Effects Of Terahertz Radiation Research Articles

Effects of Terahertz Radiation on the Aggregation of Alzheimer’s Aβ42 Peptide

The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease is thought to be directly linked to the abnormal aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the nervous system as a common neurodegenerative disease. Consequently, researchers in many areas are actively looking for factors that affect Aβ aggregation. Numerous investigations have demonstrated that, in addition to chemical induction of Aβ aggregation, electromagnetic radiation may also affect Aβ aggregation. Terahertz waves are an emerging form of non-ionizing radiation that has the potential to affect the secondary bonding networks of biological systems, which in turn could affect the course of biochemical reactions by altering the conformation of biological macromolecules. As the primary radiation target in this investigation, the in vitro modeled Aβ42 aggregation system was examined using fluorescence spectrophotometry, supplemented by cellular simulations and transmission electron microscopy, to see how it responded to 3.1 THz radiation in various aggregation phases. The results demonstrated that in the nucleation aggregation stage, 3.1 THz electromagnetic waves promote Aβ42 monomer aggregation and that this promoting effect gradually diminishes with the exacerbation of the degree of aggregation. However, by the stage of oligomer aggregation into the original fiber, 3.1 THz electromagnetic waves exhibited an inhibitory effect. This leads us to the conclusion that terahertz radiation has an impact on the stability of the Aβ42 secondary structure, which in turn affects how Aβ42 molecules are recognized during the aggregation process and causes a seemingly aberrant biochemical response. Molecular dynamics simulation was employed to support the theory based on the aforementioned experimental observations and inferences.

Behavioral Effect of Terahertz Waves in C57BL/6 Mice.

Terahertz is a new radiation source with many unique advantages. In recent years, its application has rapidly expanded to various fields, but there are few studies on the individual effects of terahertz. In this study, we investigated the behavioral effects of terahertz radiation on C57BL/6 mice, and we conducted an open field test, an elevated plus maze test, a light–dark box test, a three-chamber social test, and a forced swim test to explore the effects of terahertz radiation on mice from a behavioral perspective. The results show that terahertz wave may increase anti-anxiety, anti-depression, and social interaction in mice.

Study on the effects of terahertz radiation on gene networks of Escherichia coli by means of fluorescent biosensors.

Three novel fluorescent biosensors sensitive to terahertz (THz) radiation were developed via transformation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells with plasmids, in which a promotor of genes matA, safA, or chbB controls the expression of a fluorescent protein. The biosensors were exposed to THz radiation from two sources: a high-intensity pulsed short-wave free electron laser and a low-intensity continuous long-wave IMPATT-diode-based device. The threshold and dynamics of fluorescence were found to depend on radiation parameters and exposure time. Heat shock or chemical stress yielded the absence of fluorescence induction. The biosensors are evaluated to be suitable for studying influence of THz radiation on the activity of gene networks related with considered gene promoters.

Effects of Terahertz Radiation on Living Cells: a Review

This review discusses the current state of research concerning the effects of terahertz (THz) radiation on living cells in the context of biosafety of THz radiation for the human organism.

The influence of terahertz radiation on the cell’s genetic apparatus

This article presents a review of the literature data and our own data concerning the effects of terahertz radiation on the state of DNA, the chromosome, and the activity of genes in the cells of micro-organisms and eukaryotes. The phenotypical changes that accompany the irradiation of intact organisms are described. Mutagenic effects and epigenetic pathways of action are considered. Possible mechanisms of the nonthermal action of terahertz radiation are discussed.

The development of F1 progeny from mature egg cells after terahertz radiation of parental drosophila

The effects of terahertz radiation (0.1–2.2 THz) on the dynamics of reaching the imago stage by drosophila of the F1 progeny obtained from the crossing of irradiated and unirradiated parental individuals in different combinations were studied. A shift in the maximum emergence peak for an earlier period and a shortening of the period of reaching the adult state were found in the progeny of both sexes obtained from irradiated females. The development up to the imago stage significantly differs in the progeny of irradiated males and irradiated females in a number of parameters. It was suggested that the effect of terahertz radiation on the dynamics of the onset of the imago stage can be associated with one or different mechanisms that change the expression of the genes and signaling pathways that control the development of drosophila.

The biological effects of terahertz laser radiation as a fundamental premise for designing diagnostic and treatment methods

This review considers experimental research of the biological effects of terahertz radiation and their results, which provide a basis for medical application of laser terahertz radiation. Therapeutic and diagnostic uses of laser terahertz radiation are described with reference to preliminary basic investigations at the organismic, cell, and molecular levels. It is emphasized that preliminary basic studies of this kind are of importance as another avenue of research to design diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in addition to terahertz imaging and spectroscopy.

Escherichia coli stress response systems and their reaction to terahertz radiation

In this review, we summarize the latest data concerning the reactions of Escherichia coli to nonthermal terahertz radiation and the underlying molecular mechanisms. E. coli is the most simple and convenient model object for studying the effects of terahertz radiation: both its genetics and metabolism are well studied, and it is easily amenable to genetic engineering allowing one to create biosensors using promoters of genes activated by certain stress factors and the reporter GFP protein. Transformed E. coli cells containing biosensors can be used to visualize their reactions to terahertz radiation based on the intensity of GFP fluorescence. In this review, we present data on the response of certain E. сoli stress response systems to terahertz radiation obtained by us, as well as by other authors. We discuss experimental results for E. сoli/ pKatG-GFP, E. сoli/pCopA-GFP, and E. сoli/ pEmrR-GFP biosensors that are used to detect E. сoli genetic networks responding to oxidative stress, copper ion homeostasis failures, and antiseptics, respectively. The obtained data indicate that exposure to nonthermal terahertz radiation induces E. сoli gene networks of oxidative stress and copper ion homeostasis, but does not activate those responding to antibiotics, protonophores, or superoxide anions. The fact that E. сoli/pKatG-GFP and E. сoli/pCopA-GFP biosensors have different activation and reaction periods when exposed to terahertz radiation and natural inducers suggests that reactions of oxidative stress and copper ion homeostasis systems to terahertz radiation are specific.

The impact of terahertz radiation on an extremophilic archaean Halorubrum saccharovorum proteome

Nonthermal effects of terahertz radiation on living objects are currently intensely studied, as more sources of this radiation type and devices employing it are being constructed. Terahertz radiation is increasingly used in security and inspection systems, medical and scientific appliances due to its low quant energy, which does not cause severe effects on organisms as other radiation types with higher quant energies do. The aim of this study was the identification of protein complexes participating in the response of the archaea Halorubrum saccharovorum H3 isolated from an extreme natural environment to terahertz radiation. We developed a microfluidic system for irradiation of bacterial and archaeal cultures with terahertz radiation and performed a 5-hour-long exposure of H. saccharovorum to terahertz radiation at a wavelength of 130 μm and a power density of 0.8 Wt per cm2 for 5 h. We identified under- or overexpressed proteins in response to terahertz radiation using 2D electrophoresis with subsequent MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. A total of 16 differentially expressed protein fractions with at least 1.5-fold changes in expression level were detected. The obtained data suggest that Halorubrum cells respond to exposure to terahertz radiation by expression changes in gene products involved in translation regulation.

Terahertz radiation improves adaptation characteristics in Drosophila melanogaster

An investigation into the effect of nonionizing terahertz radiation (0.1–10 THz) on living organisms is urgent due to the recent development of modern technologies employing such radiation. The aim of this study was to establish the impact of terahertz radiation on successive generations of fruit flies. The effects of terahertz radiation on the survival ability and lifespan of the Oregon-R strain of Drosophila melanogaster proved to be diverse: they were negative or neutral at early life stages and positive at late stages. The female flies exposed to the radiation showed increased survival rate during the second half of the life of imago. The males demonstrated low sensitivity to the radiation. There were no significant differences noted in the dynamics of maturation and total number of offspring between the female flies that were exposed to the radiation and those that were not. The results of the study practically did not depend on the sex and maturity stage of the oocytes irradiated.

The Effects of Terahertz Radiation on Human Keratinocyte Primary Cultures and Neural Cell Cultures

Terahertz (THz) frequencies are found in a previously underexploited region of the radiation spectrum. This non-ionising energy is now being employed in medical imaging, so the possibility of adverse effects on human skin was evaluated. Primary cultures of normal human keratinocytes (NHKs) express adhesion molecules that comprise part of the natural barrier function of the skin. The effects of exogenous agents on this barrier function can be measured. The ND7/23 cell line, which displays the characteristics of sensory neurones, can proliferate in the undifferentiated state, but can be induced to differentiate and develop neurite-like projections. Previous studies with NHK and neural cell cultures produced no evidence of the inability of these cells to differentiate and form a barrier following THz exposure. The cells were exposed to 0.14THz radiation for times varying from 10 minutes to 24 hours. For each 80-nanosecond pulse, the cells were exposed to a peak power of between 24 and 62mW/cm(2), i.e. a total energy at peak power of 345J, or 86J at average power over 24 hours. No changes in cell activity occurred, as monitored with the resazurin reduction assay, or with the barrier function of the human corneal cells, as measured with the fluorescein leakage assay. The monitoring of differentiation by using an assay for cornified envelope formation, revealed no adverse effects. Glutathione (GSH) and heat shock protein 70 levels were examined before and after differentiation, to determine the degree of the stress response, with the effects of UVB radiation as a control. UVB induced a stress response, as did heat shock treatment at 43 degrees C, whilst 0.15THz radiation, even after 24 hours of exposure, did not. Repeated exposure to THz radiation at this level, also resulted in no detectable adverse reactions.