Light as a Cure: Photobiomodulation, from the Cell to the Clinical Application

A special issue of Photonics (ISSN 2304-6732). This special issue belongs to the section "Biophotonics and Biomedical Optics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 79153

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Department of Orthopaedic Dentistry, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
2. Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche e Diagnostiche Integrate, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Interests: cell biology; photobiomodulation; tissue regeneration; bioelectromagnetism; protistology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
1. Dental Implant Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2. Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
Interests: photobiomodulation; photodynamic therapy; regeneration; stem cell

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Laser Laboratory Department Oral Surgery at Wroclaw Medical University, UMED, Wroclaw, Poland
2. Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry Virginia Commonwealth University, VCU, Richmond, VA, USA
Interests: laser periodontology; photodynamic therapy; photobiomodulation; LLLT; laser implantology; laser surgery; laser prosthodontics; laser orthodontics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Molecules in living systems can absorb photon energy, reaching an electronically excited state that temporarily modifies their conformation and function.

Two types of molecules exist, those specialized to absorb light, such as photoreceptors, and non-specialized molecules, such as photoacceptors. The latter are more common than photoreceptors and are part of ubiquitous metabolic pathways not directly related to light processing.

Although sunlight is not a source of energy for the metabolism of animal cells, like it is for plant cells, interactions of light at the visible and near-infrared wavelengths have also been described in them. Particularly, since many photoacceptors have been detected in the mitochondria, this organelle is considered the elective cellular target to describe light and animal cell interaction, and its modulation of cellular metabolic key pathways of all life forms, from protozoa to humans.

This biological and medical subject was defined as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), but recently, the more appropriate definition of photobiomodulation has been introduced.

Therefore, photobiomodulation affects photoacceptors’ primary targets and modulates oxygen consumption, both ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as regulates nitric oxide (NO) release and intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration.

The photobiomodulation effect can thus modulate cellular second messengers through different strategies and support both the clinician and the patient toward a faster recovery in different medical areas.

Today, however, photobiomodulation shows limitations in its applicability, due to some lack of its reproducibility. The new challenge for researchers is therefore implementing knowledge at the cellular level and validating it through reliable pre-clinical (animal) and clinical studies.

Both original research papers and review papers are welcome. Technical topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • Novel molecular and cellular mechanisms of photobiomodulation;
  • Impact of photobiomodulation on cellular damage and stress;
  • Photobiomodulation interaction with life forms: an evolutionary perspective;
  • Photobiomodulation and tissue interaction: behavior and optimization of irradiation parameters to support more reproducible therapy;
  • Implications of photobiomodulation on tissue dysfunction recovery;
  • Impact of photobiomodulation on human disorders and diseases: pre-clinical and clinical evidence combined with pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies.

Dr. Andrea Amaroli
Dr. Nasim Chiniforush
Dr. Kinga Grzech-Leśniak
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • bone regeneration
  • cell metabolism
  • high-intensity laser therapy, HILT
  • laser therapy
  • low-level laser therapy, LLLT
  • mitochondria
  • photobiomodulation
  • tissue dysfunction
  • wound healing

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Published Papers (17 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2934 KiB  
Article
Effect of a Novel Handheld Photobiomodulation Therapy Device in the Management of Chemoradiation Therapy-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Case Series Study
by In-Young Jo, Hyung-Kwon Byeon, Myung-Jin Ban, Jae-Hong Park, Sang-Cheol Lee, Yong Kyun Won, Yun-Su Eun, Jae-Yun Kim, Na-Gyeong Yang, Sul-Hee Lee, Pyeongan Lee, Nam-Hun Heo, Sujin Jo, Hoonhee Seo, Sukyung Kim, Ho-Yeon Song and Jung-Eun Kim
Photonics 2023, 10(3), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10030241 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2918
Abstract
Oral mucositis (OM) is a debilitating adverse event in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a novel handheld photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) device on chemoradiation therapy (CRT)-induced OM in patients with head and neck cancer. Head [...] Read more.
Oral mucositis (OM) is a debilitating adverse event in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of a novel handheld photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) device on chemoradiation therapy (CRT)-induced OM in patients with head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer patients undergoing CRT who developed moderate-to-severe OM during treatment were enrolled. After PBMT and at 2 and 4 weeks after PBMT, the mean value of OM grade decreased significantly from 2.63 to 2.13, 1.31, and 0.75, respectively (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001). Moreover, we observed significant improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after PBMT compared to baseline through a validated questionnaire; EORTC QLQ-C30. In the present study, the use of this PBMT device in the management of CRT-induced OM in patients with head and neck cancer was generally well tolerated and resulted in the improvement of OM. However, evidence supporting its use remains lacking owing to limitations such as the small number of participants and lack of a control group. Therefore, further mechanistic studies and large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the effectiveness of PBMT in the treatment of CRT-induced OM, as shown in our results. Full article
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11 pages, 2031 KiB  
Article
Clinical Assessment of the Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Coronally Advanced Flap Procedure in the Management of Isolated Gingival Recession
by Kammam Amitha, Rashmi Paramashivaiah, Munivenkatappa Laxmaiah Venkatesh Prabhuji, Ashwin Parakkaje Subramanya, Ali A. Assiry, Syed Wali Peeran, Hytham Fageeh, Shaeesta Khaleelahmed Bhavikatti and Giuseppe Alessandro Scardina
Photonics 2022, 9(12), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9120932 - 2 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2541
Abstract
The aim of this randomized, controlled split-mouth clinical trial was to assess the effect of LLLT on wound healing after modified coronally advanced flap (MCAF) procedure for treatment of isolated recession-type defects. Fifteen patients with isolated bilaterally symmetrical gingival recessions (Miller’s Class I [...] Read more.
The aim of this randomized, controlled split-mouth clinical trial was to assess the effect of LLLT on wound healing after modified coronally advanced flap (MCAF) procedure for treatment of isolated recession-type defects. Fifteen patients with isolated bilaterally symmetrical gingival recessions (Miller’s Class I or Class II, or a combination of both) were enrolled in this study. After a modified, coronally advanced flap technique was implemented, a diode laser (810 nm) with a power of 120 mW irradiated the inner surface of the flap and the outer surface of the flap (low-level laser therapy—LLLT) after suturing for 5 min. This was repeated for the following four consecutive days. Descriptive statistics, a Kruskal–Wallis test and a Mann–Whitney test were performed to analyze the data. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean recession depth decreased from 3.33 ± 0.9 mm (baseline) to 0.2 ± 0.3 mm (3 months) and 0.4 ± 0.2 mm (6 months) in the test group. The mean recession width decreased from 3.8 ± 0.7 mm (baseline) to 0.2 ± 0.3 mm (3 months) and 0.5 ± 0.3 mm (6 months) in the test group. Due to minimal pain and discomfort, patient acceptability was quite high. Full article
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15 pages, 1763 KiB  
Article
The 1064-nm Nd:YAG Photobiomodulation vs. 20% Benzocaine Topical Gel in Inducing Mucosal Anesthetic Effect: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial
by Rita El Feghali, Karen Tatarian, Carla Zogheib, Stefano Benedicenti, Claudio Pasquale and Andrea Amaroli
Photonics 2022, 9(8), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9080519 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4010
Abstract
The periapical local anesthetic injection may be associated with fear of needles and pain administration. Dental topical anesthetic agents can help to reduce pain perception; however, adverse events can occur. To investigate the efficacy of 1064-nm photobiomodualtion (PBM) in inducing mucosal anesthesia delivered [...] Read more.
The periapical local anesthetic injection may be associated with fear of needles and pain administration. Dental topical anesthetic agents can help to reduce pain perception; however, adverse events can occur. To investigate the efficacy of 1064-nm photobiomodualtion (PBM) in inducing mucosal anesthesia delivered with a flat-top hand-piece compared to 20% Benzocaine topical anesthetic gel, sixty healthy patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to either 20% benzocaine topical gel + placebo laser (T group) or PBM + placebo gel (L group). The 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser was employed and is associated with a novel flat-top hand piece. The applied operational parameters were 0.5 W, 10 Hz, 100 µs pulse width, and 30 J/cm2 for one-minute single application time. The enrolled subjects were asked to assess pain intensity at the time of anesthetic injection with a Visual Analog Scale. Taking into consideration taste, undesirable numbness, and overall satisfaction, the patients were asked to rate their experiences according to a verbal rating scale. Statistical analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the T and L Groups for pain ratings (p = 0.0596). The L Group displayed significantly higher ratings than T Group for taste, undesirable numbness, and overall satisfaction (p < 0.001). The 1064-nm PBM delivered by flat-top hand piece is effective in inducing mucosal anesthesia, eliminating the adverse side-effects of the conventional topical anesthetic gel. Full article
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13 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Tolerability and Safety of Transcranial Photobiomodulation for Mood and Anxiety Disorders
by Paolo Cassano, Richard Norton, Marco Antonio Caldieraro, Farzan Vahedifard, Fernando Vizcaino, Kayla Marie McEachern and Dan Iosifescu
Photonics 2022, 9(8), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9080507 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4301
Abstract
Introduction: Mood and anxiety disorders are a prevalent and significant leading cause of years lived with a disability worldwide. Existing antidepressants drugs are only partially effective, having burdensome side effects. One-third of patients do not achieve remission after several adequate antidepressant trials, and [...] Read more.
Introduction: Mood and anxiety disorders are a prevalent and significant leading cause of years lived with a disability worldwide. Existing antidepressants drugs are only partially effective, having burdensome side effects. One-third of patients do not achieve remission after several adequate antidepressant trials, and relapses of depression are frequent. Psychotherapies for depression are limited by the lack of trained professionals, and further by out-of-pocket prohibitive costs. Existing FDA-approved, device-based interventions are either invasive or only administered in the office. Transcranial photobiomodulation (t-PBM) with near-infrared (NIR) light may be a promising treatment option for mood and anxiety disorders. Due to its low cost, and ease of self-administration, t-PBM has the potential to become widely accessible. The safety profile of t-PBM is a relevant factor for widespread use and administration. Aim: To further investigate the t-PBM safety profile, this study aims to evaluate the tolerability and safety of t-PBM for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Method: We completed a systematic analysis of the side effects from repeated sessions of t-PBM in three studies: an open-label study for GAD (LIGHTEN GAD) and two randomized control studies for MDD (ELATED-2; ELATED-3). Overall, 80 subjects were studied. Result: Our results show that a low dose of NIR per t-PBM session can be administered with increasing frequency (up to daily sessions) and for several weeks (up to 12 weeks) without a corresponding increase in the occurrence or severity of adverse events. Additionally, there were no significant predictors for the variance in the number of reported adverse events (such as age, sex or diagnosis). Conclusion: The literature indicates that higher dosages of transcranial NIR could lead to greater antidepressant and anxiolytic effects; this study did not find any correlation between the increasing number of t-PBM sessions and the occurrence of adverse events. Full article
10 pages, 2562 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Photobiomodulation Dose in Biological Tissue by Adjusting the Focal Point of Lens
by Chuan-Tsung Su, Fu-Chien Chiu, Shih-Hsin Ma and Jih-Huah Wu
Photonics 2022, 9(5), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9050350 - 16 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3081
Abstract
The optical power density in biotissue is an important issue for photobiomodulation (PBM) clinical applications. In our previous study, the maximal dose and the power density distributions of 830 nm lasers under human skin could be exactly calculated and measured. In this work, [...] Read more.
The optical power density in biotissue is an important issue for photobiomodulation (PBM) clinical applications. In our previous study, the maximal dose and the power density distributions of 830 nm lasers under human skin could be exactly calculated and measured. In this work, the laser power density in tissue can be changed by adjusting the focal point of the lens. From the experimental results, it is evident that the power densities on the attached gingiva and the surrounding tissues can be improved. Thus, the dose of a near-infrared (NIR) laser in the target tissue can be increased with a suitable lens. Most importantly, focusing lasers on deeper tissue can avoid any damage to the skin. This study provides a dose optimization method on the target tissue, and the results can be applied to clinical applications, especially laser acupuncture (LA). Full article
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13 pages, 1518 KiB  
Article
Effect of Near-Infrared Blood Photobiomodulation on Red Blood Cell Damage from the Extracorporeal Circuit during Hemodialysis In Vitro
by Tomasz Walski, Karolina Grzeszczuk-Kuć, Weronika Berlik, Izabela Synal-Kulczak, Raghvendra Bohara, Jerzy Detyna and Małgorzata Komorowska
Photonics 2022, 9(5), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9050341 - 13 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2863
Abstract
The contact of blood with the bioincompatible membranes of the dialyzer, which is part of the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis (HD), causes upregulation of various cellular and non-cellular processes, including massive generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), (which is one of [...] Read more.
The contact of blood with the bioincompatible membranes of the dialyzer, which is part of the extracorporeal circuit during hemodialysis (HD), causes upregulation of various cellular and non-cellular processes, including massive generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), (which is one of the primary causes of anemia in chronic renal failure). We hypothesize that near-infrared (NIR) radiation possesses antioxidant properties and is considered to protect the red blood cell (RBC) membrane by enhancing its resilience to negative pressures. Our experimental setup consisted of an HD machine equipped with a dialyzer with a polyamide membrane; whole bovine blood was examined in vitro in blood-treated circulation. Blood samples were taken at 0, 5, 15, and 30 min during the HD therapy. We also assessed osmotic fragility, hematocrit, hemolysis, and oxidative stress as a concentration of reactive thiobarbituric acid substances (TBARS). Our results have shown that RBC membrane peroxidation increased significantly after 30 min of circulation, whereas the TBARS level in NIR-treated blood remained relatively steady throughout the experiment. The osmotic fragility of NIR-irradiated samples during dialysis was decreased compared to control samples. Our studies confirm that in vitro, blood photobiomodulation using NIR light diminishes oxidative damage during HD and can be considered a simultaneous pretreatment strategy for HD. Full article
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11 pages, 985 KiB  
Article
Management of Periodontal Disease with Adjunctive Therapy with Ozone and Photobiomodulation (PBM): A Randomized Clinical Trial
by Andrea Scribante, Simone Gallo, Maurizio Pascadopoli, Riccardo Soleo, Fabio Di Fonso, Luca Politi, Adith Venugopal, Anand Marya and Andrea Butera
Photonics 2022, 9(3), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9030138 - 26 Feb 2022
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5699
Abstract
Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition of the soft and hard tooth-supporting tissues, representing the first cause of tooth loss. In addition to standard mechanical debridement (Scaling and Root Planing, SRP), further approaches have been proposed as adjuncts. The aim of the present randomized [...] Read more.
Periodontitis is an inflammatory condition of the soft and hard tooth-supporting tissues, representing the first cause of tooth loss. In addition to standard mechanical debridement (Scaling and Root Planing, SRP), further approaches have been proposed as adjuncts. The aim of the present randomized clinical trial is to compare the efficacy of ozone or photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in addition to SRP to treat periodontal disease. According to a split-mouth design, 240 pathological sites, corresponding to 30 periodontal patients, were randomly divided according to the professional oral hygiene protocol performed at baseline (T0) and after 1 (T1), 2 (T2), 3 (T3), 4 (T4), 5 (T5), and 6 (T6) months. A total of 120 sites underwent an ozonized water administration (ozone group), whereas the other 120 sites were treated with photobiomodulation (PBM group), both in addition to SRP. At every timepoint, the following clinical indexes were assessed: Probing Pocket Depth (PPD) (measured on six sites per element), Plaque Index (PI), and Bleeding on Probing (BOP). As regards PPD, significant intergroup differences were noticed from T5, with significantly lower values in the PBM group (p < 0.05), where values further decreased at T6 (p < 0.05). Both PI and BoP generally decreased from baseline to T6 in both groups; a significant difference was found between T0 and T1 among the groups (p < 0.05), with a progressively higher reduction in the PBM group among the time frames of the study, despite intergroup comparisons not being significant (p > 0.05). Both ozone and PBM appear to be effective adjuvant treatments to SRP, obtaining a slightly better outcome for the latter in the long term, with significant differences at T5 and T6 for PPD. However, because of the absence of standardized protocols for PBM considering both therapeutic and research purposes, no definitive conclusions can be reached, and further studies are required. Full article
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13 pages, 5994 KiB  
Article
The Efficacy of Photobiomodulation Therapy in Improving Tissue Resilience and Healing of Radiation Skin Damage
by Rodrigo Crespo Mosca, Sofia Nascimento Santos, Gesse Eduardo Calvo Nogueira, Daisa Lima Pereira, Francielli Campos Costa, Jonathas Xavier Pereira, Carlos Alberto Zeituni and Praveen Ravindra Arany
Photonics 2022, 9(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9010010 - 28 Dec 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 8447
Abstract
The increased precision, efficacy, and safety of radiation brachytherapy has tremendously improved its popularity in cancer care. However, an unfortunate side effect of this therapy involves localized skin damage and breakdown that are managed palliatively currently. This study was motivated by prior reports [...] Read more.
The increased precision, efficacy, and safety of radiation brachytherapy has tremendously improved its popularity in cancer care. However, an unfortunate side effect of this therapy involves localized skin damage and breakdown that are managed palliatively currently. This study was motivated by prior reports on the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in improving tissue resilience and wound healing. We evaluated the efficacy of PBM therapy on 36 athymic mice with 125I seed (0.42 mCi) implantation over 60 days. PBM treatments were performed with either red (660 nm) or near-infrared (880 nm, NIR) LEDs irradiance of 40 mW/cm2, continuous wave, fluence of 20 J/cm2 once per week. Animals were evaluated every 7 days with digital imaging, laser Doppler flowmetry, thermal imaging, µPET-CT imaging using 18F-FDG, and histology. We observed that both PBM treatments—red and NIR—demonstrated significantly less incidence and severity and improved healing with skin radionecrosis. Radiation exposed tissues had improved functional parameters such as vascular perfusion, reduced inflammation, and metabolic derangement following PBM therapy. Histological analysis confirmed these observations with minimal damage and resolution in tissues exposed to radiation. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the successful use of PBM therapy for brachytherapy. The results from this study support future mechanistic lab studies and controlled human clinical studies to utilize this innovative therapy in managing side effects from radiation cancer treatments. Full article
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10 pages, 24407 KiB  
Article
The Effect of 630 nm Photobiomodulation on the Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Human Gingival Fibroblasts
by Zeqing Chen, Xuwen Liu, Haokuan Qin, Zhicheng Lu, Shijie Huang and Muqing Liu
Photonics 2021, 8(9), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics8090360 - 28 Aug 2021
Viewed by 2178
Abstract
Periodontal disease is the most common oral chronic inflammatory disease in humans. Recent studies have indicated that red light Photobiomodulation (PBM) could inhibit cell inflammation effectively, but the effect of different doses of PBM on the treatment of inflammation has to be improved. [...] Read more.
Periodontal disease is the most common oral chronic inflammatory disease in humans. Recent studies have indicated that red light Photobiomodulation (PBM) could inhibit cell inflammation effectively, but the effect of different doses of PBM on the treatment of inflammation has to be improved. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of various doses of PBM (630 ± 30 nm, (1) 5 mW/cm2, 1 J/cm2, 200 s; (2) 5 mW/cm2, 3 J/cm2, 600 s; (3) 5 mW/cm2, 9 J/cm2, 1800 s; (4) 5 mW/cm2, 18 J/cm2, 3600 s; (5) 5 mW/cm2,36 J/cm2, 7200 s) on the anti-inflammatory response of human gingival fibroblasts. Our results suggested that PBM (630 ± 30 nm) with doses of 18 J/cm2 and 36 J/cm2 could significantly inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines such as Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and IL-8, presumably due to the fact that a high dose of PBM treatment could reduce intracellular Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human gingival fibroblasts, thus reducing the expression of COX-2 enzyme. In addition, it was found that treatment with different doses of PBM (630 ± 30 nm) did not result in reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial dysfunction in human gingival fibroblasts. Our study provides a theoretical reference for the selection of PBM parameters and the application of PBM in the clinical treatment of periodontitis. Full article
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16 pages, 1627 KiB  
Article
The Efficacy of Phototherapy for the Treatment of Onychomycosis: An Observational Study
by Nadia Dembskey and Heidi Abrahamse
Photonics 2021, 8(9), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics8090350 - 25 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5047
Abstract
(1) Background: Onychomycosis accounts for 50% of nail pathologies and is a therapeutic challenge due to an increase in resistance to antifungal agents. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of 1064 nm diode laser irradiation for the treatment of Onychomycosis and establish [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Onychomycosis accounts for 50% of nail pathologies and is a therapeutic challenge due to an increase in resistance to antifungal agents. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of 1064 nm diode laser irradiation for the treatment of Onychomycosis and establish a new set of laser parameters for effective and safe treatment; (2) Methods: An exploratory, single-blinded study was conducted on forty-five patients with toenail Onychomycosis. Digital images and nail clippings were taken for Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and fungal microscopy and culture (MC&S). Group 1 received 5% topical Amorolfine lacquer to apply to affected nails. Group 2 received 1064 nm diode laser treatment at 10 mW/s, hallux 790 J/cm2 and lesser digits 390 J/cm2 (standard treatment). Group 3 received 1064 nm diode laser treatment at 10 mW/s, hallux 1 100 J/cm2 and lesser digits 500 J/cm2 (new treatment parameters). After laser treatment, nail temperatures were taken with a surface thermometer; (3) Results: PAS staining was more sensitive in identifying Onychomycosis (91.1%), compared to Fungal Microscopy (44.4%). Comparing treatment requirements over a period of 24 weeks, there was a statistical significance, p ≤ 0.01 (**), for standard laser treatment and, p ≤ 0.001 (***), for new laser parameter treatment, indicating treatment needed over time decreased. No adverse effects were noted with new laser therapy. An 86.7% visual improvement was noted in Group 3 after 24 weeks; (4) Conclusions: Phototherapy, or photo thermolysis, was the best treatment option for Onychomycosis. A new protocol for the standardization of laser irradiation with the possible inclusion into the Scoring Clinical Index for Onychomycosis treatment plan, was proposed. Full article
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11 pages, 2065 KiB  
Article
Recovery from Idiopathic Facial Paralysis (Bell’s Palsy) Using Photobiomodulation in Patients Non-Responsive to Standard Treatment: A Case Series Study
by Claudio Pasquale, Anatoliy Utyuzh, Maria Vladimirovna Mikhailova, Esteban Colombo and Andrea Amaroli
Photonics 2021, 8(8), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics8080341 - 20 Aug 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7849
Abstract
Diminished facial movement and marked facial asymmetry can lead to a consistent psychological burden. Bell′s palsy (BP) is one of the most common causes of facial nerve illness, which comes with unilateral acute facial paresis. Nowadays, no clear guidelines for treating BP are [...] Read more.
Diminished facial movement and marked facial asymmetry can lead to a consistent psychological burden. Bell′s palsy (BP) is one of the most common causes of facial nerve illness, which comes with unilateral acute facial paresis. Nowadays, no clear guidelines for treating BP are available. We carried out a case series study to test the efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in patients with BP non-responsive to standard treatment. The study was experimentally performed at the Department of Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Genoa (Genoa, Italy), in accordance with case report guidelines. Patients were referred to our department by colleagues for evaluation to be included in the case series because no consistent improvement was observed at least 3 months from the diagnosis of BP. All the patients interrupted their pharmacological therapy before the initiation of PBM therapy. PBM therapy (808 nm, 1 W irradiated in continuous-wave for 60 s on spot-size 1 cm2; 1 W/cm2; 60 J/cm2; and 60 J) was administered every 2 days until complete resolution. Evaluation of the House-Brackmann scale was performed before and after treatments. Fourteen patients were screened as eligible for the study. Patients were Caucasians (36% females and 64% males) with a mean age ± standard deviation of 56.07 ± 15.21 years. Eleven patients out of 14, who experienced BP a maximum of 6 months, completely recovered through PBM. The three patients that did not show improvement were those who had experienced BP for years. PBM could be a supportive therapy for the management of BP in patients non-responsive to standard treatment. However, randomized controlled trials are necessary to sustain our encouraging results, exclude bias, and better explain the boundary between the time from diagnosis and the recovery of BP through PBM therapy. Full article
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Review

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33 pages, 843 KiB  
Review
Light as a Cure in COVID-19: A Challenge for Medicine
by Laura Marinela Ailioaie, Constantin Ailioaie and Gerhard Litscher
Photonics 2022, 9(10), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9100686 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 6777
Abstract
Light and lasers, as high-tech devices whose medical potential has yet to be fully discovered, have made important contributions to medicine, even in the current pandemic. The main aim of this review was to investigate how light was applied as a therapeutic tool [...] Read more.
Light and lasers, as high-tech devices whose medical potential has yet to be fully discovered, have made important contributions to medicine, even in the current pandemic. The main aim of this review was to investigate how light was applied as a therapeutic tool during a crisis triggered by COVID-19. Another goal was to encourage scientists and industry to quickly design new at-home photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and/or antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) easy to use systems to end this pandemic, especially for those who believe in high-tech but would never get vaccinated. This review revealed that PBMT has been successfully applied as adjunct therapy, in combination with conventional medical treatment, and as a pioneering action in SARS-CoV-2 infection, demonstrating significant improvements in airway inflammation and general clinical condition of patients, a faster recovery, avoiding intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, mortality, and overcoming long-term sequelae. Application in only a limited number of cases strongly suggests the need for future randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials to objectively determine the action and effects of PBMT in COVID-19. Implementation of unparalleled theragnostics methods and light-based techniques for disinfection of spaces, air, skin, mucosae, and textures to decrease the load of SARS-CoV-2 virus would save lives, time, and money. In this ongoing and challenging search for the seemingly intangible end of this pandemic, a non-invasive, easily accessible, safe, and side-effect-free adjuvant method appears to be PBMT, alone or in synergistic combination with aPDT, which has been shown to work in COVID-19 and opens unprecedented potential for use as home self-treatment to end the pandemic. Full article
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17 pages, 586 KiB  
Review
Photobiomodulation, Cells of Connective Tissue and Repair Processes: A Look at In Vivo and In Vitro Studies on Bone, Cartilage and Tendon Cells
by Asma Shaikh-Kader and Nicolette Nadene Houreld
Photonics 2022, 9(9), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9090618 - 30 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2808
Abstract
The use of light in the red and near-infrared light spectrum influences cell viability and proliferation in both cell and animal experimental models. In wounded models, photobiomodulation (PBM) at various laser parameters may stimulate or inhibit the tissue repair process by affecting cells [...] Read more.
The use of light in the red and near-infrared light spectrum influences cell viability and proliferation in both cell and animal experimental models. In wounded models, photobiomodulation (PBM) at various laser parameters may stimulate or inhibit the tissue repair process by affecting cells important to healing. Connective tissue cells include osteocytes and osteoblasts in bone, chondrocytes and chondroblasts in cartilage, and tenocytes and tenoblasts in tendons. PBM, at various wavelengths, energy densities and power output, has various effects on cell viability, proliferation, migration and gene expression. This narrative review will briefly encapsulate the effectiveness of PBM on connective tissue cells, and its possible role in tissue repair. Relevant journal articles were obtained through PubMed and Google Scholar. Full article
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15 pages, 2184 KiB  
Review
Changes in Cell Biology under the Influence of Low-Level Laser Therapy
by Piotr Rola, Szymon Włodarczak, Maciej Lesiak, Adrian Doroszko and Adrian Włodarczak
Photonics 2022, 9(7), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9070502 - 20 Jul 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5948
Abstract
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has become an important part of the therapeutic process in various diseases. However, despite the broad use of LLLT in everyday clinical practice, the full impact of LLLT on cell life processes has not been fully understood. This paper [...] Read more.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has become an important part of the therapeutic process in various diseases. However, despite the broad use of LLLT in everyday clinical practice, the full impact of LLLT on cell life processes has not been fully understood. This paper presents the current state of knowledge concerning the mechanisms of action of LLLT on cells. A better understanding of the molecular processes occurring within the cell after laser irradiation may result in introducing numerous novel clinical applications of LLLT and potentially increases the safety profile of this therapy. Full article
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18 pages, 2400 KiB  
Review
Can Photobiomodulation Support the Management of Temporomandibular Joint Pain? Molecular Mechanisms and a Systematic Review of Human Clinical Trials
by Jumana Alsarhan, Rita El Feghali, Thaer Alkhudari, Stefano Benedicenti and Claudio Pasquale
Photonics 2022, 9(6), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9060420 - 16 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3070
Abstract
This study aims to point out the correlation between photobiomodulation (PBM) targets and effects and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) pain using diode lasers with infrared wavelengths ranging from 780 up to 980 nanometers (nm). A systematic search of multiple electronic databases was [...] Read more.
This study aims to point out the correlation between photobiomodulation (PBM) targets and effects and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) pain using diode lasers with infrared wavelengths ranging from 780 up to 980 nanometers (nm). A systematic search of multiple electronic databases was done to identify the clinical trials published between 1st January 2010 and 18th December 2021. The included studies were limited to human subjects who had TMD pain, involving two genders with age > 18 years, and were treated with PBM using a diode laser (780–980 nm) as a non-pharmacological therapy to decrease the intensity of the pain associated to TMDs. The risk of bias for included studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB tool (for randomized studies). The methodologic quality was rated using the Delphi list. The findings suggest that PBM is an effective tool in alleviating TMDs’ pain and increasing the range of movement in patients with Axis 1 of TMDs. However, TMDs’ pain related to underlying pathology cannot be solely treated by PBM. The causative factors must be treated first. Studies displaying the highest quality Delphi score may represent a suggested PBM therapy protocol to follow for TMDs pain management. Full article
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15 pages, 301 KiB  
Review
Transcranial Photobiomodulation Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Depression or Induced by Antidepressant Medications
by Farzad Salehpour, Mahsa Khademi, Farzan Vahedifard and Paolo Cassano
Photonics 2022, 9(5), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9050330 - 11 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5553
Abstract
Sexual dysfunction (SD) is frequently encountered in patients suffering from depression. There is a bidirectional relationship between various types of SD and depression, so the presence or treatment of one condition may exacerbate or improve the other condition. The most frequent sexual problem [...] Read more.
Sexual dysfunction (SD) is frequently encountered in patients suffering from depression. There is a bidirectional relationship between various types of SD and depression, so the presence or treatment of one condition may exacerbate or improve the other condition. The most frequent sexual problem in untreated depressed patients is declining sexual desire, while in treated depressed patients it is difficulties with erection/ejaculation and with orgasm. Numerous classes of neuropsychiatric medications, commonly used in depressed patients—such as antidepressant, antipsychotic, alpha sympathetic, and opioid drugs—may cause SD. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, also called low-level light/laser therapy, is a novel neuromodulation technique for neuropsychiatric conditions, such as depression. Transcranial PBM (tPBM) targets the cellular metabolism—through the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme, cytochrome c oxidase—and has numerous cellular and physiological beneficial effects on the central nervous system. This paper represents a comprehensive review of the application of tPBM to SD, coexisting with depression or induced by antidepressant medications. Full article

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11 pages, 6908 KiB  
Brief Report
Photobiomodulation Therapy through a Novel Flat-Top Hand-Piece Prototype Improves Tissue Regeneration in Amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum): Proposal of an Ethical Model for Preclinical Screening
by Matteo Bozzo, Claudio Pasquale, Francesco Cuccaro, Sara Ferrando, Angelina Zekiy, Simona Candiani and Andrea Amaroli
Photonics 2022, 9(7), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9070503 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1941
Abstract
Despite the literature providing compelling evidence for the medical efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, its consistency in terms of accuracy and standardization needs improving. Identification of new technology and reliable and ethical biological models is, therefore, a challenge for researchers working on PBM. [...] Read more.
Despite the literature providing compelling evidence for the medical efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, its consistency in terms of accuracy and standardization needs improving. Identification of new technology and reliable and ethical biological models is, therefore, a challenge for researchers working on PBM. We tested the reliability of PBM irradiation through a novel delivery probe with a flat-top beam profile on the regenerating amphioxus Branchiostoma lanceolatum. The caudalmost 9 ± 1 myotomes, posterior to the anus, were excised using a sterile lancet. Animals were randomly split into three experimental groups. In the control group, the beam area was bounded with the 635-nm red-light pointer (negligible power, <0.5 mW) and the laser device was coded to irradiate 810 nm and 0 W. In Group laser-1, the beam area was bounded with the same 635-nm red-light pointer and irradiated at 810 nm, 1 W in CW for 60 s, spot-size 1 cm2, 1 W/cm2, 60 J/cm2, and 60 J; irradiation was performed every day for two weeks. In Group laser-2, the beam area was bounded with the same 635-nm red-light pointer and irradiated at 810 nm, 1 W in CW for 60 s, spot-size 1 cm2, 1 W/cm2, 60 J/cm2, and 60 J; irradiation was performed on alternate days for four weeks. We observed that PBM improved the natural wound-healing and regeneration process. The effect was particularly evident for the notochord. Daily irradiation better supported the regenerative process. Full article
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