Cellular effects of terahertz waves

Abstract

Overview

Significance: An increasing interest in the area of biological effects at exposure of tissues and cells to the terahertz (THz) radiation is driven by a rapid progress in THz biophotonics, observed during the past decades. Despite the attractiveness of THz technology for medical diagnosis and therapy, there is still quite limited knowledge about safe limits of THz exposure.

Aim: We provide an overview of recent research results in the area of biological effects at exposure of tissues and cells to THz waves.

Approach

• Brief overview of general features of the THz-wave-tissue interactions.
• Discussion on modern THz emitters, focusing on their reliability for studying the biological effects of THz waves.
• Examination of three levels of biological system organization (i.e., solutions of biological molecules; cultures of cells, individual cells, and cell structures; and entire organs or organisms).
• Special attention is devoted to the cellular level.
• Distinction between thermal and nonthermal mechanisms of THz-wave-cell interactions.
• Discussion on the problem of adequate estimation of the THz biological effects' specificity.
• Issues related to experimental data reproducibility, caused by rareness of the THz experimental setups and an absence of unitary protocols.

Findings

The summarized data demonstrate the current stage of the research activity and knowledge about the THz exposure on living objects.

Conclusion

This review helps the biomedical optics community to summarize up-to-date knowledge in the area of cell exposure to THz radiation, and paves the ways for the development of THz safety standards and THz therapeutic applications.

Recent research results in the area of THz-wave effects on biological systems of the different organization levels, such as biomolecules, cells, and organism, were discussed. Despite the considerable data accumulated in this demanding research direction, we still possess quite limited knowledge about biological effects of THz waves. Further research and engineering efforts are required to develop adequate safe limits of THz-wave exposure and to objectively uncover strengths and weaknesses of THz technology in different branches of medial therapy. Thus, this review summarizes up-to-date knowledge in the area of cell exposure to THz radiation and paves the ways to the THz dosimetry and therapeutic avenues.