Light in Medicine: The Interplay of Chemistry and Light.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has had mixed reception in the clinic, with most success stories being based on the ablative capacity of PDT. In these applications, maximal combinations of light and an exogenous photosensitiser are used to generate high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce cell death either directly via necrosis or indirectly via vascular damage. However, recent advances in understanding the complex role of ROS in cell signalling have revealed potential new applications for PDT.

Light in Medicine: The Interplay of Chemistry and Light.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has had mixed reception in the clinic, with most success stories being based on the ablative capacity of PDT. In these applications, maximal combinations of light and an exogenous photosensitiser are used to generate high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce cell death either directly via necrosis or indirectly via vascular damage. However, recent advances in understanding the complex role of ROS in cell signalling have revealed potential new applications for PDT.