Light-based technologies are playing an increasingly important role in the development of new medical devices and digital healthcare applications. This is according to a review article recently published in the scientific journal *Advanced Materials*. The article was written by an international research team led by Professor Sei Kwang Hahn of Pohang University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Oxford and Northwestern University.
The publication provides an overview of recent developments in photonic nanomaterials and smart medical devices. According to the researchers, thanks to precise control over wavelength, intensity, and frequency, light can be used very precisely to influence cells and tissues. This makes it suitable for a wide range of medical applications.
From imaging to therapy
Light has long been used in medicine, for example in fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and light-based therapies such as photothermal and photodynamic treatments. Techniques such as photobiomodulation and optogenetics also use controlled light stimulation to influence biological processes. Some notable examples include light therapy for people with dementia, which we covered extensively (Dutch) in our magazine back in 2023. Another example is the clinical trial that showed that light therapy can significantly improve both motor and non-motor symptoms in people living with Parkinson’s disease.
According to the researchers, the rapid development of mini-LEDs, flexible electronics, and wireless communication technologies is leading to photonic applications being increasingly integrated into wearable and implantable medical devices.
Smart healthcare technology
The special issue of Advanced Materials brings together seventeen scientific articles covering various aspects of photonics in healthcare. Four themes are central to this: nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy, wearable photonic devices, implantable photonic systems, and the integration of these technologies with digital healthcare.
According to the authors, this combination demonstrates how light-based technology can contribute to new forms of smart healthcare, in which diagnostics and treatment are increasingly converging into a single technological platform.
Technical and clinical challenges
However, before such technology can be widely applied in clinical practice, several challenges must still be resolved. The researchers cite, among other things, the long-term stability of materials, immunological compatibility, scalable production, and regulatory approval.
For wearable devices, ease of use and data security also play a significant role. With implantable systems, wireless power transfer and the body’s reactions to implants are key concerns.
Healthcare closer to everyday life
If these challenges are overcome, the researchers believe that photonic technology could radically change the way healthcare is delivered. For example, small wearable sensors could detect early signs of disease, while light-based therapies could complement medications or surgery.
Professor Sei Kwang Hahn emphasizes that the combination of photonic nanomaterials and digital technology creates new opportunities for personalized care. “The convergence of photonic nanomaterials and digital devices is an important trend that blurs the boundary between diagnosis and treatment and advances human-centered precision medicine.”
