Flexible OLEDs safe for therapeutic use, says Fraunhofer FEP
A pilot study carried out at the Fraunhofer FEP evaluated any potential toxic effects caused by the constituent materials of flexible OLEDs, for if they were used in light therapies to accelerate wound healing.
Therapeutical methods based on LED light are already in clinical use, but traditional LED-based solutions are bulky and expose the skin or wound to heat. Here flexible OLEDs would provide a lightweight and uniform lighting solution that conforms well to the area to be threated, without generating localized heat.
No studies on cytocompatibility, or tolerance of cells to flexible OLEDs were known of to date, say the researchers. The initial pilot study was carried out on in vitro cell cultures afflicted by defined damage. The cell cultures consisted of samples of the skin (human fibroblasts and human keratinocytes) and of the immune system (human T-lymphocytes) for characterizing the influence of green and cold-white OLED light.
The vitality and mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells was measured following treatment with light and the researchers found that the damaged cell cultures of the upper epidermal layer were positively stimulated by the green light. The findings indicate an effect of accelerated auto-recovery and thus could be the potential foundation for future therapeutic applications.
Various flexible OLEDs with luminous areas of 10×10cm were tested in accordance with DIN/ISO 10993-5 “Part 5 – Testing for In vitro cytotoxicity” for biological evaluation of medical products. An in vitro cell culture of skin (human keratinocytes) was utilized again as the cell line.
The researchers investigated the potential effects of toxic substances that may diffuse from the OLEDs due to electrical operation or mechanical loading caused by bending. They looked for any alteration of the shape, the number, and metabolism of cells. Through comparative studies and long-term tests, they found no cytotoxicity in the material systems investigated.
The researchers anticipate additional long-term studies in order to be able to guaranty the effects of the OLED light. Safe electrical connections, power supplies, driver circuitry, and component perimeter seals are additional important aspects that researchers at Fraunhofer FEP are working on before direct clinical applications may be allowed.
Detailed findings will be presented by Dr. J. Hauptmann in her talk entitled “OLED light application in medicine and cytotoxicity of the materials”.
The studies were carried out in cooperation with the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences through student projects.
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Visit the Fraunhofer FEP at www.fep.fraunhofer.de
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