Angelina I Nikitkina1, Polina Y Bikmulina1,2, Elvira R Gafarova1,2, Nastasia V Kosheleva1,2,3, Yuri M Efremov1,2, Evgeny A Bezrukov4, Denis V Butnaru4, Irina N Dolganova1,5,6, Nikita V Chernomyrdin1,7, Olga P Cherkasova8,9, Arsenii A Gavdush7, Peter S Timashev1,2,10. 1. Sechenov University, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Moscow, Russia. 2. World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare," Moscow, Russia. 3. Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology,", Russia. 4. Sechenov University, Institute for Urology and Reproductive Health, Moscow, Russia. 5. Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Solid State Physics, Chernogolovka, Russia. 6. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Russia. 7. Russian Academy of Sciences, Prokhorov General Physics Institute, Moscow, Russia. 8. Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Laser Physics of the Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk, Russia. 9. Novosibirsk State Technical University, Novosibirsk, Russia. 10. N. N. Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Department of Polymers and Composites, Moscow, Russia.
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE: Terahertz (THz) radiation has demonstrated a great potential in biomedical applications over the past three decades, mainly due to its non-invasive and label-free nature. Among all biological specimens, skin tissue is an optimal sample for the application of THz-based methods because it allows for overcoming some intrinsic limitations of the technique, such as a small penetration depth (0.1 to 0.3 mm for the skin, on average). AIM: We summarize the modern research results achieved when THz technology was applied to the skin, considering applications in both imaging/detection and treatment/modulation of the skin constituents. APPROACH: We perform a review of literature and analyze the recent research achievements in THz applications for skin diagnosis and investigation. RESULTS: The reviewed results demonstrate the possibilities of THz spectroscopy and imaging, both pulsed and continuous, for diagnosis of skin melanoma and non-melanoma cancer, dysplasia, scars, and diabetic condition, mainly based on the analysis of THz optical properties. The possibility of modulating cell activity and treatment of various diseases by THz-wave exposure is shown as well. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid development of THz technologies and the obtained research results for skin tissue highlight the potential of THz waves as a research and therapeutic instrument. The perspectives on the use of THz radiation are related to both non-invasive diagnostics and stimulation and control of different processes in a living skin tissue for regeneration and cancer treatment.
SIGNIFICANCE: Terahertz (THz) radiation has demonstrated a great potential in biomedical applications over the past three decades, mainly due to its non-invasive and label-free nature. Among all biological specimens, skin tissue is an optimal sample for the application of THz-based methods because it allows for overcoming some intrinsic limitations of the technique, such as a small penetration depth (0.1 to 0.3 mm for the skin, on average). AIM: We summarize the modern research results achieved when THz technology was applied to the skin, considering applications in both imaging/detection and treatment/modulation of the skin constituents. APPROACH: We perform a review of literature and analyze the recent research achievements in THz applications for skin diagnosis and investigation. RESULTS: The reviewed results demonstrate the possibilities of THz spectroscopy and imaging, both pulsed and continuous, for diagnosis of skin melanoma and non-melanoma cancer, dysplasia, scars, and diabetic condition, mainly based on the analysis of THz optical properties. The possibility of modulating cell activity and treatment of various diseases by THz-wave exposure is shown as well. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid development of THz technologies and the obtained research results for skin tissue highlight the potential of THz waves as a research and therapeutic instrument. The perspectives on the use of THz radiation are related to both non-invasive diagnostics and stimulation and control of different processes in a living skin tissue for regeneration and cancer treatment.
Entities:
Keywords:
cancer detection and treatment; regenerative medicine; skin; terahertz spectroscopy and imaging; terahertz technology
Authors: Martin A Schroer; Siawosch Schewa; Andrey Yu Gruzinov; Christian Rönnau; Janine Mia Lahey-Rudolph; Clement E Blanchet; Till Zickmantel; Young-Hwa Song; Dmitri I Svergun; Manfred Roessle Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-11-16 Impact factor: 4.379