Method for Investigation of Photobiological Effects of Light on Human Skin Cells Mediated by Low Doses of Light

Abstract

Driven by evolution, human skin cells have developed an extraordinary ability both to sense and to respond to the photons of sunlight through a plethora of photobiological interactions, activating intracellular signalling cascades and regulating skin cells homeostasis. It has recently been reported that some of these photobiological responses triggered by low levels of light (or the so-called photobiomodulation) could initiate beneficial therapeutic effects. Identification of these effective light-based therapeutic solutions requires in-depth understanding of the parameter space. The physical, biological, and chemical conditions that need to be fulfilled to facilitate such positive photobiological effects are to be carefully deciphered. Here, we provide the protocols that were specifically developed to investigate multidimensional parameter space driving photobiological interactions triggered by light (photobiomodulation) in the skin cells. The approach is based on the so-called design of experiment (DoE), a statistical method, which allows for the investigation of multidimensional parameters landscapes. This goes hand in hand with sharing practical tips for the design of light-based devices inducing these effects. To exemplify practical applications of the developed methods and light-based devices, we disclose experimental data sets and emphasize robustness and reproducibility of the results.