The recent discovery of the various specific" triggers" and mechanisms of cell life and death responses suggests that certain non-ionizing irradiation spectra and other physical signals could be coupled with specific cellular "triggers" to improve diagnostic or treatment effects. Genetic, chemical and/or physical modifications of specific extrinsic cellular "triggers" have centered on chemical binding of specific molecules to specific receptors, i.e. chemical " triggers" thus allowing development of specific drugs to counteract the initiating function of the “triggers” in single cells. Investigations of non-ionizing irradiation effects on cells and tissues indicate that their “triggers” involve intimate interactions of linked components of the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton in tissues. Therefore, the search for single “triggers” that may work well for chemical “triggers” in single cells in culture may not be effective for discovery of the mechanisms that initiate sensing of the stimulations of non-ionizing irradiation and mechanical force.

Date Published: 11 March 2015
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 9326, Energy-based Treatment of Tissue and Assessment VIII, 932603 (11 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12.2080881

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9326:
Energy-based Treatment of Tissue and Assessment VIII
Thomas P. Ryan, Editor(s)