A traffic accident, a fall, an assault or an illness can damage the spinal cord, which is the main communication route between the brain and the rest of the body, so an injury to the spinal cord can result in loss. of functions, such as mobility or sensitivity. Advances in research are improving treatment options, and a new therapy that relies on repairing nerve connections using red and near-infrared light could benefit spinal cord injury patients in the future.
This new method has been developed by scientists at the University of Birmingham and patented by the University of Birmingham Enterprise and involves sending light directly to the area of injury. In their latest research they have determined the optimal dosage for this innovative therapy and have shown that it can provide great therapeutic improvements, including significant restoration of sensation and movement, as well as the regeneration of damaged nerve cells. The results have been published in the journal Bioengineering and Translational Medicine.
Light therapy with neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects
Led by Professor Zubair Ahmed, the researchers used cellular models of spinal cord injury to determine the optimal frequency and duration of light exposure needed to achieve maximum functional restoration and stimulate nerve cell growth. They found that administering red light with a wavelength of 660 nm for one minute per day increased cell viability by 45% after five days of treatment.
“Excitingly, this aspect of the study showed that the effect of 660 nm light was neuroprotective, meaning it improved nerve cell survival, and neuroregenerative, meaning it stimulated nerve cell growth,” he said. declared Professor Ahmed.
The team also explored light therapy in preclinical models of spinal cord injury, using implantable devices and transcutaneous delivery, demonstrating that comparable results were obtained with both methods. A daily dose of 660 nm light for seven consecutive days reduced tissue scarring in the injury area and achieved significant functional recovery.
The researchers also found significant reductions in cavity and scar formation, as well as increases in the levels of proteins linked to nerve cell regeneration and improvements in connections between cells in the injured area of the spine.
A daily dose of 660 nm light for seven consecutive days reduced scarring at the injury site and achieved significant functional recovery
This is the first study to compare transcutaneous and direct light delivery in spinal cord injuries, marking a milestone for the research team, which has already received additional funding and plans to develop an implantable device for use in humans with traumatic spinal cord injury. , an area where there are currently no treatments that preserve cells or improve neurological function.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) may be a viable therapeutic approach, using red or near-infrared light to promote recovery after SCI by mitigating neuroinflammation and preventing neuronal apoptosis. Current research focused on optimizing photobiomodulation dosing regimens and developing and validating the efficacy of an invasive photobiomodulation delivery paradigm for human spinal cord injury. The research team is now seeking commercial partners or investors to move toward developing a prototype that can enter initial human clinical trials.
