Future Directions in Biomedical Laser Applications
A wealth of opportunities exists for the application of CLA/Tullahoma expertise to biomedical research. In addition to the selected focus areas of the initial collaboration, collaborative research in the field of pharmacological studies and biomedical engineering studies of the vascular flow of red blood cells are but two of many opportunities to be exploited. However, the plans for the immediate future are to develop collaborations in two areas in which CLA has significant capability, experience, and recognition. First, Dr. Lloyd Davis at CLA/Tullahoma has conducted a strong, pioneering research development for the use of ultra-sensitive, laser-based detection techniques. This capability will be extended from its current applications
to the functional genomics work of UT. Potential collaborations are currently being explored.
 The second focus area for which targeted investments will yield significant returns is that of environmental biomedical studies. The National Research Council and other groups have recommended investigation of the combined effects on humans of inhalation of hydrocarbon particulate and gaseous pollutants, such as carbon monoxide.
The CLA/Tullahoma expertise in airborne particulate diagnostics is immediately applicable to this important area of research. It is well known that the mean particulate size of combustion particulates is approximately equal to 50 nm, and CLA/Tullahoma has developed and applied
measurement methods to determine, remotely and in situ, the absolute size distribution parameters of such particulates. Multi-wavelength extinction and multi-angular scattering methods were combined with robust data analysis and confidence level estimates to provide accurate and defensible particulate data. The immediate research challenge is to provide particles of known size and composition for in vivo animal inhalation to simulate human effects. For this purpose, previous CLA studies have shown the successful use of matrix isolation - capture of the particulates.
Liquefaction, centrifugation and then resolidification methods provide size-separated particulates, which can be lightly ablated from the matrix. The resulting airborne particulates can then be quantified prior to inhalation. Collaborations will be established with MHSC to provide the needed biomedical expertise and in vivo measurement facilities and techniques required to initiate this research.
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