Controlled Manipulation of Cell Function via Infrared Light
Abstract
Pulsed IR light, the photons of which carry non-ionizing amount of energy, induces unique biological effects due to millisecond duration thermal gradients generated by high water absorption of the IR light. These IR induced thermal gradient excite and inhibit action potentials in excitable cells. Although the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is not yet fully described, increasing evidence consistently demonstrates that the IR light and thermal gradients stimulate intracellular calcium release. While intracellular calcium plays an important role in the regulation of action potential generation in excitable cells, intracellular calcium regulates the function of a number of other cell types, including the activation of immune cells. the differentation of stem cells. and the production of collagen by fibroblasts. Therefore, w hypothesize that short pulses of infrared light can modulate functional cell behavior through stimulation of intracellular calcium signaling. This proposal will test our hypothesis and fill a critical gap in our fundamental knowledge of infrared light effects on cells through the following objectives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 06, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310441
Entities
People
- Alexandra Walsh
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Texas Engineering Experiment Station
- United States Air Force