Study of the use of light and its combination with sclerosant agents to treat superficial vascular injuries

• Grant number: 21/05296-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2021
• End date: August 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Grantee: Matheus Martins de Andrade
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07276-1 - CEPOF - Optics and Photonic Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy and phototherapy are treatment techniques that use the potential of light to interact with biological tissue. Since their mechanisms of action often cause vascular damage to the desired location, there are prospects for the use of these techniques in the treatment of congenital and acquired vascular lesions, such as telangiectasias, although without well-defined protocols currently in the literature. For telangiectasias, the most used treatment is chemical sclerotherapy, but it requires a high number of applications, it is not always efficient and can cause complications. Justification: Although there is evidence that phototherapy is promising in the treatment of vascular injuries, studies are needed to establish protocols that optimize the efficiency of the procedure and guarantee maximum integrity to healthy tissue. Photodynamic therapy, on the other hand, presents the possibility of combination with current treatments for greater efficiency, but it also lacks initial studies on the feasibility of combining the drugs. Objectives: Adaptation of the luminous equipment to apply these techniques, the definition of the optimal dose of light, and a number of phototherapy sessions, in addition to studying the association between photosensitizers and sclerosing agents. Material and Methods: A constant and controllable light-emitting source will be developed for the present study. As a model for phototherapy, two groups will initially be formed with mice of the Swiss strain, which will receive light irradiation in multiple sessions with intervals and doses defined by preliminary research. Results will be collected using white light images, Optical Coherence Tomography, and histology. There will also be a test of the absorptive profile and stability of the combination of photosensitizers with the sclerosing drugs in use today. (AU)