Optogenetics Finds Application in Treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Alopecia, Muscular Dystrophy, and Idiopathic Scars

 

Optogenetics refers to the use of light to manipulate targeted neurons to exhibit light-sensing properties. In recent years, this field has help to highlight the contribution of specific cell types to the function of biological tissues. It has helped give impetus to large, national-scale brain-research projects such as the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, which was launched in the U.S in 2013. This state of the art technology has now found its niche in the field of cosmetic medicine and it is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, alopecia, muscular dystrophy, and idiopathic scars, all of which are conditions that remain incurable through traditional treatments.

The technology underlying optogenetics is rather simple and it consists of two major components. The first one is the incorporation of cytogenetic beads into the living or dead cells. The second component is the implantation of fluorescent tags inside these cells. Once these two technologies are combined, a beam of light activates the plantations and the tagged cells take up the incoming light and become sensitive to it. This process is triggered by a chemical stimulus, which causes the tagged cells to release the light. This procedure can be repeated many times and each time a different tag is used thereby increasing the sensitivity of the system.

How is optogenetics used in the treatment of such diseases? The light-activated cells are inserted into the visual pathways either during or after surgery. The light then causes the visual centers to fire appropriately. Although this technology has been in use for more than forty years, it was only recently that it became clear that it has the potential to be used as an alternative to glasses and contacts. The visual centers eventually took the innovative technology and made it available for general use. In recent research in the U.S., it was found that optogenetics can be used to reduce addiction-related behaviors. Light and genetic engineering can be used to control the cells of the brain in order to reduce fear responses and lessen addiction-related behaviors.