Optical fiber will help in the treatment and diagnosis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Light pulses have long been used in medicine. This method of treatment was called optogenetics, but to date such therapy is not used often. The method of impact pulses of light on brain cells has a great potential, scientists actively work in this direction and study the possibilities of its use not only in treatment but also in diagnostics. A team of scientists from Harvard and Massachusetts University suggested using a specially designed optical fiber for treatment and diagnosis directly in the human body.
American researchers have developed a special fiber that is well stretched and biologically compatible with living cells of the human body. The new material consists of a hydrogel and experts suggest that in the future such fibers will be used to treat the initial stages of the disease, they will be implanted in the brain or human body and can also "highlight" the first manifestations of the disease.
The developers of the unique fiber themselves noted that it has the property of stretching, which makes it possible to use it as an implant without the risk of rupture. The structure of helium fibers is quite suitable for the method of optogenetics (stimulation in the brain of certain cells by means of light pulses).
According to scientists, helium fibers can harm adjacent tissues, especially in the brain. Professor Huanghe Zhao explained that the brain can be compared with jelly, whereas the fibers implanted in it will be glass - fragile, but dangerous elements that can harm delicate tissues. If the flexibility and softness of the fibers could match the tissues of the brain, then the stimulation would be more effective and long-term.
Conclusions of their research work scientists published in one of the scientific publications. As a basis, the work of Sek-Hyun (Andy) Yun was taken, the team of which developed a fiber from a hydrogel that effectively transmits light.
But the structure of this fiber was not strong, and all attempts to stretch it led to faults. Team Zhao proposed fiber from the hydrogel, which possesses good stringency and both teams decided to continue working together in this direction. Team Yun proposed to create a fiber in the form of a core, placed in a shell, to ensure the ultimate light flux, the core and shell must be made of materials with different refractive index. After several experiments, it was found that the Zhao team hydrogel is ideal for the core, several special additives have been added to the shell that retained the shape and prevented the rupture after stretching.
The researchers said that the unique fiber from the hydrogel in the future will be used as sensors that will work on the appearance of the first signs of the disease, in addition, such helium fibers are suitable for diagnosis in the long term and help monitor the development of tumors or inflammatory processes in the body.
When new fiber will appear on the medical market it is difficult to say, as researchers have to conduct a number of clinical trials that may take several years.
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