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Cancer Research May 2016Despite descriptions of light-mediated therapy in ancient texts and the discovery of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the early 1900s, the landmark article in 1978 in...
Despite descriptions of light-mediated therapy in ancient texts and the discovery of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the early 1900s, the landmark article in 1978 in Cancer Research by Dougherty and his colleagues at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute remains rightly viewed as the starting point for clinical PDT in modern medicine. As a large clinical series that explored many of the factors now viewed as critical determinates of PDT dose, efficacy, and toxicity, that study showed remarkable foresight, yet it also served to raise as many questions as it answered. Since its publication, PDT has been increasingly utilized in clinical practice for the treatment of both benign and malignant conditions, and many of their questions have yielded new technologies and areas of investigation, thus remaining highly relevant nearly 40 years after their initial asking. Moreover, continuing advances in our ability to measure physical properties such as absorbed light dose, photosensitizer concentration, tissue oxygen concentration, and singlet oxygen production in real-time may allow for adaptive modification of light delivery during PDT on a fine scale to optimize treatment response. Finally, combining molecularly targeted drugs and novel photosensitizers has the potential to improve further the therapeutic index and extend the spectrum of clinical PDT far beyond what was imagined when that sentinel manuscript was written. Cancer Res; 76(9); 2497-9. ©2016 AACRSee related article by Dougherty et al., Cancer Res 1978;38:2628-35Visit the Cancer Research 75(th) Anniversary timeline.
Topics: History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Neoplasms; Photochemotherapy
PubMed: 27197260
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-0927 -
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews Oct 2022Phototheranostics stem from the recent advances in nanomedicines and bioimaging to diagnose and treat human diseases. Since tumors' diversity, heterogeneity, and... (Review)
Review
Phototheranostics stem from the recent advances in nanomedicines and bioimaging to diagnose and treat human diseases. Since tumors' diversity, heterogeneity, and instability limit the clinical application of traditional diagnostics and therapeutics, phototheranostics, which combine light-induced therapeutic and diagnostic modalities in a single platform, have been widely investigated. Numerous efforts have been made to develop phototheranostics for efficient light-induced antitumor therapeutics with minimal side effects. Herein, we review the fundamentals of phototheranostic nanomedicines with their biomedical applications. Furthermore, the progress of near-infrared fluorescence imaging and cancer treatments, including photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy, along with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy, are summarized. This review also discusses the opportunities and challenges associated with the clinical translation of phototheranostics in pan-cancer research. Phototheranostics can pave the way for future research, improve the quality of life, and prolong cancer patients' survival times.
Topics: Humans; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Optical Imaging; Photochemotherapy; Quality of Life; Theranostic Nanomedicine
PubMed: 35944585
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114483 -
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy Feb 2024Acne is an inflammatory cutaneous disease affecting the pilosebaceous unit and hair follicles on the face, neck, back, and chest, with a typical onset in adolescence...
Acne is an inflammatory cutaneous disease affecting the pilosebaceous unit and hair follicles on the face, neck, back, and chest, with a typical onset in adolescence and, in some cases, persisting into adulthood. Systemic treatments with antibiotics or isotretinoin present many limitations, like antimicrobial resistance phenomena and teratogenicity, which appear more relevant in the pediatric population, both for the treatment-related risks and for the reticence of the parents. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has already shown encouraging results in the treatment of acne in adult patients, with good aesthetic results compared to other therapies and few side effects. However, its use is still not standardized in the pediatric population. On this topic, we report our experience with PDT in a young patient affected by dorsal acne. After five sessions of ALA-PDT at monthly intervals, a remarkable improvement of the lesions was observed, with the healing of the inflamed nodules and pustules, resolution of the painful symptoms, and an acceptable cosmetic outcome. Our case is paradigmatic of the potentiality of PDT to treat difficult and resistant-to-treatment lesions. Despite being time-consuming, this procedure has been demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated. Lastly, the therapy is also well accepted by parents, due to its minimal invasiveness and mild side effects, compared to the other therapeutic options.
Topics: Child; Adult; Adolescent; Humans; Photosensitizing Agents; Aminolevulinic Acid; Photochemotherapy; Administration, Cutaneous; Acne Vulgaris
PubMed: 37951327
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103893 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2018Photothermal therapy is a kind of therapy based on increasing the temperature of tumoral cells above 42 °C. To this aim, cells must be illuminated with a laser, and the... (Review)
Review
Photothermal therapy is a kind of therapy based on increasing the temperature of tumoral cells above 42 °C. To this aim, cells must be illuminated with a laser, and the energy of the radiation is transformed in heat. Usually, the employed radiation belongs to the near-infrared radiation range. At this range, the absorption and scattering of the radiation by the body is minimal. Thus, tissues are almost transparent. To improve the efficacy and selectivity of the energy-to-heat transduction, a light-absorbing material, the photothermal agent, must be introduced into the tumor. At present, a vast array of compounds are available as photothermal agents. Among the substances used as photothermal agents, gold-based compounds are one of the most employed. However, the undefined toxicity of this metal hinders their clinical investigations in the long run. Magnetic nanoparticles are a good alternative for use as a photothermal agent in the treatment of tumors. Such nanoparticles, especially those formed by iron oxides, can be used in combination with other substances or used themselves as photothermal agents. The combination of magnetic nanoparticles with other photothermal agents adds more capabilities to the therapeutic system: the nanoparticles can be directed magnetically to the site of interest (the tumor) and their distribution in tumors and other organs can be imaged. When used alone, magnetic nanoparticles present, in theory, an important limitation: their molar absorption coefficient in the near infrared region is low. The controlled clustering of the nanoparticles can solve this drawback. In such conditions, the absorption of the indicated radiation is higher and the conversion of energy in heat is more efficient than in individual nanoparticles. On the other hand, it can be designed as a therapeutic system, in which the heat generated by magnetic nanoparticles after irradiation with infrared light can release a drug attached to the nanoparticles in a controlled manner. This form of targeted drug delivery seems to be a promising tool of chemo-phototherapy. Finally, the heating efficiency of iron oxide nanoparticles can be increased if the infrared radiation is combined with an alternating magnetic field.
Topics: Animals; Ferric Compounds; Humans; Infrared Rays; Nanoparticles; Photochemotherapy; Phototherapy
PubMed: 29958427
DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071567 -
British Journal of Cancer Sep 2020Oncological phototherapy, including current photodynamic therapy (PDT), developmental photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), shows promising...
Oncological phototherapy, including current photodynamic therapy (PDT), developmental photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), shows promising photo-efficacy for superficial and internal tumours. The dual application of light and photochemotherapeutic agents allows accurate cancer targeting, low invasiveness and novel mechanisms of action. Current advances in new light sources and photoactive agents are encouraging for future development.
Topics: Humans; Neoplasms; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents; Phototherapy; Photothermal Therapy
PubMed: 32587359
DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-0926-3 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2022Phototheranostics that concurrently integrates accurate diagnosis (e.g., fluorescence and photoacoustic (PA) imaging) and in situ therapy (e.g., photodynamic therapy... (Review)
Review
Phototheranostics that concurrently integrates accurate diagnosis (e.g., fluorescence and photoacoustic (PA) imaging) and in situ therapy (e.g., photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT)) into one platform represents an attractive approach for accelerating personalized and precision medicine. The second near-infrared window (NIR-II, 1000-1700 nm) has attracted considerable attention from both the scientific community and clinical doctors for improved penetration depth and excellent spatial resolution. NIR-II agents with a PDT property as well as other functions are recently emerging as a powerful tool for boosting the phototheranostic outcome. In this minireview, we summarize the recent advances of photodynamic NIR-II aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) for biomedical applications. The molecular design strategies for tuning the electronic bandgaps and photophysical energy transformation processes are discussed. We also highlight the biomedical applications, such as image-guided therapy of both subcutaneous and orthotopic tumors, and multifunctional theranostics in combination with other treatment methods, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy; and the precise treatment of both tumor and bacterial infection. This review aims to provide guidance for PDT agents with long-wavelength emissions to improve the imaging precision and treatment efficacy. We hope it will provide a comprehensive understanding about the chemical structure-photophysical property-biomedical application relationship of NIR-II luminogens.
Topics: Fluorescence; Humans; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Photochemotherapy; Precision Medicine; Theranostic Nanomedicine
PubMed: 36235186
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196649 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2019Enthusiasm for photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a potential therapeutic intervention for cancer has increased exponentially in recent decades. Photodynamic therapy... (Review)
Review
Enthusiasm for photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a potential therapeutic intervention for cancer has increased exponentially in recent decades. Photodynamic therapy constitutes a clinically approved, minimally invasive treatment modality that uses a photosensitizer (light absorbing molecule) and light to kill cancer cells. The principle of PDT is, when irradiated with a light of a suitable wavelength, a photosensitizer absorbs the light energy and generates cytotoxic free radicals through various mechanisms. The overall efficiency of PDT depends on characteristics of activation light and in-situ dosimetry, including the choice of photosensitizer molecule, wavelength of the light, and tumor location and microenvironment, for instance, the use of two-photon laser or an X-ray irradiator as the light source increases tissue-penetration depth, enabling it to achieve deep PDT. In this mini-review, we discuss the various designs and strategies for single, two-photon, and X-ray-mediated PDT for improved clinical outcomes.
Topics: Animals; Drug Compounding; Humans; Light; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms; Photochemotherapy; Photons; Photosensitizing Agents; X-Rays
PubMed: 30709030
DOI: 10.3390/molecules24030520 -
Indian Journal of Dental Research :... 2015Periodontal disease results from inflammation of the supporting structure of the teeth and in response to chronic infection caused by various periodontopathic bacteria.... (Review)
Review
Periodontal disease results from inflammation of the supporting structure of the teeth and in response to chronic infection caused by various periodontopathic bacteria. The mechanical removal of this biofilm and adjunctive use of antibacterial disinfectants and antibiotics have been the conventional methods of periodontal therapy. However, the removal of plaque and the reduction in the number of infectious organisms can be impaired in sites with difficult access. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a powerful laser-initiated photochemical reaction, involving the use of a photoactive dye (photosensitizer) activated by light of a specific wavelength in the presence of oxygen. Application of PDT in periodontics such as pocket debridement, gingivitis, and aggressive periodontitis continue to evolve into a mature clinical treatment modality and is considered as a promising novel approach for eradicating pathogenic bacteria in periodontitis.
Topics: Humans; Periodontal Diseases; Periodontics; Photochemotherapy; Photosensitizing Agents
PubMed: 26481895
DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.167636 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Bimetallic nanomaterials (BMNs) composed of two different metal elements have certain mixing patterns and geometric structures, and they often have superior properties... (Review)
Review
Bimetallic nanomaterials (BMNs) composed of two different metal elements have certain mixing patterns and geometric structures, and they often have superior properties than monometallic nanomaterials. Bimetallic-based nanomaterials have been widely investigated and extensively used in many biomedical fields especially cancer therapy because of their unique morphology and structure, special physicochemical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and synergistic effect. However, most reviews focused on the application of BMNs in cancer diagnoses (sensing, and imaging) and rarely mentioned the application of the treatment of cancer. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive perspective on the recent progress of BNMs as therapeutic agents. We first introduce and discuss the synthesis methods, intrinsic properties (size, morphology, and structure), and optical and catalytic properties relevant to cancer therapy. Then, we highlight the application of BMNs in cancer therapy (e.g., drug/gene delivery, radiotherapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, enzyme-mediated tumor therapy, and multifunctional synergistic therapy). Finally, we put forward insights for the forthcoming in order to make more comprehensive use of BMNs and improve the medical system of cancer treatment.
Topics: Humans; Photochemotherapy; Phototherapy; Neoplasms; Nanostructures; Diagnostic Imaging
PubMed: 36557846
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27248712 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024The origins of photodynamic therapy (PDT) date back to 1904. Since then, the amount of research proving PDT and, consequently, its applicability to various disease... (Review)
Review
The origins of photodynamic therapy (PDT) date back to 1904. Since then, the amount of research proving PDT and, consequently, its applicability to various disease states has steadily increased. Currently, PDT is mainly used in oncology to destroy cancer cells. It is being worked on for possible use in other medical fields as well, including cardiology. It can be used in the prevention of restenosis, often occurring after vascular surgical interventions, for destroying atherosclerotic plaques and as a new ablative method of ectopic centers in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the knowledge to date regarding the therapeutic potential of using PDT for various pathological conditions in cardiology. The review also focuses on the current limitations associated with the use of PDT and identifies areas where more research is needed to develop better drug regimens. Materials and methods: The study analyzed 189 medical articles. The articles came from PubMed, Frontiers, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Web of Science databases. Through the excitation of light, a photosensitizer (PS) introduced into the body, the destruction of pathological cells occurs. PTD is widely used in oncology of the central nervous system (CNS). This process is made possible by the production of free oxygen radicals (ROS) and singlet oxygen, which generate oxidative stress that destroys sensitive cancer cells. In recent years, photosensitizers have also been discovered to have a strong affinity for macrophages that fill atherosclerotic plaques, making these compounds suitable for treating atherosclerosis. By inducing apoptosis of smooth muscle cells, inactivating basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-β) and inhibiting endothelial cell hyperplasia, PDT can be used to prevent restenosis after surgical proceduresPDT appears to be a minimally invasive and highly effective therapeutic method, especially when combined with other therapeutic methods. Unfortunately, the small number of animal model studies and human clinical trials greatly limit the applicability of PDT on a wider scale. Current limitations, such as the depth of penetration, delivery of photosensitizer particles to the direct site of the lesion or the appropriate choice of photosensitizer in relation to the nature of the pathology, unfortunately make it impossible to replace current therapeutic approaches.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Photosensitizing Agents; Photochemotherapy; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Free Radicals; Cardiology
PubMed: 38542180
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063206