Nanoparticle contrast agents for Terahertz medical imaging

We show in this study that nanoparticle composites can be used as contrast agents to enhance the sensitivity of terahertz medical imaging. The terahertz reflection signal increases by nearly 50 % for the sample with nanoparticles upon near infrared laser beam irradiation. This is due to the hyperthermia effect induced by surface plasma polaritons. This technique facilitates cancer diagnosis with a micron resolution.