Synergetic effect of lauric acid and tea tree oil-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles and photobiomodulation in diabetic wound healing.

Fezile Motsoene, Heidi Abrahamse, Saurabh Kumar

Lasers Med Sci

Oct 10, 2025

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Abstract

The management of diabetic wounds requires more than traditional care due to the challenges faced by diabetic patients, including poor circulation, neuropathy, impaired immune response, chronic inflammation, elevated blood glucose levels, and a higher risk of infection. While conventional methods often have limitations, recent studies have shown that solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in combination with Photobiomodulation (PBM) are effective in promoting wound healing. This study investigates the combined effect of lauric acid and tea tree oil-loaded SLNs (LT-SLNs) with PBM at 830 nm on fibroblast cell regeneration in an in vitro diabetic wound model. Diabetic WS1 fibroblast cells were subjected to a standardised in vitro scratch assay, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of cellular responses, which included morphological alterations, wound closure dynamics, ATP production, and apoptosis at 24- and 48-hours post-irradiation. These assessments provided a critical insight into the therapeutic efficacy and cellular behaviour under experimental conditions relevant to diabetic wound healing. The results demonstrated that LT-SLNs combined with PBM exhibited no cytotoxicity at a concentration of 12.5 mg/mL. While untreated cells displayed limited wound healing capacity, treatment with LT-SLNs, particularly when combined with photobiomodulation, significantly enhanced wound closure and promoted fibroblast migration, indicating a synergistic therapeutic effect. Our study significantly enhanced wound closure, ATP production, and migratory activity, indicating a synergistic effect of both LT-SLNs and PBM. The study highlights the promising potential of LT-SLNs combined with PBM for diabetic wound healing.