Computational and Experimental Advances in Laser-Based Thermal Ablation

Thermal ablation (TA) has become a central tool in modern minimally invasive medicine, offering effective alternatives to conventional surgical procedures for both oncological applications and cardiac arrhythmia management. Despite its clinical relevance, predicting and controlling the outcome of energy delivery within living tissue remains a significant scientific and technological challenge. Biological heterogeneity, nonlinear heat-transfer mechanisms, and the need for precise real-time monitoring motivate the development of integrated approaches that combine advanced computational modeling, quantitative sensing, and experimental validation. This doctoral thesis was conceived and developed within this interdisciplinary context. The work brings together mathematical modeling of laser–tissue interactions, in vitro and ex vivo experimental investigations, and the use of nanotechnologies and optical fiber sensors to improve the accuracy, selectivity, and predictability of thermal ablation. Two complementary clinical scenarios guide the research: laser ablation for cardiac arrhythmia treatment, approached primarily through computational models, and nanoparticle-mediated and sensor-monitored laser ablation in liver tissue, addressed through extensive laboratory experimentation. Although distinct in their physiological and therapeutic objectives, these lines of inquiry are united by a common scientific ambition: enhancing control over thermal energy deposition in biological media. The thesis reflects an iterative process in which computational simulations inform the design and interpretation of experiments, while experimental evidence, in turn, reveals critical aspects that refine and validate the models. This synergy has been essential for addressing questions related to heat propagation, tissue damage dynamics, photothermal enhancement, and the limitations of traditional sensing and modeling strategies. The research work opens with a comprehensive background on thermal ablation, presenting the underlying physical principles, the clinical motivations, and the variety of available energy-delivery techniques. This introductory framework establishes the context for the subsequent experimental investigations, which explore nanoparticle-mediated laser ablation and the use of fiber Bragg grating sensors to achieve high-resolution, real-time thermal monitoring in both in vitro and ex vivo environments. Building on the insights gained from these experiments, the thesis then transitions to the computational component, where advanced thermal models and optical–thermal coupling formulations are developed to describe heat propagation, tissue response, and lesion formation with greater accuracy and generality. The final chapters integrate the experimental and computational findings, offering a unified interpretation of the results and discussing the broader implications for precision thermal therapies. These concluding sections highlight open challenges, emerging opportunities, and promising directions for future research, particularly within the framework of ongoing interdisciplinary projects aimed at advancing minimally invasive ablation technologies.