Speaker
Description
The generation of functional insulin-producing beta (β)-cells from stem cells represented a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetes mellitus. Photobiomodulation (PBM), a non-invasive light-based approach, has emerged as a potential regulator of cellular metabolism, proliferation, and differentiation through mitochondrial stimulation and bioenergetic modulation. This study investigated the effect of laser-based PBM on the differentiation of immortalised adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into functional β-cells under both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) culture conditions.
Immortalised ADSCs were exposed to defined laser parameters to evaluate their capacity to enhance β-cell lineage commitment and functional insulin production. Cellular health, viability, and metabolic activity were assessed using multiple complementary assays. Intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) quantification determined mitochondrial bioenergetic activity, while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was measured to evaluate cytotoxicity and membrane integrity. Morphological changes associated with differentiation were examined using Giemsa staining, and β-cell-specific insulin granule formation was confirmed using dithizone (DTZ) staining. Additionally, Live/Dead assays were performed to assess overall cell viability and survival within both 2D monolayer and 3D scaffold-based culture systems.
It was hypothesized that laser-based PBM enhanced mitochondrial activity, improved cellular viability, and promoted the generation of metabolically active, insulin-producing β-cells, with enhanced outcomes observed in 3D culture systems due to improved cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions.
This study aimed to advance understanding of laser-based PBM mechanisms in stem cell differentiation and to support the development of non-invasive strategies for β-cell engineering and regenerative diabetes therapies.
