Chiral Harmonophores for Alignment Detection Microscopy
Chiral harmonophores enable background-free SHG that reports lamellar lipid alignment in LNPs, unlocking real-time nanoscale structure imaging.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a novel optical imaging method that enables enhanced visualization of lamellar lipidic phases by using new harmonophores in second harmonic generation (SHG). This technology allows for high-resolution, real-time imaging of internal lamellar organization within therapeutic lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which play a crucial role in drug delivery. Unlike traditional imaging methods that fall short due to background interference or limited structural specificity, this technology offers a new framework for probing lipid structure and dynamics in living systems.
Technology Validation:
relimin lt ti Preliminary results supporting CHAD detection of lamellar lipid assemblies. The theory underpinning CHAD predicts only crosspolarized CHAD SHG irrespective of sample orientation.
Advantages:
-Background-Free Optical Contrast
-Enables Real-Time Imaging
-High Spatial Resolution
Applications:
-Imaging Therapeutic Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs)
-Nanomedicine Development
TRL: 4
Intellectual Property:
Provisional-Gov. Funding, 2025-07-23, United States
Keywords: Binaphthol chromophores, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Analysis, Chiral harmonophores, Lamellar lipidic phases, Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), Pharmaceuticals, Second harmonic generation (SHG)