Evaluation of Fluorescent Light Energy for the Treatment of Acute Second-degree Burns

Abstract

Introduction The use of photobiomodulation has been proposed to improve wound healing for the last two decades. Recent development in photobiomodulation has led to the development of a novel biophotonic platform that utilizes fluorescent light energy (FLE) within the visible spectrum of light for healing of skin inflammation and wounds. Materials and Methods In this article, FLE was used in preliminary analysis on 18 case studies of acute second-degree burns and in a pilot study using an ex vivo human skin model. Efficacy of FLE on wound healing and tissue remodeling was evaluated by monitoring improvements in the treated tissues, assessing pain for the patients, and by performing human genome microarray analysis of FLE-treated human skin samples. Results Healing was reported for all 18 patients treated with FLE for acute second-degree burns without reported adverse effects or development of infections. Furthermore, preliminary ex vivo skin model data suggest that FLE impacts different cellular pathways including essential immune-modulatory mechanisms. Conclusions The results presented in this article are encouraging and suggest that FLE balances different stages of wound healing, which opens the door to initiating randomized controlled clinical trials for establishing the efficacy of FLE treatment in different phases of wound healing of second-degree burns.

Fluorescent light energy modulates healing in skin grafted mouse model

“…Although scar morphology was not significantly different between FLE-treated and control groups in this dermal fibrotic mouse model, accelerated wound healing is advantageous in itself since is reduces the risk of infections that often complicate the healing process and increases the risk of developing chronic wounds or fibrosis, including HTS. These results complement recent studies investigating the effect of FLE on different phases of wound healing showing accelerated healing of chronic venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and pressure ulcers as well as acute second-degree burns [ 13 , 27 , 28 ], while highlighting a potential superior effect of FLE in the earlier stages of healing. Further studies are needed to clarify the effect of FLE on reducing the risk of development of scarring.…”

“…This enables the light to penetrate various layers of the skin and interact with endogenous chromophores, such as flavins/riboflavins, cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen [ 56 ], in different layers in a single treatment. Moreover, previous clinical studies investigating FLE therapy has reported the treatment as applicable, safe, and with few adverse effects [ 17 , 18 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], underlining few clinical implications for the use of FLE. For treatment of acute second-degree burns or chronic ulcers, patients did initially experience some pain in relation to the FLE treatment, which was, however, not considered extraordinary compared with the standard of care for these conditions [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Moreover, previous clinical studies investigating FLE therapy has reported the treatment as applicable, safe, and with few adverse effects [ 17 , 18 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], underlining few clinical implications for the use of FLE. For treatment of acute second-degree burns or chronic ulcers, patients did initially experience some pain in relation to the FLE treatment, which was, however, not considered extraordinary compared with the standard of care for these conditions [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…The latter being well-documented in clinical trials and case studies, for acne [ 17 , 18 ], rosacea [ 19 , 20 ], acne conglobate and hidradenitis suppurativa [ 21 ], acneiforme eruption [ 22 ], senile lentigines [ 23 , 24 ], and wound healing [ 13 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Finally, a series of case studies investigating the effect of FLE treatment on healing of acute second-degree burns showed accelerated wound healing as well as overall improvement of tissue structure in two cases of severe HTS after burn injuries, suggesting that FLE balances wound healing at different stages of the wound healing and remodeling process [ 28 ].…”

Photobiomodulation with Blue Light on Wound Healing: A Scoping Review

“…Five studies were included in the clinical category ( Table 4 ) [ 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 ], totaling 64 patients with wounds of different etiologies that were evaluated before and after light application. One of these studies evaluated the effect of BL on 12 patients; the control group comprised 8 patients who were not irradiated [ 79 ].…”