Ramachandran Muthiah

Morning star hospital
India

Abstract Title: Terahertz Science and Technology in brain sciences

Biography: Ramachandran Muthiah, Consultant Physician & Cardiologist, Zion hospital, Azhagiamandapam and Morning star hospital, Marthandam, Kanyakumari District, India. Completed MBBS in 1989 under Madurai Kamaraj University, M.D. in General Medicine in 1996, D.M. in cardiology in 2003 under Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University, Chennai, India. Worked as medical officer in Rural health services for 5 years and in teaching category as Assistant Professor at Madras medical college, Coimbatore medical college, Thoothukudi medical college and Professor at Dr.SMCSI Mission hospital & Medical college, Karakonam, Trovandrum and Azeezia Medical college, Kollam. Published many papers in Cardiosource, American College of Cardiology Foundation, Case Reports in Clinical Medicine (SCIRP) and Journal of Saudi Heart Association. Special research on Rheumatic fever and Endomyocardial fibrosis in tropical belts, Myxomas, Ineffective endocarditis, apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Ebstein’s anomaly, Rheumatic Taussig-Bing Heart, Costello syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallot and brain abscess.

Research Interest: Terahertz (THz) radiation refers to electromagnetic waves ranging from 100 GHz to 10 THz, corresponding to wavelengths between 3 mm and 3 μm, sandwiched between the millimeter wave and the middle infrared band. It features a short wavelength, high penetration in the dust, and low photon energy with no ionization damage. It is also a band rich in characteristic fingerprints of molecular vibrations and rotations, with important applications in various fields . However, the THz band is traditionally called the “terahertz gap” because generating and detecting the THz wave has been difficult. With the advancement of the generation of the THz wave , THz applications in other fields like high-speed communications , atmospheric remote sensing , security imaging , and bio-sensing have begun to be applied in the real world. THz wave-based physical regulation leverages the unique physical properties of THz waves to influence the structures and functions of biological macromolecules and ultimately achieve desired physiological functionalities. It attracts increasing attention due to nonthermal, noninvasive, and reversible modulation manners, showing great potential in biomedicine and brain sciences. Ion channels, as critical pore proteins being awarded Nobel Prizes 3 times (years 1991, 2003, and 2021), are undoubtedly essential for biological systems. Understanding ion permeation and successfully regulating it is the key to developing new therapeutic strategies for channelopathies or achieving desired neuronal activities. THz wave manipulation of DNA and RNA is likely a promising tool in genetic engineering. In the realm of RNA research, different THz waves have shown the ability to either promote the mechanical unfolding or alter the structure stability of RNA hairpins in different unfolding phases. Receptor–ligand recognition based on interactions like ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, van der waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions underpins myriad physiological processes, making receptors the drug targets for therapeutic intervention. To address the severe side effects induced by potent but high-affinity antipsychotic drugs, Li et al proposed to significantly accelerate drug dissociation by diminishing the hydrogen bonding and stacking forces between the receptor and drug with specific THz irradiation. Peptide aggregation, particularly that of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, is an essential hallmark for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Since THz radiation showed superiority of modulating the intermolecular interactions, it rapidly became an alternative to regulate peptide aggregation. Phospholipids form the basis of cell membranes that regulate the exchange of substances between the cell and its environment. The dielectric dispersion and spectral characteristics of phospholipid bilayers were sketched in the THz band , underscoring the potential of THz waves to manipulate membrane functioning, which might be conducive to drug delivery. Specifically, the biological responses of primary hippocampal neurons to THz radiation were investigated regarding varying power densities . The role in modulating neural signaling was further emphasized where THz radiation was proved capable of promoting synaptic plasticity by activating the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway , enhancing synaptic transmission and cell differentiation in vitro , and promoting growth and signaling of neurons . The transcriptome study showed the influence of THz illuminance on cell proliferation and migration.