2. Academic Validation
  3. Photodynamic therapy - mechanisms, photosensitizers and combinations

Photodynamic therapy - mechanisms, photosensitizers and combinations

  • Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Oct:106:1098-1107. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.07.049.
Stanisław Kwiatkowski 1,  Bartosz Knap 2,  Dawid Przystupski 1,  Jolanta Saczko 3,  Ewa Kędzierska 2,  Karolina Knap-Czop 4,  Jolanta Kotlińska 2,  Olga Michel 5,  Krzysztof Kotowski 1,  Julita Kulbacka 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego 5, 50-345, Wroclaw, Poland.
  • 2 Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4a, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.
  • 3 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland.
  • 4 Department of Clinical Genetics, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwillowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland.
  • 5 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland.
  • 6 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chalubinskiego 10, 50-368, Wroclaw, Poland; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 211A, 50-556, Wroclaw, Poland. Electronic address: julita.kulbacka@umed.wroc.pl.
PMID: 30119176 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.07.049
Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modern and non-invasive form of therapy, used in the treatment of non-oncological diseases as well as cancers of various types and locations. It is based on the local or systemic application of a photosensitive compound - the photosensitizer, which is accumulated in pathological tissues. The photosensitizer molecules absorb the light of the appropriate wavelength, initiating the activation processes leading to the selective destruction of the inappropriate cells. The photocytotoxic reactions occur only within the pathological tissues, in the area of photosensitizer distribution, enabling selective destruction. Over the last decade, a significant acceleration in the development of nanotechnology has been observed. The combination of photosensitizers with nanomaterials can improve the photodynamic therapy efficiency and eliminate its side effects as well. The use of nanoparticles enables achievement a targeted method which is focused on specific receptors, and, as a result, increases the selectivity of the photodynamic therapy. The object of this review is the Anticancer application of PDT, its advantages and possible modifications to potentiate its effects.

Keywords

Anticancer therapy; PDT modification; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizers.

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