Titanium scaffold osteogenesis in healthy and osteoporotic rats is improved by the use of low-level laser therapy (GaAlAs)

Abstract

The present study aimed to assess the effects of low-level laser therapy (GaAlAs) on the bone repair process within titanium scaffolds in the femurs of healthy and osteoporotic rats. Fifty-six rats were divided into four groups: group Sh: SHAM animals that received scaffolds; group LSh: SHAM animals that received scaffolds and were subjected to laser therapy; group OV: ovarietomized (OVX) animals that received scaffolds; and group LOV: OVX animals that received scaffolds and were subjected to laser therapy. Thirty days following ovariectomy or sham surgery, scaffolds were implanted in the left femurs of all animals in the study. Immediately after opening the surgical site, the inner part of the surgical cavity was stimulated with low-level laser (GaAlAs). In addition to this procedure, the laser group was also subjected to sessions of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) at 48-h intervals, with the first session performed immediately after surgery. The rats were sacrificed at 2 and 6 weeks, time in which femur fragments were submitted for histological and histomorphometric examination, and skin tissue above the scaffold was submitted to histological analysis. At the end of the study, greater bone formation was observed in the animals submitted to LLLT. At 2 and 6 weeks, statistically significant differences were observed between LSh and Sh groups (p = 0.009 and 0.0001) and LOV and OV (p = 0.0001 and 0.0001), respectively. No statistical difference was observed when assessing the estrogen variable. On the basis of our methodology and results, we conclude that LLLT improves and accelerates bone repair within titanium scaffolds in both ovariectomized and healthy rats, when compared to animals not subjected to radiation.

The effect of pulsed electromagnetic field exposure on osteoinduction of human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on nano-TiO2 surfaces

“…For example, the application of electrical field stimulation has been found to enhance the surface topography effects when determining orientation and elongation of fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes[ 34 ]. Additionally, in vivo experiments have demonstrated that low level laser therapy (LLLT) improves and accelerates bone repair within titanium scaffolds [ 35 ] and in vitro electromagnetic stimulation helps bone osteoblasts proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition on a titanium plasma-spray surface [ 36 ].…”

Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) in Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: A Systematic Review

“…Its effects are related to tissue biostimulation, presenting therapeutic responses from photoelectric, photoenergetic, and photochemical reactions [1]. Scientific research has shown the application of PBMT in bone tissue and peripheral nerves with good results whether or not it is associated with other supporting methods in tissue repair [2,3,4,5,6,7]. …”

Photobiomodulation in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry: Part 2

“…Most of these studies reported positive effects in terms of promotion of bone formation around Ti implants, and higher bone implant contacts (BICs) were reported ( Table 1). [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Many researchers have confirmed that low-level light therapy can promote bone formation by stimulatory effects on osteoblasts, which can lead to greater osteo-integration of Ti implants. This has been evaluated in different study designs and laser irradiation parameters.…”

“…8 In an interesting research by de Vasconcellos et al in 2016 in rats, low levels of infrared diode laser were found to be able to improve the initial phase of bone formation and the osseointegration process of Ti scaffolds in osteopenic and normal rats. 17 In a recent study, Mikhail et al have evaluated the radiodensitometric changes in bone density along the boneimplant interface. They observed that the rate of increase and mean differences was significantly higher in the laser group.…”