First laser expert for SA
2010-04-13 11:16
Cape Town - Dr Patience Mthunzi is the first person in SA to obtain her PhD in the optical tweezer area in the field called biophotonics.
The field allows researchers to separate sick from healthy cells with lasers, holding promise for the treatment of degenerative diseases such as cancer.
"It works the same you use tweezers, except we use laser light to pick out cells and we're able to move micro-organisms around," Mthunzi told News24.
She said that this procedure was new in SA and because of that, she had to study it at St Andrews University in Scotland.
"There are no universities in South Africa offering this (biophotonics) as a subject and I was exposed to it after I joined the CSIR in 2005. I went to a conference and was quite excited by the medical implications so I sent my CV and I was accepted," she said.
Exciting work
"Previously we used chemicals to separate cells, but with this we are trying to eliminate chemicals because they kill cells. As you know, cells are transparent, so light passes right through them, causing no damage.
"Any kind of genetic disorder can be studied this way and you can differentiate stem cells and by using this procedure you can insert any genetic material and turn them into any kind of cell you want," she said.
Mthunzi said that she only aware of this work being undertaken at the CSIR, but added that she was keen to encourage young people to work in the field.
"I'm looking forward to starting new and exciting work and I want to develop young people - create knowledge transfer," she said.
She said she was glad to back in SA.
"So many things are different overseas that you learn to appreciate South Africa. I miss the weather and the friendliness of South Africans. In Europe, people keep to themselves, so I'm glad to be back after being away for slightly less than four years."