Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Photobiomodulation (PBM), utilizing low-level light, has shown significant potential in differentiating adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) into neuronal cells. Critical studies have shown that specific laser parameters, such as wavelength and fluence, significantly impact the trans-differentiation outcomes of immortalized ADMSCs. This review aimed to consider this phenomenon.
Methods: This review was conducted based on several English articles from Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Medline, such as the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and PubMed from 2010 to 2025. The term ‘ADMSCs’ was searched combined with the following keywords: “Photobiomodulation” OR “low-level laser irradiation” OR “low-power” laser OR “low-intensity laser” OR “Photobiostimulation”.
Results: This investigation demonstrated that PBM is a non-invasive, light-based method for facilitating the neuronal differentiation of the ADMSCs. It is effective for increased production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and other biomolecules responsible for cell differentiation, proliferation, and migration to induce cell proliferation and cell signaling cascades, favoring neuronal lineage commitment, although results vary across protocols.
Conclusion: This review indicates that PBMT-based regenerative medicine seems promising and applicable for future advances in cell-based regenerative medicine and neurology. However, alongside the potentials, it also underscores the challenges of PBM-based neural regeneration, calling for parameter optimization, more in vivo studies, and shifting the focus of future studies to clinical applications.