Bioresorbable optical fiber Bragg gratings

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Optical Fiber Technology
• Photonics

Background:

• Bioresorbable materials are crucial for temporary medical implants.
• Optical fiber sensors offer non-invasive monitoring capabilities.
• Developing degradable optical fibers is key for in vivo applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate Bragg grating inscription in bioresorbable calcium-phosphate glass optical fibers.
• To investigate the wet dissolution characteristics of these gratings.
• To explore their potential for soluble photonic sensing probes.

Main Methods:

• Inscribing Bragg gratings using 193 nm excimer laser radiation.
• Studying the dissolution of irradiated fibers in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 56 hours.
• Analyzing selective chemical etching effects on the gratings.

Main Results:

• Successfully inscribed Bragg gratings with an average refractive index change of 5.8×10⁻⁴.
• Observed dissolution and selective chemical etching of the fiber in simulated physiological conditions.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of wet dissolution studies for these optical fibers.

Conclusions:

• Bioresorbable calcium-phosphate glass fiber Bragg gratings can be fabricated.
• These gratings exhibit controlled dissolution in physiological conditions.
• The technology holds promise for developing soluble photonic sensing probes for in vivo monitoring.