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A major step towards improving medicine is identifying different and efficient methods for diagnosis and treatment. One of the problems often associated with conventional medical therapies and diagnostic tools is that they tend to be invasive procedures that also often cause pain and discomfort to the patient. However, current trends in healthcare have seen a shift towards improved medical therapies and diagnostics with emphasis on patient comfort. This has led to the development of many non-invasive medical techniques and devices. Non-invasive methods often utilise some form of light and, therefore, knowledge about the interaction between the tissue and light sources is important.
Biophotonics
Ann Singh, a researcher at the CSIR National Laser Centre, is one of the people involved in fundamental research in this field, such as determining the optical properties of tissue to contribute to the further advancement of non-invasive cancer therapy research. She says, “Spiritually, many cultures and religions point to believing in the curative effects of light; and scientific studies have shown that light at specific wavelengths can cause healing effects. My work, together with the rest of my team, is referred to as biophotonics. This research is essential in refining the available, as well as optimising, new optically-based methods and technologies in healthcare and life sciences.”
Singh explains, “Traditional biopsies involve the removal of tissue from a specific part of the body. Aside from being invasive, a number of these biopsies often need to be undertaken or repeated. The thought of having a needle inserted and having tissue removed can be a deterrent to many people. Optical biopsies on the other hand offer a less invasive, more repeatable method of detecting an illness. A further advantage is that many and larger areas can be scanned without removing tissue. This can help in mapping the actual area that may be affected. However, to ensure that these methods remain safe and non-destructive to any healthy tissue and cells, it is imperative that the propagation of light through tissue is understood.”
Holding a Master's in physics, Singh says, “If one considers chemotherapy, the side-effects and complications of treatment are often a deterrent to a patient proceeding with the treatment. This is where the therapeutic powers of light feature.” She further explains, “It is for this reason that there is huge interest in photodynamic therapy (PDT). In PDT a topical or oral drug is taken and accumulates within the cancerous tissue. Light then stimulates the drug in this area, killing the unhealthy tissue. For optimised effects in these studies, it is important that in the process of treatment, healthy tissue sustains minimal damage. This is even more important in areas where the chances of tissue regenerating are slim. Thus, it is important to calculate and model factors such as the dosage requirements for treatment. In order to calculate this parameter, the optical properties specifically should be known. Although some of these properties exist in literature, the composition of tissue varies and, where possible, it is preferred that these properties are measured in situ.”
Other exciting work
“We are also involved in various other projects. For example, in South Africa we have a richness of ethnic groups contributing to a large variety in skin tones; and laser treatment of skin requires calculations that take into account the skin tone. Fascinating results from modelling work conducted by my colleague, Aletta Karstens, has revealed that darker skin can absorb as much as three times more laser light in the epidermis than very light skins. Further studies being done by our other team coupled with the modelling and optical work will facilitate an understanding of the biological, biochemical and photophysical processes occurring within cancerous and healthy tissue; before, during and after treatment. I am eager to take the work that we have done thus far a step further and am embarking on studies that can significantly contribute to the field,” she says.
World Cancer Day is marked on 4 February to raise awareness of the global impact of cancer and increase understanding of prevention, detection, treatment and care.
A down-to-earth woman
Singh completed an experimental physics Master's project, which was presented at a conference in Cochin, India, in December 2004. “It was an incredible experience,” she says. “In 2007, I spent two and a half months attending a tissue optics course at Lund University in Sweden. It was an interesting experience that further contributed to my knowledge in this domain.”
Singh was an active participant in the Science Foundation Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where she studied. She says, “Through this programme, students are taught to think for themselves and this in itself presents a great challenge to those who are just coming into the system. For me it was an amazing experience. It helps one to see concepts from the side of people who may be new to the subject and this is important when dealing with prospective clients or people around you. While helping my understanding of physics, this exposure enhanced my understanding of people’s life situations and introduced me to some wonderful friends. Working with students helps one to develop more patience and understanding; to communicate in simple understandable terms; and become more observant and rational,” Singh says.
“I believe that my experiences thus far have not just helped me improve as a scientist but I hope also as a person because at the end it is the humanity in us that matters most.”
The down-to-earth woman comes from a very humble background, a place called Thornville in KwaZulu-Natal, on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg. She says, “My parents were not well off but they made many sacrifices for me and my brother, who is now married with two kids. I will always be grateful to; and for them. I am lucky to have met really nice people and friends throughout my life and to currently share the daily company at home of a cute cat and his little friends, as well as that of the most amazing, nicest person.”
“It's difficult to say why I chose physics,” Singh says. “I liked it when I went to campus and things just progressed from there. Also, the scientific skills obtained can be applied to many other fields aside from physics. Biophotonics is great because it combines so many different disciplines. You have the chance to interact with different people and their specialities and learn a great deal from it. Being so cross-disciplinary, it exposes one to the reality that we don't live in isolated areas of research anymore; but in a continuously changing one.” She adds, “There are few new things in store for the future -. we just need to see where the planning takes us.”
CSIR Communication:
Chiara Lincoln, email: CLincoln@csir.co.za
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