expensive chemical reagents savings. Due to the unique characteristics of this crystal growth technique, which allows obtaining highly localized regions intentionally doped, a new application for crystalline fibers has been developed with a view for their usage in laser thermotherapy. The prototypes consist of the production of pure crystalline fibers with a high doping of Nd3+ only at the fibers´ end (tip). Thus by means of laser pumping and the relaxation of multi-phonon, heat is generated raising the temperature of the doped region. The use of heat (hyperthermia or thermotherapy) is not new in the treatment of tumors and has been used since antiquity. However, over the years has been developed systems and minimally invasive techniques and with the greatest possible control of the temperature at the application site, seeking the least possible damage to tissues adjacent to the application region. In this project, we are proposing the implementation of the crystal growth technique by laser melting in the Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, as well as the systematic study of the production of these tips with different doping levels, for maximum heating efficiency using the biocompatible materials based on aluminum oxide. For the development of this project we have a partnership with the Division of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, USP by Prof. Dr. Edwin Tamashiro. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

WANG, TAO; DE OLIVEIRA, RAFAEL B.; ANDREETA, MARCELLO R. B.; WANG, HAOYUAN; JIA, ZHITAI; TAO, XUTANG. Oriented Crystal Growth of La0.557Li0.330TiO3 in Bulk Ceramics Induced by LaAlO3 Single-Crystal Fibers. Crystal Growth & Design, v. 21, n. 4, p. 8-pg., 2021-01-26. (13/07793-6, 16/04788-0, 13/17071-8)

DE OLIVEIRA, RAFAEL B.; ANDREETA, MARCELLO R. B.; DE SOUZA, DULCINA M. P. F.; RODRIGUES, JOAO E. F. S.; PIZANI, PAULO S.. Innovative Design for the Enhancement of Lithium Lanthanum Titanate Electrolytes. Crystal Growth & Design, v. 19, n. 9, p. 4897-4901, SEP 2019. (13/17071-8, 13/07793-6)