Within the healthy human body, cells reside within the physiological environment of a tissue compound. Here, they are subject to constant low levels of mechanical stress that can influence the growth and differentiation of the cells. The liposuction of adipose tissue and the subsequent isolation of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), for example, are procedures that induce a high level of mechanical shear stress. As MSCs play a central role in tissue regeneration by migrating into regenerating areas and driving regeneration through proliferation and tissue-specific differentiation, they are increasingly used in therapeutic applications. Consequently, there is a strong interest in investigating the effects of shear stress on MSCs. In this study, we present a set-up for applying high shear rates to cells based on a rotational rheometer with a small-angle cone–plate configuration. This set-up was used to investigate the effect of various shear stresses on human adipose-derived MSCs in suspension. The results of the study show that the viability of the cells remained unaffected up to 18.38 Pa for an exposure time of 5 min. However, it was observed that intense shear stress damaged the cells, with longer treatment durations increasing the percentage of cell debris.
Photobiomodulation (PBM) utilizes different wavelengths of light to modulate cellular functions and has emerged as a promising approach in regenerative medicine. In this study, we examined the effects of blue (455 nm), red (660 nm), and near-infrared (810 nm) light, both individually and in combination, on human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (adMSCs). A single, short-term exposure of adMSCs in suspension to these wavelengths using an integrating sphere revealed distinct wavelength- and dose-dependent cellular responses. Blue light exposure led to a dose-dependent increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species, accompanied by reduced cell proliferation, metabolic activity, interleukin-6/interleukin-8 secretion, and adipogenic differentiation. In contrast, red and near-infrared light preserved cell viability and metabolic function while enhancing cell migration, consistent with their documented ability to stimulate proliferation and mitochondrial activity in mesenchymal stem cells. These findings highlight the necessity of precise wavelength and dosage selection in PBM applications and support the potential of PBM as a customizable tool for optimizing patient-specific regenerative therapies.