Immunophysics is a novel interdisciplinary
research field using immunological, biological,
physical and chemical approaches to elucidate
and modify immune-mediated mechanisms and
to expand our knowledge on the pathomechanisms
of chronic immune-mediated diseases such as
arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma
and chronic infections.
== Background ==
Immune reactions are tightly regulated and
usually self-limited.
Dysregulation can result in chronic inflammatory
diseases (immunochronicity).
In addition to biochemical molecular mechanisms,
physical factors influence the immune system.
Such components include:
Microenvironmental factors like tonicity,
pH, oxygen pressure and the redox status of
immune cells
Mechanical factors, such as tissue pressure,
cellular stiffness and cell motility
Cell membrane physics such as membrane composition
and particlesThe research field of immunophysics
aims to investigate the influence of these
physicochemical parameters on the function
of the immune system in health and disease.
== Methods ==
Immunophysical techniques include nuclear
magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), dual-energy computed
tomography, fluorescence-lifetime imaging
microscopy, multispectral optoacoustic tomography
(MSOT), high-throughput microfluidic cytometry,
interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT)
and cryogenic optical localization in 3D (COLD).
== Applications ==
Immunophysical research is considered to open
new perspectives for the investigation of
the pathomechanisms of immune-mediated inflammatory
diseases, help to develop novel detection
methods and diagnostic tools in these diseases
and advance the treatment possibilities of
such diseases.
== See also ==
Inflammation
