Antimicrobial blue light inactivation of Candida albicans: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Fungal infections are a common cause of morbidity, mortality and cost in critical care populations. The increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance necessitates the development of new therapeutic approaches for fungal infections. In the present study, we investigated the effectiveness of an innovative approach, antimicrobial blue light (aBL), for inactivation of Candida albicans in vitro and in infected mouse burns.

A photoactivable multi-inhibitor nanoliposome for tumour control and simultaneous inhibition of treatment escape pathways.

Nanoscale drug delivery vehicles can facilitate multimodal therapies of cancer by promoting tumour-selective drug release. However, few are effective because cancer cells develop ways to resist and evade treatment. Here, we introduce a photoactivable multi-inhibitor nanoliposome (PMIL) that imparts light-induced cytotoxicity in synchrony with a photoinitiated and sustained release of inhibitors that suppress tumour regrowth and treatment escape signalling pathways.

Antimicrobial blue light therapy for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in a mouse burn model: implications for prophylaxis and treatment of combat-related wound infections.

In this study, we investigated the utility of antimicrobial blue light therapy for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in a mouse burn model. A bioluminescent clinical isolate of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii was obtained.

Photoimmunotherapy and irradiance modulation reduce chemotherapy cycles and toxicity in a murine model for ovarian carcinomatosis: perspective and results.

Significant toxicities from multiple cycles of chemotherapy often cause delays or early termination of treatment, leading to poor outcomes in ovarian cancer patients. Complementary modalities that potentiate the efficacy of traditional agents with fewer cycles and less toxicity are needed. Photodynamic therapy is a mechanistically-distinct modality that synergizes with chemo and biologic agents.

Blue light eliminates community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected mouse skin abrasions.

Background And Objective: Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) affect millions of individuals annually in the United States. Treatment of SSTI has been significantly complicated by the increasing emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of blue light (415 ± 10 nm) therapy for eliminating CA-MRSA infections in skin abrasions of mice.

Blue light rescues mice from potentially fatal Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn infection: efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action.

Blue light has attracted increasing attention due to its intrinsic antimicrobial effect without the addition of exogenous photosensitizers. However, the use of blue light for wound infections has not been established yet. In this study, we demonstrated the efficacy of blue light at 415 nm for the treatment of acute, potentially lethal Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn infections in mice.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in esophageal epithelium before and after photodynamic therapy for Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is upregulated in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Photodynamic therapy using porfimer sodium can result in ablation of dysplasia and intramucosal carcinoma, eradication of Barrett's esophagus, and restitution of squamous epithelium. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of photodynamic therapy on cyclooxygenase-2 expression in esophageal epithelium.

Stable synthetic bacteriochlorins overcome the resistance of melanoma to photodynamic therapy.

Cutaneous malignant melanoma remains a therapeutic challenge, and patients with advanced disease have limited survival. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been successfully used to treat many malignancies, and it may show promise as an antimelanoma modality. However, high melanin levels in melanomas can adversely affect PDT effectiveness.

Improved staining method for determining the extent of thermal damage to cells.

Background And Objective: Enzyme histochemical stains of frozen sections have been used by investigators to assess thermal damage. The assessment of thermal damage to cells in lipid-rich tissues such as subcutaneous tissue and sebaceous glands can be difficult due to the quality of frozen sections of such tissues. The purpose of this study is to develop an improved method for this type of evaluation.

Polycationic photosensitizer conjugates: effects of chain length and Gram classification on the photodynamic inactivation of bacteria.

Objectives: We have shown previously that a polycationic conjugate between poly-L-lysine and the photosensitizer chlorin(e6) was effective in photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this report we explore the relationship between the size of the polylysine chain and its effectiveness for mediating the killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Methods: Conjugates were prepared by attaching precisely one chlorin(e6) molecule to the alpha-amino group of poly-(epsilon-benzyloxycarbonyl)lysines of average length eight and 37 lysine residues, followed by deprotection of the epsilon-amino groups, and were characterized by iso-electric focusing.