Through quantum biology to new therapeutic approaches – University of Innsbruck
Researchers from the University of Innsbruck investigated the effect of nuclear magnetic resonance on cryptochrome, an important protein of the “internal clock”. To their surprise, the results of the experiments could only be explained by quantum mechanical principles – and could enable completely new therapeutic approaches.
The metabolism in mammalian cells can be controlled by resonances of hydrogen protons generated by a magnetic field in combination with an appropriate radio wave. This result came for the scientists from Institute of Zoology from the University of Innsbruck was so surprising that she had to rewrite her publication at short notice. “At first we didn’t even realize that our work was in the field of quantum biology,” explains Margit Egg, head of the study.
Egg, who heads the Chronobiology group at the Institute of Zoology, is conducting the study together with her doctoral student Viktoria Thöni, which has just been published in the scientific journal “iScience”. Publications in this journal are usually important for several departments. This is also the case with that of Egg and Thöni: it provides important observations for both quantum physics and medical research.
“Quantum biology has been an established field of research for centuries, but in the public eye it still tends to eke out a niche existence,” explains Egg. “Quantum biology deals with all processes in robots that cannot be explained by classical physical laws, but only by the principles of quantum mechanics.” Among other things, photosynthesis, the sense of direction and probably also the sense of smell and consciousness are based on quantum biological mechanisms.
In resonance with the internal clock
As part of the study, nuclear magnetic resonance (tNMR) therapy was used to irradiate mouse cells and thereby stimulate the protein cryptochrome. Cryptochrome is an important part of the so-called “internal clock”. It is involved in the day-night rhythm of most living beings and is found in all body cells.
The magnetic resonance therapy, which was developed by the German company MedTec from Wetzlar, is to a certain extent the “light” version of an MRT. By combining a magnetic field with a corresponding radio wave, hydrogen protons resonate and absorb energy, which they release back to the cell after the therapy. Because of the significantly weaker magnetic field that is used in tNMR and the correspondingly gentler radio frequency, the treatment has been and IS used for the treatment of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis and for the regeneration of ligaments and tendons for two years.
“Originally, we simply wanted to test the effect of nuclear magnetic resonance on cryptochrome. I had the suspicion that this might also have an impact on mammalian cells. However, that turned out to be a gross understatement,” says Egg.
The results show that nuclear magnetic resonance changes the entire metabolism of the cell. Among other things, energy production through glucose, glycolysis, was shut down. The cells therefore produce much less lactate under low-oxygen conditions than is otherwise usual. Although the metabolism was so significantly restricted, the respiration of the cells remained constant.
New approaches to quantum physics and medicine
These results are important in two ways. “The results we measured shouldn’t actually be there at the low radio frequency we used. This makes tNMR very interesting for quantum physics because it can be used to study the effects of proton resonances. The reaction of the cryptochrome that we observed during the treatment is called the radical pair mechanism. This is known as the “quantum compass” and helps, for example, migratory birds with navigation. Now we’re seeing this effect in mammalian cells, and at a much lower radio frequency that doesn’t target electrons, but hydrogen protons. How that can be is a highly interesting question that needs to be investigated,” says Egg.
There are also some new approaches to medical research. The effect of proton resonances on metabolism, especially under oxygenation, could make tNMR an effective first-line treatment for damage caused by blocked oxygenation.
“Much of the damage that follows stroke, thrombosis or heart attack occurs when the blood supply is restored and the tissues are suddenly flooded with oxygen. This creates free radicals that damage the brain or the heart muscle,” explains Egg. Since tNMR maintains cellular respiration while the rest of the metabolism is inactive, the technology could be used to gently restart the organism after interruptions in the oxygen supply. Glycolysis is also carried out in large quantities in tumors and lactate is produced, which is why the results of the study can be expected for cancer research.
Egg and Thöni also want to deal more with quantum biology in the future. Among other things, Egg wants to deal with the topic more extensively in their teaching – there is already great interest among the students.
A video about magnetic resonance therapy and the study at the Institute of Zoology can be found here.
Publication:
Viktoria Thöni, David Mauracher, Anil Ramalingam, Birgit Fiechtner, Adolf Michael Sandbichler, Margit Egg: Quantum-based effects of therapeutic nuclear magnetic resonance sustainably reduce glycolysis, iScience, Volume 25, Issue 12, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2022.105536