Regenerative medicine
PBM and exosomes in Lugano
Regenerative medicine with exosomes and photobiomodulation. Photobiomodulation prepares the ground: it stimulates the cells and makes them more receptive. Exosomes then carry the molecular messages that guide tissue repair. In the practice they are used on joints, tendons, skin and hair when there is an indication. Clinical studies of this combination are still preliminary.
- PBM: light at specific wavelengths, without cutting
- Exosomes: vesicles that carry signals between cells, without replicating them
- Indication and protocol are defined after the specialist visit
Two techniques, one pathway
Photobiomodulation (PBM)
Light at specific wavelengths that increases cellular energy production and makes cells more receptive to regenerative signals. It is not a surgical laser: it does not cut tissue.
Exosomes
Small extracellular vesicles that carry proteins and molecular messages between cells and stimulate tissue repair, without multiplying cells. They do not replace stem-cell therapy.
What they are
Exosomes do not replicate cells
They are vesicles found in tissues and body fluids. They help cells communicate. In the practice they are isolated and used as repair signals, not as cells that divide.
We do not list in-vitro research applications. The indications in the practice are joints and tendons, skin and hair.
Where we use them
Joints and tendons
Osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, ligament and muscle injuries, after sports injuries, when there is an indication for a regenerative pathway.
Skin and hair
Skin quality and hair-growth stimulation, in the same regenerative-medicine setting, not as over-the-counter cosmetics.
Relation to PRP
PRP is another autologous preparation, from the patient's blood. This is not a superiority comparison: two options, chosen at the visit.
What the studies say
A 2024 preliminary study in five volunteers compared intra-articular injection of adipose-derived exosomes with the same injection plus intra-articular 808 nm laser, with six-month follow-up. It is a small series: it does not show that the combination is generally superior. A PBM review describes anti-inflammatory mechanisms of light, not an exosome-plus-PBM protocol.
The pathway
From the visit to treatment
Specialist visit
History, clinical examination and, if indicated, musculoskeletal ultrasound to clarify the tissue to treat.
Photobiomodulation
The light prepares the cells and makes them more receptive to the signals that follow.
Exosomes
The molecular signals are applied to the indicated tissue, with local anaesthetic or anaesthetic cream when needed.
Review
Regenerative processes take time. Protocol and follow-up are defined case by case.
Frequently asked questions
Do exosomes replace stem cells?
No. Exosomes do not replicate cells: they are vesicles that carry proteins and molecular messages. In the practice they are paired with photobiomodulation because the light makes cells more receptive to those signals.
Is the treatment painful?
Exosome injections are done with local anaesthetic or anaesthetic cream when needed; photobiomodulation is painless.
How many sessions are needed?
It depends on the tissue and the aim. Indication, protocol and timing are defined after the specialist visit.
Is it covered by insurance?
The practice is RME certified and, in Ticino, bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly.
Scientific sources
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4:337–361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
- Weber M, et al. Intra-Articular Exosome and Intraarticular Laser Therapy for Osteoarthritis; Preliminary Non-Surgical Approach. Sch J App Med Sci. 2024;12(5):607–616. doi:10.36347/sjams.2024.v12i05.016
Related treatments
This therapy is part of Regenerative medicine and PRP for joints and tendons.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Acupuncture
Needles, needle-free laser or ear acupuncture, performed by a specialist physician.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
Laser therapy
Laser light applied locally, in the joint or in the bloodstream, without drugs.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's assess PBM and exosomes together
Indication, protocol and timing are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso, and is easy to reach from Italy, Milan, Como, Varese and Lombardy by car and by train.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday and Wednesday 08:00–16:30
Friday 08:00–13:30