Polychromatic LED in Oval Full-Thickness Wound Healing in Non-diabetic and Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Objective: Our goal was to determine the efficacy of polychromatic light-emitting diode (LED) in the enhancement of wound healing in non-diabetic and diabetic rats. Background Data: LEDs are increasingly used as an alternative light source for phototherapy. Methods: Acluster of 25 LED photons at 510–543, 594–599, 626–639, 640–670, and 842–872 nm wavelengths with 272-mW output power was used. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 61) were randomly assigned into non-diabetic and diabetic groups and into light treatment groups, that is, control, 5, 10, 20, and 30 J/cm². Streptozotocin was used for diabetes induction. Wounds were created using a scalpel after 1 week of wounding. Wounds were measured daily and plotted in time, and the trendline was fitted to obtain slope values. Relative wound healing percentage was computed as follows: RWH% = [(Slope treated – Slope control)/(Slope control)] × 100. The t-test (α = 0.05) was used for analysis. Results: The RWH% in the non-diabetic rats was insignificant (p > 0.05) at 5, 10, 20, and 30 J/cm² treatments, giving 4.3 ± 1.97%, 5.4 ± 1.94%, 4.5 ± 1.96%, and 1.2 ± 2.03%, respectively. The healing of diabetic rats was significantly impaired by –11.7 ± 3.25% (p = 0.02), which was mitigated by 5 J/cm² treatment (2.4 ± 3.02%, ^p = 0.40) and 10 J/cm² treatment (–5.5 ± 3.28%, p = 0.11). Diabetic wound healing using 20 J/cm² (–8.7 ± 3.39%, p = 0.03) and 30 J/cm²(–10.90 ± 1.97%, p = 0.01) affected significant inhibition. Conclusion: The effect of polychromatic LED therapy in oval full-thickness wound-healing in the diabetic model with the use of 5 and 10 J/cm² is promising. Further studies to determine optimum dosimetry and efficacy of LEDs are recommended.