ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcer is the most costly and complex challenge for patients with diabetes. We hereby assessed the effectiveness of different preconditioned adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) and photobiomodulation protocols on treating an infected ischemic wound in type 1 diabetic rats. METHODS: There were five groups of rats: (1) control, (2) control AD-MSCs [diabetic AD-MSCs were transplanted (grafted) into the wound bed], (3) AD-MSC + photobiomodulation in vivo (diabetic AD-MSCs were grafted into the wound, followed by in vivo PBM treatment), (4) AD-MSCs + photobiomodulation in vitro, and (5) AD-MSCs + photobiomodulation in vitro + in vivo. RESULTS: Diabetic AD-MSCs preconditioned with photobiomodulation had significantly risen cell function compared to diabetic AD-MSC. Groups 3 and 5 had significantly decreased microbial flora correlated to groups 1 and 2 (all, p = 0.000). Groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 had significantly improved wound closure rate (0.4, 0.4, 0.4, and 0.8, respectively) compared to group 1 (0.2). Groups 2-5 had significantly increased wound strength compared to group 1 (all p = 0.000). In most cases, group 5 had significantly better results than groups 2, 3, and 4. CONCLUSIONS: Preconditioning diabetic AD-MSCs with photobiomodulation in vitro plus photobiomodulation in vivo significantly hastened healing in the diabetic rat model of an ischemic infected delayed healing wound.
