PROLIFERATION OF CHICKEN FIBROBLASTS INDUCED BY LIGHT EMITTING DIODES: A COMPARATIVE TRIAL FOR DIFFERENT WAVELENGTHS

摘要

The effectiveness and applicability of a variety of light sources, in the treatment of wounds has thoroughly been investigated, in vitro as well as in vivo. The current commercial availability of Light Emitting Diode (LED) sources therefore also invites research to explore the effect of low power infrared, red and green light on wound healing, e.g. by means of fibroblast proliferation. Therefore a controlled and randomised study on cultured embryonic chicken fibroblasts was conducted. The fibroblasts were irradiated during three consecutive days, at several wavelengths (950 nm, 660 nm and 570 nm) and a respective power output of 160 mW, 80 mW or 10 mW. Treatment duration varied from 1 minute to 3 minutes to obtain a surface energy density of 0.9 J/cm~2 (infrared and red light) or 0.2 J/cm~2 (green light). Statistical analysis revealed that LED irradiation for all three wavelengths induced a higher rate of proliferation in comparison of the control group. This difference was statistically significant (p<.001). With regard to the amount of proliferation the green probe yielded a significantly higher number of cells, than the red (p<.001) an the infrared probe (p<.001). Furthermore, the red probe provided a higher increase (p<.001) than the IR probe. LED irradiation results in an increased fibroblast proliferation in vitro. This outcome postulates beneficial stimulatory effects of LED at the applied wavelength, energy density and power output on wound healing in vivo. Further investigation is necessary to examine this hypothesis.