Bi-National Research Team Advance Precise Medicine

"Physics and Applications of Nano-Photonics and Peptides" – The Second Israel-Italy Binational Workshop was hosted online by HIT, with its partners from Tel Aviv University (TAU) and the University of Naples Federico II.

The bi-national workshop focused on a new paradigm for the use of light-emitting points and devices which can be planted inside the body. The use of these nano-emitting points makes it possible to advance the combined diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities required in precise medicine. To simplify, the workshop focused on the development of devices and light emitting technologies that can be implanted inside the body for more accurate medicine and diagnosis.

The HIT researchers included senior members of the Faculty of Engineering: Dr. Boris Apter – Head of the Electro-Optics Track Dr. Amir Handelman, Head of the Applied Optics Laboratory and Dr. Boris Feinberg, from the department of physics at the Faculty of Sciences.

The HIT team works in collaboration with researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at Tel Aviv University and the University of Naples Federico II. In 2019, this group was awarded a competitive research grant of 2.5 million NIS from the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology, and this is the second year that joint research is being conducted under its auspices.

The research to date has already produced a well-received article in the prestigious refereed scientific journal Advanced Optical Materials.

The conference also provided an appropriate platform for researchers to update colleagues about their current research projects. Dr. Amir Handelman presented results from his study on "Optical Properties of the Amino Acid ‘Histidine’". The study deals with amino acid structures and optical devices. Among its future applications: the creation of light-emitting materials and light guides for biomedical applications such as in-body optical devices and opto-genetics.

Dr. Boris Feinberg spoke of his recent study into "Active-Passive-Passive Beta Sheets", a theoretical research project dealing with the spread of light in structures.

Dr. Boris Apter presented results from his research into "Nano Photonics and Peptides - Physics and Engineering of Integrated Bio-Optics", which deals with the study of micro-particles and micrometric fibers which possess interesting properties for transmitting optical signals. The research has significant relevance to future biomedical applications such as light transfer from an external source to biological cells, which is is particularly important in studying debilitating brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The properties of these fibers are similar to the properties of fibers in the brain which lead to the onset of Alzheimer's. The fibers, and their capabilities to transmit optical signals, can be potentially synthesized in a laboratory. These fibers are biocompatible and may in the future allow imaging and data collection without damaging living cells.

The Workshop, and productive joint research taking place between the scientists during this second year, has strengthened HIT's ties with its partner institutions and provided a springboard for further collaboration between the researchers.

Posted: 22/10/2020