The effectiveness of phototherapy for surface decontamination against SARS‐Cov‐2. A systematic review

• Published in: Journal of biophotonics Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. e202200306 - n/a
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Susyane Vieira de, Neves, Filipe Danilo das, Santos, Daniela Carvalho dos, Monteiro, Mariana Bernardes Batista, Spanghero, Maristela S., Motta, Beatriz Nascimento, Oliveira, Igor Pereira de, Rodrigues, Maria Fernanda Setúbal Destro, Franco, Adriana Lino dos Santos, Cecatto, Rebeca Boltes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA 01-04-2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Contamination; COVID-19; COVID-19 - therapy; Decontamination; Decontamination - methods; Humans; Irradiation; Light emitting diodes; Light therapy; photobiomodulation; Photodynamic therapy; Phototherapy; Radiation dosage; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Systematic review; Ultraviolet radiation; Ultraviolet Rays; COVID-19; photobiomodulation; SARS-CoV-2; decontamination; phototherapy
• ISSN: 1864-063X; 1864-0648
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202200306

COVID‐19 appeared in December 2019, needing efforts of science. Besides, a range of light therapies (photodynamic therapy, ultraviolet [UV], laser) has shown scientific alternatives to conventional decontamination therapies. Investigating the efficacy of light‐based therapies for environment decontamination against SARS‐CoV2, a PRISMA systematic review of Phototherapies against SARS‐CoV or MERS‐CoV species discussing changes in viral RT‐PCR was done. After searching MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Literatura Latino‐Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde we have found studies about cell cultures irradiation (18), blood components irradiation (10), N95 masks decontamination (03), inanimate surface decontamination (03), aerosols decontamination (03), hospital rooms irradiation (01) with PDT, LED, and UV therapy. The best quality results showed an effective low time and dose UV irradiation for environments and inanimate surfaces without human persons as long as the devices have safety elements dependent on the surfaces, viral charge, humidity, radiant exposure. To interpersonal contamination in humans, PDT or LED therapy seems very promising and are encouraged.
Light waves are featured according to their wave frequency and wavelength. Visible light has a wavelength range from 400 to 700 nanometers. Visible light comprises just a very restricted part of the full light wave spectrum. Light waves with lower frequencies and longer wavelengths include infrared light, microwaves and radio waves. Higher frequencies with shorter wavelengths with include ultraviolet light, gamma and X‐rays.