Water-Filtered Infrared A Irradiation: From Observations in Clinical Studies to Complex In Vitro Models

Abstract

Successful treatment of recalcitrant common hand and foot warts in a prospective randomized controlled blind trial using wIRA and PDT has been reported. In addition, in wound healing wIRA is mostly investigated in vitro based on the resolution of mechanical damage to confluent cell layers using the “scratch wound assay.” The latter enables the direct measurement of cell migration and regeneration of the cell layer. Preliminary studies for wIRA effects on wound closure in vitro have shown beneficial effects of single 10 min treatments. Although cellular processes induced and mediators involved still need to be elucidated, it is apparent that the observed clinical benefits of wIRA on wound healing can be investigated in vitro using adequate models and experimental settings. The next step is to employ 3D skin models for morphological investigations closely simulating in vivo conditions.