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Quantifying optical properties of hemozoin for the rapid detection of malaria

POSTER

Abstract

Hemozoin, a byproduct of plasmodium, is the basis of a new approach for efficient, cost-effective malaria detection. Clinical success of malaria detection with a magneto-optical device (MOD) motivates quantification of the optical interactions forming the basis for this detection mechanism. MOD is used to measure the intensity of polarized light transmitted through a sample of hemozoin suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, subject to a magnetic field ($\vec{B}$) that can be turned on and off. According to Beer’s law, ratios of transmitted light with $\vec{B}$ on and off as a function of hemozoin concentration are related to change in cross-sectional absorption $\Delta\sigma=\sigma_{B\ \textrm{on}}-\sigma_{B\ \textrm{off}}$. We tested several hemozoin concentrations, linearly fit intensity ratio versus concentration data, and accounted for thermal effects using a basis transformation to find $\sigma_{\parallel}-\sigma_{\perp}=1.56\pm0.43 \textrm{cm}^3$ where $\sigma_{\parallel}$ $(\sigma_{\perp})$ corresponds to polarization parallel (perpendicular) to $\vec{B}$. This result is comparable to other published work, and the quantification of $\sigma_{\parallel}-\sigma_{\perp}$ informs our understanding of the magneto-optical properties of hemozoin, which advances malaria detection.

Authors

  • Kyle Blasinsky

    John Carroll University

  • Amanda McGreer

    John Carroll University

  • Clemens Winkelmann

    University of Michigan, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Michigan State University; CREATE for STEM Institute, Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Michigan State University, Kettering University, Kent State University - Physics, Kent State University - Chemistry, Institute for Physics, Martin-Luther-Universitaet, Halle, Germany, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA, IPG Photonics, 50 Old Webster Rd., Oxford, MA 01540, OptiGrate, 562 S. Econ Circle, Oviedo, FL 32765, Northrop Grumman Synoptics, 1201 Continental Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28273, University of Toledo, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, Case Western Reserve University, Clarkson University, Univ of Dayton, Australian Ntl Univ, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Dev Command - Armament Ctr, Wayne State University, The University of Akron, Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Néel Institute, Grenoble, France

  • Danielle Kara

    John Carroll University