Evaluation of a Biologically Relevant Level of MMW Radiation Absorption in Neuronal Tissue

Abstract

Determining the absorption of MMW in living tissue is a complex problem due to tissue inhomogeneity. As the sample size and tissue elementary structural unit becomes smaller, e.g. single cells, the measurements with contemporary techniques get more challenging. Also, MMW and THz radiation can affect the functionality of the biological sample, thus changing its response. However, these changes can be used to determine the amount of radiation absorbed. Here we suggest using the change in action potential (AP) of leech interneurons to estimate the dose of radiation that is absorbed. This has biological relevance and allows for a comparison of MMW mediated heating and conventional conductive heating effects on neuronal tissue.

Additional details