O efeito da terapia por fotobiomodulação, associada ao material de carbono impregnado com nanopartículas de prata, no controle da resistência óssea

Abstract

Bone infection is a serious and difficult-to-treat condition, significantly impacting patients' lives, including physical, emotional, social, and economic aspects. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and involves a multimodal approach that combines antimicrobial therapy, surgical intervention, and supportive care. However, pharmacological treatment is not always effective. In this context, the use of carbon-based composite materials as bone substitutes emerges as a promising alternative that promotes recovery and accelerates healing. Additionally, photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) has been widely used to optimize the quality of tissue repair by modulating the inflammatory process and reducing pain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a carbon composite associated with silver nanoparticles (ACNS), either alone or in combination with PBM, in the bone repair of an experimental injury model, considering biomechanical and morphological parameters. Methodology: Wistar rats were anesthetized and subjected to induction of bone injury in both tibias. The animals were distributed into groups: control without injury (CTL); with injury without treatment (NT); treated only with PBM (PBM); treated with composite material (ACNS); or treated with the combined therapies (PBM+ACNS). After 30 days, the animals were euthanized, and the tibias were collected for morphological and functional analyses. Results: The induced bone injury promoted changes in, both mechanical properties and tissue organization, as well as collagen proportion. Isolated treatments with PBM or ACNS did not significantly modify mechanical properties but favored tissue organization. In contrast, the PBM+ACNS combination showed significant improvement in biomechanical and morphological properties, leading to more organized tissue with a collagen proportion similar to that of the control group (CTL). Conclusion: Photobiomodulation associated with the use of a carbon composite material impregnated with silver nanoparticles promoted bone repair while maintaining tissue organization and mechanical properties in an experimental model of bone injury.