Low-power light has been used to enable stem cells to regenerate body tissue. The researchers found that the light-sensitive protein Oct4 was activated in a dish containing human embryonic kidney cells. “It would be a substantial advance in the field if we can regenerate teeth rather than replace them.” Researchers used a low-power laser to stimulate human dental stem cells to form dentin, the hard tissue found in teeth. Current regeneration techniques require stem cells to be manipulated in a lab and then returned to the body, but this new method doesn't introduce anything new to the body, so the regulatory and technical hurdles are far lower. Lead author Praveen Arany said that following successful tests on rodents, the next step would be human clinical trials.
Low-power light has been used to enable stem cells to regenerate body tissue. The researchers found that the light-sensitive protein Oct4 was activated in a dish containing human embryonic kidney cells. Researchers used a low-power laser to stimulate human dental stem cells to form dentin, the hard tissue found in teeth. Current regeneration techniques require stem cells to be manipulated in a lab and then returned to the body, but this new method doesn't introduce anything new to the body, so the regulatory and technical hurdles are far lower. Lead author Praveen Arany said that following successful tests on rodents, the next step would be human clinical trials.