Effect of Photodynamic Therapy with 808 Nm Diode Laser And Different ‎Concentrations of Indocyanine Green on Promastigotes of Leishmania Major

Abstract

Purpose: Leishmaniasis is a common infectious agent of humans and animals that threatens more than 350 million people in 100 countries including Iran, and still has no effective and low-complication treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive and repeatable method for removing leishmaniasis lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy with the near-infrared laser in the presence of indocyanine green (ICG) on leishmaniasis. Methods: In vitro study was carried out after amplification of parasites extracted from the spleen of infected mice in the presence of 6 different concentrations of ICG and exposure with the 808 nm laser. To avoid the photothermal effect, the output intensity was limited to 1 W/cm2. Each study included three controls: untreated parasites, ICG-treated parasites and laser beam-exposed parasites. Finally, the effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated by the MTS/PMS method. Results: There was no significant difference in survival in all groups containing ICG compared to the control group (P>0.05), but these groups showed a significant reduction in survival compared to the control group after exposure (P0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that photodynamic therapy in the presence of ICG could be a new, safe and low-cost option against L. major.

Keywords

• leishmaniasis
• photodynamic therapy
• indocyanine green
• near-infrared laser