Light-based therapies have good results in post-Covid sequelae recovery

Light-based therapies, such as ​​, combined with techniques such as laser and negative pressure are showing good results in the rehabilitation of patients with post-Covid-19 sequelae, including those who had muscle, joint, neurological, dermatological and pulmonary injuries. The promising data were presented in an article published in the journal Laser Physics Letters.

The research is being conducted by groups from the Optics and Photonics Research Center (CEPOF) and the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) of Basic Optics and Applied to Life Sciences — both coordinated by Vanderlei Bagnato, a professor at the Institute of Physics of São Carlos from the University of São Paulo (IFSC-USP).

The researchers have sought to create guidelines for the development of the necessary infrastructure for the treatment of Covid-19 sequelae, as well as to establish new care protocols suitable for multidisciplinary teams. In the study published in Laser Physics Letters, in particular, protocols are presented for treating patients who were bedridden for long periods, needed to be intubated, or had secondary infections in the respiratory tract (such as bacterial pneumonia) — factors that increase the risk of mortality.

“Post-Covid affects various parts of the body. There are sensory sequelae [alteração de paladar e olfato]muscular [fadiga], circulatory and inflammatory, mainly in the respiratory system. There are also other sequelae common to various infections, such as ringing in the ear and paresthesia. [dormência] facial, in addition to skin lesions for patients bedridden for long periods. Our objective is to contribute with techniques that improve this whole picture”, highlights Bagnato.

Partnership between companies and universities

According to the coordinator of Cepof —a Research, Innovation and Diffusion Center (Cepid) of Fapesp based at IFSC-USP —, among the benefits that have been observed with the combination of light-based therapies and hybrid techniques of regeneration, highlights The improvement in the hearing symptom, which has been affecting many patients cured from Covid-19.

“It is a combination of technologies. About six devices are used to rehabilitate patients – including one that we created to treat tinnitus, a problem that has increased a lot after the pandemic. This protocol is still under research”, Bagnato account.

Another relevant advance, according to the researcher, is the creation of a boot to recover the circulatory system that uses laser technology. “These devices, including the boot, combined with photobiostimulation are giving excellent results, even for those who have not had Covid-19, but feel pain when playing sports. It is a new product, developed in partnership with companies. merit of the research, the creation of new equipment and protocols that serve many different people and diseases”, he emphasizes.

Some products are already approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), starting the commercialization phase. Others are still being researched, but show good results, such as those reported in the article in question. “The device that combines ultrasound and laser is a novelty at a world level, we are having demand from Europe and the United States”, highlights the USP professor.

innovative technologies

“Our team has been working for a long time with hybrid techniques of regeneration for chronic diseases and wounds that do not rehabilitate, for example. All methodologies involve laser therapy combined with negative pressure [aparelho que promove sucção] and ultrasound”, says Bagnato to Agência Fapesp.

In photobiomodulation, light is applied to stimulate metabolism, contributing to cell proliferation and wound healing. Another important benefit is pain relief. The wavelength, the type of light source, the structure of the pulse and the time of use of the laser are relevant factors for this process. The article shows, for example, how the use of near-infrared light (which is 810-1064 nm) can activate light-sensitive ion channels present in cells, increasing biochemical processes that accelerate cell proliferation and migration, among other mechanisms.

Photodynamic therapy, on the other hand, involves photosensitizing molecules and a light source with adequate wavelength, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species — including superoxide ion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen — that are capable of inactivating pathogenic microorganisms.

With the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, these methodologies were adapted. Research groups in dentistry, physiotherapy and biomedicine that already collaborated with USP in São Carlos sought, under the coordination of Cepof, to develop new technologies and protocols for the recovery of patients who were hospitalized in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) or who had high and suffered from numerous
sequels.

As Bagnato explains, the techniques developed by the group can help suppress the inflammatory reaction in the lung – one of Organs most compromised organs in the post-Covid-19. The non-invasive method has been shown to be able to improve both gas exchange and relieve pain and muscle contractures in the thoracic region.

“The anti-inflammatory power of infrared radiation has helped a lot in these applications. However, more than that, we are developing photodynamic actions for the treatment of pneumonia, especially those resistant to antibiotics. We have developed a technique that allows inhaling a molecule and treating it with light extracorporeal infection, eliminating the bacterial colonies”, says the researcher.

Next steps

In addition to the biophotonic rehabilitation center created for post-Covid patients in São Carlos, in operation since 2021, approximately 20 other centers are being set up through a consortium in other municipalities in the country. The protocols developed so far were published in the e-book Fotobiomodulation and combined therapies: treatment protocols for the sequelae of Covid-19 and are being released free of charge by the company MMO, a partner in the project.

In São Carlos, the group continues to collect data on phototherapy among patients treated at the biophotonic rehabilitation center, also observing the consequences of these therapies in diseases such as Parkinson’s, cancer and fibromyalgia, in addition to others that were already being studied.

“We still have no idea how long the consequences of Covid-19 will last, now we will know what these millions of infected people will face. long term. And all this in partnership with health personnel. All UPAs [Unidades de Pronto Atendimento da rede pública] and outpatient clinics refer people and we treat them. We have already started to publish some articles, but the research continues.”

The article “Perspectives on photobiomodulation and combined light-based therapies for rehabilitation of patients after Covid-19 recovery” can be read here .

Among the authors are also IFSC-USP professors Cristina Kurachi and Sebastião Pratavieira, in addition to post-docs Lucas Danilo Dias and Kate Cristina Blanco. Altogether, more than 20 professionals from different areas of health and locations in the State of São Paulo participate in the research led by Cepof.