Abstract

Overview

This study investigates the thermal effects of terahertz (THz) radiation on living cells, specifically examining how different dosages and exposure durations impact cell behavior.

Findings

• Cells and biological tissues were exposed to high-power pulses of THz radiation.
• A finite-element model was used for numerical solutions, analyzing temperature increases in water within the exposure area.
• The study presents a simple formula for estimating temperature changes at the radiation spot's center based on frequency and fluence of the THz pulse.
• The impact of thermal effects varies with average power and fluence of the THz pulse, influenced by the pulse repetition rate.
• Human dermal fibroblasts were specifically tested with THz pulses, showing no significant changes in heat shock protein expression compared to control groups after 3 hours of exposure.

Conclusion

Despite exposure to high-power THz pulses, the change in intracellular processes, specifically heat shock protein expression, wasn't statistically significant, suggesting a negligible thermal impact under the used experimental conditions.