AsianScientist (Oct. 31, 2016) – In the best of East meets West, a research team from Korea has combined acupuncture needles with nanotechnology. Their work was published in Scientific Reports.
According to corresponding author Dr. Yang Jae-ha, director of Daegu Haany University, nanotechnology is widely used in Western medicine from diagnosis to treatment; but rarely used in Eastern medicine. Professor In Su-Il’s research team from the Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) has now succeeded in developing porous acupuncture needles (PANs) that offer enhanced therapeutic properties.
In’s research team developed PANs with fine pores ranging in sizes from nanometers, or billionths of a meter, to micrometers, or millionths of a meter, on the surface of the needles using a nano-electrochemical method. The PANs are expected to be as effective as conventional large and long needles by minimizing pain during acupuncture treatment, while expanding the surface area of the needle twenty-fold. Through electrophysiological experiments with rats, the research team also proved that the efficacy of PANs is superior to conventional acupuncture needles in treating alcohol and cocaine addiction in animal experiments.
Applications for international patents for the fabrication technology of PANs developed by DGIST have already been submitted in countries such as the US, China and Europe.
“The findings of this study are expected to open new directions in the field of eastern medicine, where nano science is rarely explored and utilized,” said Yang.
The article can be found at: In et al. (2016) Hierarchical Micro/Nano-Porous Acupuncture Needles Offering Enhanced Therapeutic Properties.
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Source: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology.
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