Title: Method of altering biological and chemical activity of molecular species

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Abstract: A method of altering (i.e., deactivating or activating) the biological activity of macromolecular species that employs laser beam radiation at a frequency that excites vibrational and rotational states of the irradiated species and at an intensity sufficient to activate the species (but below the denaturation level) or to a level such that the weak bonds-- e.g., hydrogen bonds--that determine the spatial character, and hence the biological activity of macromolecules are irreversibly broken to such extent that the macromolecule loses its original form (the process of denaturation) and assumes an inactive (denatured) configuration. The latter is a sterilization or inactivating process and for such sterilization the macromolecular species may be disposed on a highly reflecting surface, such as a metal, which reflects the beam and is capable of amplifying the destructive characteristic, or upon absorbing surfaces, such as plastics, cloth or paper which ordinarily would be destroyed by the beam. In the case of absorbing materials, pulses of energy from the beam, which are obtained by interrupting a c.w. beam, using a pulsed laser, or as a Q-switched configuration, are used so as to deactivate the macromolecular species of interest but not to damage significantly the absorbing material. The invention is also directed to the sterilization of air and other gases as well as liquids and is accomplished by exposing these vapors or fluids to the beam.


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