Abstract
This keynote highlights the contributions of our research group in Brazil to advancing the scientific foundations of photobiomodulation (PBM) in regenerative medicine. Over the past two decades, our work has bridged fundamental laboratory discoveries with preclinical and clinical applications, helping establish PBM as a scientifically grounded regenerative therapy.
Our research has demonstrated that PBM extends beyond inflammation modulation and analgesia by actively regulating cellular behaviour. We have shown that PBM promotes proliferation, migration, survival, extracellular matrix synthesis, and lineage-specific differentiation, providing a strong biological basis for tissue regeneration.
A central focus of our investigations has been mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Our studies revealed that appropriately dosed PBM enhances MSC proliferation, viability, metabolic activity, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralised matrix formation without inducing phototoxicity. We also demonstrated the importance of the biphasic dose response, showing that wavelength, energy density, power, and irradiation time are critical determinants of therapeutic outcomes and require careful optimisation for reproducible clinical protocols.
Building on these discoveries, we integrated PBM with tissue engineering strategies, including biomaterial scaffolds, bone substitutes, and stem cell-based therapies. These studies demonstrated that PBM enhances cell attachment, proliferation, differentiation, angiogenic signalling, and extracellular matrix deposition, significantly improving the regenerative performance of engineered tissues.
Our translational research provided compelling evidence supporting PBM in bone regeneration, demonstrating enhanced osteoblast maturation, collagen synthesis, osteogenic gene expression, and mineralized tissue formation. These findings were validated in animal models and translated into clinical applications in implant dentistry, guided bone regeneration, periodontal regeneration, oral surgery, and wound healing.
Beyond our scientific discoveries, we contributed to the 2025 World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) Position Paper on PBM and Stem Cells, providing evidence-based recommendations and priorities for future clinical research. Collectively, our work has helped position PBM as an evidence-based therapeutic platform with significant potential to advance regenerative medicine.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the biological mechanisms of photobiomodulation in tissue regeneration.
- Explain the effects of photobiomodulation on mesenchymal stem cell function.
- Describe the influence of PBM parameters on therapeutic outcomes.
- Demonstrate the clinical applications of PBM in regenerative dentistry.
- Discuss current evidence supporting PBM in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
