Nano-Pulsed Laser Optoacoustic Therapy for Pre-Treatment and Post-Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents both an acute and a chronic medical challenge among service members and veterans. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate, in a rodent model, that a unique non-invasive nano-pulsed laser optoacoustic therapy (NPLT) is a promising pre-treatment for military personnel at high risk of combat-related TBI and a promising treatment after combat-related TBI, with the goal of limiting onset and progression of neuropathology and cognitive impairment. As of 09/30/21, our data show that NPLT, applied 24 hours before blast-induced brain injury (bTBI), prevents vestibulomotor dysfunction (in a focal model of bTBI) and cognitive dysfunctions (in a diffuse model of bTBI). Surprisingly, when rats were subjected to repetitive bTBI (2 consecutive bTBI 48 hours apart), we found no significant vestibulomotor and cognitive dysfunctions. However, after repetitive bTBI, we found significant accumulation of microglia in the brain that was prevented by NPLT treatment. Further histopathological and biochemical analyses are in progress to determine whether neuroinflammation and/or neurodegeneration is detected in the brain after single or repetitive bTBI and the effect of NPLT on bTBI and Sham rats.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1162349
Entities
People
- Maria-adelaide Micci
Organizations
- University of Texas Medical Branch