NASA's research initiatives have not only expanded our understanding of factors influencing plant growth but have also sparked innovative applications in the field of medical technology. Traditional light sources, integral for plant growth on Earth, posed challenges for adaptation to space conditions due to their energy consumption and heat production. Recognizing this limitation, Ronald W. Ignatius, founder of Quantum Devices Inc. (QDI), proposed a groundbreaking solution: utilizing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for plant growth experiments in space.
Collaborating with the Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and Robotics, a NASA-sponsored research center, QDI successfully developed an optimized LED system that significantly reduced energy consumption and minimized temperature variance without compromising plant growth. This achievement prompted NASA to explore additional applications for LEDs, particularly in addressing astronaut health concerns.
The focus shifted towards photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), an emerging technique involving exposure to wavelength-specific light to modulate cellular function. Recognizing the potential of LEDs in PBMT, NASA granted a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to QDI to develop an LED light source for Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in a surgical environment. PDT, a promising cancer treatment, relies on high-intensity, monochromatic light to activate the cancer-killing properties of a drug selectively within a tumor.
Building on QDI's High Emissivity Aluminiferous Light-emitting Substrate (HEALS) technology, initially developed for plant growth experiments in 1993, QDI and Dr. Harry T. Whelan applied this innovation to pediatric brain tumor cases and preventing oral mucositis in pediatric bone marrow transplant patients. Subsequently, QDI leveraged a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) SBIR contract to create the WARP 10 unit, a portable PBMT device that gained FDA clearance in 2003. Its consumer version, offering relief for minor muscle and joint pain, arthritis, muscle spasms, and stiffness, showcased the versatility of the technology.
The evolution continued with the introduction of the WARP 75 device in 2007, a refined version with 7.5 times the coverage area of its predecessor. Cleared by the FDA, WARP 75 incorporates automatic timed cycles, AC power, articulated arm mounting, fan cooling, and user-friendly controls, demonstrating significant advancements in PBMT application. QDI remains committed to exploring diverse medical applications of HEALS-based technology, ranging from combating bone atrophy and addressing symptoms of neurological conditions to ocular applications. Recent grants from NASA further underscore the ongoing research endeavors aimed at advancing wound healing and conducting PDT studies with silver nanoclusters.