Fluorescent light energy modulates healing in skin grafted mouse model
Ding Jie,
Mellergaard Maiken,
Zhu Zhensen,
Kwan Peter,
Edge Deirdre,
Ma Zengshuan,
Hebert Lise,
Alrobaiea Saad,
Iwasaki Takashi,
Nielsen Michael Canova Engelbrecht,
Tredget Edward E.
Affiliations
Ding Jie
Wound Healing Research Group, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 161 HMRC, Edmonton, Canada
Mellergaard Maiken
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Zhu Zhensen
Wound Healing Research Group, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 161 HMRC, Edmonton, Canada
Kwan Peter
Wound Healing Research Group, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 161 HMRC, Edmonton, Canada
Edge Deirdre
Department of Research and Development, Klox Technologies Europe Ltd, Dublin, Ireland
Ma Zengshuan
Wound Healing Research Group, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 161 HMRC, Edmonton, Canada
Hebert Lise
Department of Research and Development, Klox Technologies Inc., Laval, Canada
Alrobaiea Saad
Wound Healing Research Group, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 161 HMRC, Edmonton, Canada
Iwasaki Takashi
Wound Healing Research Group, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 161 HMRC, Edmonton, Canada
Nielsen Michael Canova Engelbrecht
Department of Research and Development, Klox R&D Center, Guangdong Klox Biomedical Group Co., Ltd, Room 603, 6/F, Building 8, No. 6, Nanjiang Second Road, Zhujiang Street, Nansha District, Guangzhou, China
Tredget Edward E.
Divisions of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Critical Care, 2D2.28 Walter C MacKenzie Health Sciences Centre & Wound Healing Research Group, 161 HMRC, Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Skin grafting is often the only treatment for skin trauma when large areas of tissue are affected. This surgical intervention damages the deeper dermal layers of the skin with implications for wound healing and a risk of scar development. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy modulates biological processes in different tissues, with a positive effect on many cell types and pathways essential for wound healing. This study investigated the effect of fluorescent light energy (FLE) therapy, a novel type of PBM, on healing after skin grafting in a dermal fibrotic mouse model. Split-thickness human skin grafts were transplanted onto full-thickness excisional wounds on nude mice. Treated wounds were monitored, and excised xenografts were examined to assess healing and pathophysiological processes essential for developing chronic wounds or scarring. Results demonstrated that FLE treatment initially accelerated re-epithelialization and rete ridge formation, while later reduced neovascularization, collagen deposition, myofibroblast and mast cell accumulation, and connective tissue growth factor expression. While there was no visible difference in gross morphology, we found that FLE treatment promoted a balanced collagen remodeling. Collectively, these findings suggest that FLE has a conceivable effect at balancing healing after skin grafting, which reduces the risk of infections, chronic wound development, and fibrotic scarring.
