Father-son team proves that lasers will destroy viruses
"Everything depends on power density," Tsen said. "Low-power density can kill viruses. By increasing power density, we can prevent bacterial growth and kill the bacteria. At the moment, we are still trying to figure out this mechanism."
While viruses can easily mutate and become resistant to various reverse transcriptase inhibitors and antibodies, they cannot easily alter their physical structure and become resistant to the effects of the USP laser.
The next step, according to Tsen, will be to test the technique on HIV and gain a better understanding of how the laser may be used to kill bacteria. "A method to selectively kill viruses and bacteria is desperately needed in medicine, and we hope to do our best to live up to the challenge," he said.
The results of the study promise many practical uses for the laser. "The most obvious application of this technology is in blood banks. We could treat the blood supplies with the laser to eliminate the risk of spreading pathogens through transfusions," Tsen said.
This technology could also be used in blood dialysis. The laser would be applied directly to the blood as it travels externally through the dialysis machine.
For Tsen, working with his father was never a problem. "My father is an expert in lasers," he said.
The two each brought their individual strengths to the project. "He provides much of the physics background necessary to operate the laser. I am more knowledgeable in biology, and so I was responsible for designing and preparing the virus samples to be irradiated," Tsen said.
Tsen hopes to continue his work in the medical field. "I would like to go to medical school to get a solid foundation in how the human body works," Tsen said.
"This will be indispensable when doing medical research in the future - knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is necessary for the successful development of treatments for disease."
While viruses can easily mutate and become resistant to various reverse transcriptase inhibitors and antibodies, they cannot easily alter their physical structure and become resistant to the effects of the USP laser.
The next step, according to Tsen, will be to test the technique on HIV and gain a better understanding of how the laser may be used to kill bacteria. "A method to selectively kill viruses and bacteria is desperately needed in medicine, and we hope to do our best to live up to the challenge," he said.
The results of the study promise many practical uses for the laser. "The most obvious application of this technology is in blood banks. We could treat the blood supplies with the laser to eliminate the risk of spreading pathogens through transfusions," Tsen said.
This technology could also be used in blood dialysis. The laser would be applied directly to the blood as it travels externally through the dialysis machine.
For Tsen, working with his father was never a problem. "My father is an expert in lasers," he said.
The two each brought their individual strengths to the project. "He provides much of the physics background necessary to operate the laser. I am more knowledgeable in biology, and so I was responsible for designing and preparing the virus samples to be irradiated," Tsen said.
Tsen hopes to continue his work in the medical field. "I would like to go to medical school to get a solid foundation in how the human body works," Tsen said.
"This will be indispensable when doing medical research in the future - knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is necessary for the successful development of treatments for disease."
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