UPCONVERSION FLUORESCENCE-BASED PHOTOBIOMODULATION

Abstract

An ophthalmic lens comprising a clear, non-tinted, solid plastic substrate and a dye suitable for undergoing fluorescence upconversion wherein said dye absorbs light in the near infrared region from 850 nm to 2500 nm and emit light in the shorter wavelength region from 650 nm to 850 nm thereby providing photobiomodulation to the eye.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic lens comprising: a clear, non-tinted, solid plastic substrate; and a dye suitable for undergoing fluorescence upconversion wherein said dye absorbs light in the near infrared region from 850 nm to 2500 nm and emit light in the shorter wavelength region from 650 nm to 850 nm thereby providing photobiomodulation to the eye.

2. An ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is a glass lens.

3. An ophthalmic lens according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is a plastic lens.

4. An ophthalmic lens comprising: a clear, non-tinted, solid plastic substrate; a coating or a wafer or a film attached to said solid plastic substrate; and a dye incorporated into the coating or into the wafer or into the film that is suitable for undergoing fluorescence upconversion wherein said dye absorbs light in the near infrared region from 850 nm to 2500 nm and emit light in the shorter wavelength region from 650 nm to 850 nm thereby providing photobiomodulation to the eye.

5. A cosmetic composition comprising: a cream or lotion; and a dye suitable for undergoing fluorescence upconversion wherein said dye absorbs light in the near infrared region from 850 nm to 2500 nm and emit light in the shorter wavelength region from 650 nm to 850 nm thereby providing photobiomodulation to the skin.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Photon Upconversion is a process where light can be emitted with photon energies higher than those of the light generating the excitation. In this invention it is desired to use special compounds, for example nanometer-sized crystals, that absorb in the infrared or near infrared wavelengths, preferably between 850 nm and 2500 nm and undergo photon upconversion fluorescence and emit in the shorter wavelength regions of the red and near infrared wavelengths associated with photobiomodulation, between 650 nm and 850 nm.

[0010] Examples of such compounds include but are not limited to:

1. nanoparticles of yttrium oxyfluoride, ytterbium, erbium/yttrium oxyfluoride (YOF:20% Yb,2% Er/YOF) where strong emission at 669 nm occurs at an excitation wavelength of 980 nm (Guangshun Yi, Chem. Mater. 23, 11, 2729-2734, May 9 2011)
2. Nanoparticles of -NaYbF.sub.4:Tm.sup.3+)/CaF.sub.2 where reasonably strong emission at 800 nm occurs at an excitation wavelength of 980 (Guanying Chen, et. al. ACS Nano 2012 6 (9), 8280-8287).

[0011] Although some of these dyesand those described in other referencesmay have some absorptivity in the visible region of wavelengths, it is possible to utilize those dyes with the highest near IR absorption relative to any absorption in the visible region of wavelengths, and also to dilute the dyes in order to have a high luminous transmission over the visible region of wavelengths, preferably greater than 90% while providing an intensity of fluorescent light greater than 0.1 mW/cm.sup.2.

[0012] Incorporation of the aforementioned nanoparticles into clear, un-tinted, transparent substrates can be achieved by those skilled in the art in a multitude of ways. Including, but not limited to waterborne coatings or solvent based coatings wherein the surface of the nanoparticles are treated or made with hydrophilic or hydrophobic groups respectively. Or the nanoparticles can be dispersed in thermoset resins and cast into lenses or injection molded with lenses.

[0013] In the case of skin care products, the nanoparticleseither hydrophobic or hydrophiliccan be co-dispersed in solvents or water with hydrophobic polymers or hydrophilic polymers and then precipitated by a second solvent thereby producing a powder compatible with the skin, wherein the nanoparticle is reasonably sequestered by the powderand then serve as an ingredient for skin care products. For further sequestrationand further protection to the skin, the nanoparticles can be functionalized so as to co-polymerize with the monomeric form of the aforementioned hydrophobic or hydrophilic polymersand with the aid of a polymerization initiator.

[0014] A summary of mechanisms and materials for fluorescence upconversionin both organic and inorganic moleculesthat may be used as disclosed in this invention can be found in Wikipedia and include but may not be limited to:

1) Inorganic materials that can undergo fluorescence upconversion which contain ions of d-block or f-block elements. Examples are, but not limited to Ln.sup.3+, Ti.sup.2+, Ni.sup.2+, Mo.sup.3+, Re.sup.4+, Os.sup.4+. The physical mecchanisms for fluorescence upconversion in inorganic materials occurs through energy transfer upconversion, excited state absorption and photon avalanche; and
2) Organic molecules that can undergo fluorescence upconversion by way of triplet-triplet annihilation and usually occur in polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons.

[0015] The above description is illustrative of the preferred embodiment and many modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention whose scope is to be determined from the literal and equivalent scope of the claims below.