PHOTONICS & LASERS IN MEDICINE -KO TOPIC ISSUE Michael R. Hamblin Arkady Mandel DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FUR LASERMEDIZIN e.V. Frank Frank Lothar Lilge Carsten M. Philipp Ronald Sroka schweizerische arbeitsgemeinschaft fur laserchirurgie www.degruyter.com/plm

Review Fatma Vatansever and Michael R. Hamblin* Far infrared radiation (FIR): Its biological effects and medical applications Ferne Infrarotstrahlung: Biologische Effekte und medizinische Anwendungen Abstract Far infrared (FIR) radiation (λ = 3–100 μm) is a subdivision of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been investigated for biological effects. The goal of this review is to cover the use of a further sub-division (3–12 μm) of this waveband, that has been observed in both in vitro and in vivo studies, to stimulate cells and tissue, and is considered a promising treatment modality for certain...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications to deliver the radiation in a controlled environment and within a convenient treatment time. With the development of better technology to deliver pure far infrared radiation (FIR), the benefits from its effects have widened. Nowadays, specialty FIR emitting heat lamps and garments made up of filaments (fibers) impregnated with FIR emitting nanoparticles are becoming used to deliver these thermal radiation effects. In this paper we explore the use of FIR as a promising treatment modality for certain medical conditions....

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications Spectral radiant emittance (W/(m2 μm)) Peak wavelength at maximum intensity (μm) Radiant heater (400°C) Tungsten Molten steel Fireproof stone Figure 2 (A) Planck’s law. Dependence of spectral radiant emittance (ωλ) for perfect black bodies as a function of wavelength (λ). (B) Wien’s displacement law. The wavelength of maximal radiant exitance (λmax) as a function of the absolute temperature (T) for a perfect black body (dashed line) and different bodies. radiation at FIR range with biological structures (including...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications the eyes, however, the body experiences its energy as a gentle radiant heat which can penetrate up to 1.5 inches (almost 4 cm) beneath the skin. FIR energy is sufficient to exert rotational and vibrational modes of motion in bonds forming the molecules (including the water molecules) as well as resonate with cellular frequencies. Resulting epidermal temperature is higher when the skin is irradiated with FIR than if similar thermal loads from shorter wavelengths are used. The prolonged erythermal response due...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications at 34°C for 20 min once daily, with total duration of the experiment of 5 weeks. Laser-Doppler perfusion imaging demonstrated that at the ischemic limb, blood perfusion ratio in the irradiated group increased significantly in comparison with the control group (0.79 ± 0.04 vs. 0.54 ± 0.08, p < 0.001). Also, in the treated group, significantly greater capillary density was observed (757 ± 123 per mm2 vs. 416 ± 20 per mm2, p < 0.01). Western blotting showed that thermal therapy has increased markedly the hindlimb...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications the garment and the skin. If the garment is skin tight, then conduction may be important, while if it is loose fitting then convection (heating up a layer of air between the skin and the garment) may be important. Ting-Kai Leung and colleagues have studied the effect of FIR-emitting ceramic powders in a range of biological studies [14–19]. In one set of studies, they cultured murine myoblast cells (C2C12) with bags of ceramic powder under the culture plates and found that FIR irradiation improved cell viability...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications Conventional sauna Figure 4 FIR sauna. (A, B) Comparison of FIR sauna with conventional heated sauna. (C) Cabin incorporating FIR emitting “cold” unit(s) (Anhui Hi-Tech Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd., Hefei, China). therapy reduced symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage in athletes after a simulated trail running race. 2.2.2 FIR ray devices Common devices are WS TY-101N® and WS TY-301R® (made by WS Far Infrared Medical Technology Co., Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan; see Figure 3). A report from Hu and Li [31] describes...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications Figure 5 FIR emitting garments and fabrics manufactured from fibers impregnated with ceramic nanoparticles (Celliant®, Hologenix, Santa Monica, CA, USA). (A) fibers, (B) yarns, (C) fabrics, (D) knee bandage brace, (E) socks, (F) gloves, (G) elbow bandage brace, (H) multi-purpose bandage, (I) performance apparel, (J) mattress, and (K) puppy blanket. pain [38]. In this study, 104 patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized to wear a sericite or placebo belt during sleep for three menstrual cycles, and then...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications randomized trial with 55 subjects (38 men, 17 women, average age 59.7 ± 11.9 years) enrolled 26 patients with diabetic neuropathy and 29 with other pain etiologies. Subjects twice completed the VAS, brief pain inventory (BPI), McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ), and a multipurpose, short form health survey with 36 questions (SF-36) a week apart [W(1+2)] before receiving either control or Celliant® socks. The same questionnaires were answered again 1 and 2 weeks later [W(3+4)]. The questionnaires provided nine scores...

F. Vatansever and M.R. Hamblin: FIR: Its biological effects and medical applications It cannot be excluded that FIR could itself have effects on CCO activity. A recent study has elucidated the existence of weakly H-bonded water molecules in bovine CCO that might change during catalysis [55]. Fitting with Gaussian components indicated the involvement of up to eight waters in the photolysis transition. The fact that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is extensively employed to study the structure, function, and dynamics of CCO [56, 57] suggests that it is possible that the same wavelengths...