Light Therapy

Burns, tumors or surgical interventions often result in large scale wounds that challenge the body’s ability to regenerate and still represent a huge problem for modern medicine. Technologies that support wound healing and eventually might ease patients’ suffering are therefore subject to intensive research.

The group of Peter Dungel researches new applicable treatment approaches and focusses on low level light therapy (LLLT). It has already been shown that light has a dose- and wavelength dependent positive impact on wound healing and chronic pain and leads to a better blood circulation. The use of short-wave light releases among other things the signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO) that regulates for example vasodilatation. Research focus in the area of light therapy is thus put on:

  • Examinations on the influence of different wavelengths
  • Researching the underlying effect mechanisms
  • Reviewing the effects in in vitro and in vivo models

For a project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), the group established a cooperation with REPULS Lichtmedizintechnik GmbH, a manufacturer of LLLT devices. The aim of the cooperation is to find a solution to the medical problem of extensive wound healing as well as merge knowledge from cell biology and LED electrical engineering. It could already be shown that LED light reduces tissue necrosis and improves the circulation around the wound area.

a.
a. LEDs are used to influence photosensitive molecules within the tissue
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Photobiomodulation
DI Dr. Peter Dungel
Group Leader crgre.qhatry@genhzn.yot.np.ng
Magdalena Metzger, MSc
PhD Student zntqnyran.zrgmtre@genhzn.yot.np.ng
Stefan Manhartseder, BSc
Research Associate fgrsna.znaunegfrqre@genhzn.yot.np.ng
Leonie Krausgruber
Research Associate yrbavr.xenhftehore@genhzn.yot.np.ng
Moritz Löb, BSc
Master student
Ing. Carina Wagner
Technician pnevan.jntare@genhzn.yot.np.ng

Selected Publications

Firouz B, Faihs L, Slezak P, Ghaffari Tabrizi-Wizsy N, Schicho K, Winter R, Kamolz LP, Dungel P (2023). Testing the effects of photobiomodulation on angiogenesis in a newly established CAM burn wound model. Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 27;13(1):22985. 
(free PDF)

Dungel P, Sutalo S, Slezak C, Keibl C, Schädl B, Schnidar H, Metzger M, Meixner B, Hartmann J, Oesterreicher J, Redl H, Slezak P (2023). Wavelength-Dependent Effects of Photobiomodulation for Wound Care in Diabetic Wounds. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 20;24(6):5895. 
(free PDF)

Metzger M, Hacobian A, Karner L, Krausgruber L, Grillari J, Dungel P (2022). Resistance of Bacteria toward 475 nm Blue Light Exposure and the Possible Role of the SOS Response. Life (Basel). 2022 Sep 26;12(10):1499. 
(free PDF)

Slezak C, Anderson K, Hillock T, Miller M, Dungel P, Kopp O, Sterflinger K, Slezak P. Shockwaves Increase In Vitro Resilience of Rhizopus oryzae Biofilm under Amphotericin B Treatment. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Aug 17;23(16):9226.
(free PDF).

Heinzel JC, Oberhauser V, Keibl C, Schädl B, Swiadek NV, Längle G, Frick H, Slezak C, Prahm C, Grillari J, Kolbenschlag J, Hercher D (2022) ESWT Diminishes Axonal Regeneration following Repair of the Rat Median Nerve with Muscle-In-Vein Conduits but Not after Autologous Nerve Grafting. Biomedicines. 2022 Jul 22;10(8):1777. 
(free PDF).

Slezak C, Flatscher J, Slezak P (2022) A Comparative Feasibility Study for Transcranial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy. Biomedicines. 2022 Jun 20;10(6):1457. 
(free PDF).

Mittermayr R, Haffner N, Eder S, Flatscher J, Schaden W, Slezak P, Slezak C (2022) Safe and Effective Treatment of Compromised Clavicle Fracture of the Medial and Lateral Third Using Focused Shockwaves. J Clin Med. 2022 Apr 2;11(7):1988.
(free PDF).

Schneider C, Dungel P, Priglinger E, Danzer M, Schädl B, Nürnberger S (2021). The impact of photobiomodulation on the chondrogenic potential of adipose-derived stromal/stem cells. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2021 Aug;221:112243.

Karner L, Drechsler S, Metzger M, Hacobian A, Schädl B, Slezak P, Grillari J, Dungel P (2020). Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy fighting polymicrobial infections – a journey from in vitro to in vivo. Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2020 Oct 1;19(10):1332-1343

Chaudary S, Karner L, Weidinger A, Meixner B, Rieger S, Metzger M, Zipperle J, Dungel P (2020). In vitro effects of 635 nm photobiomodulation under hypoxia/reoxygenation culture conditions. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2020 Aug;209:111935.

Priglinger E, Maier J, Chaudary S, Lindner C, Wurzer C, Rieger S, Redl H, Wolbank S, Dungel P (2018). Photobiomodulation of freshly isolated human adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction cells by pulsed light-emitting diodes for direct clinical application. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018 Jun;12(6):1352-1362

Rohringer S, Holnthoner W, Chaudary S, Slezak P, Priglinger E, Strassl M, Pill K, Mühleder S, Redl H, Dungel P (2017). The impact of wavelengths of LED light-therapy on endothelial cells. Sci Rep. 7(1):10700
(free PDF)

Dungel P, Perlinger M, Weidinger A, Redl H, & Kozlov AV. (2015). The cytoprotective effect of nitrite is based on the formation of dinitrosyl iron complexes. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 89:300-310.

Teuschl A, Balmayor ER, Redl H, van Griensven M, & Dungel P. (2015). Phototherapy With LED Light Modulates Healing Processes in an In Vitro Scratch-Wound Model Using 3 Different Cell Types. Dermatol Surg., 41(2):261-268.

Dungel P, Hartinger J, Chaudary S, Slezak P, Hofmann A, Hausner T, Strassl M, Wintner E, Redl H, & Mittermayr R. (2014). Low Level Light Therapy by LED of Different Wavelength Induces Angiogenesis and Improves Ischemic Wound Healing. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 46(10):773-780.

Adamskaya N, Dungel P, Rainer M, Hartinger J, Feichtinger G, Wassermann K, Redl H, & van Griensven M. (2011). Light therapy by blue LED improves wound healing in an excision model in rats. Injury, 42(9):917-921.

Dungel P, Mittermayr R, Haindl S, Osipov A, Wagner C, Redl H, & Kozlov AV. (2008). Illumination with blue light reactivates respiratory activity of mitochondria inhibited by nitric oxide, but not by glycerol trinitrate. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 471(2):109-115.

Mittermayr R, Osipov A, Piskernik C, Haindl S, Dungel P, Weber C, Vladimirov YA, Redl H, & Kozlov AV. (2007). Blue Laser Light Increases Perfusion of a Skin Flap Via Release of Nitric Oxide from Hemoglobin. Mol Med., 13(1-2):22-29.