Effective Single Photodynamic Treatment of Onychomycosis Using a Multifunctional Porphyrin Photosensitizer and Green Light.

Onychomycosis is predominantly caused by the dermatophytes , and The main treatment obstacle concerns low nail-plate drug permeability. antifungal photodynamic treatment (PDT) and nail penetration enhancing effectiveness have been proven for multifunctional photosensitizer 5,10,15-(4--methylpyridinium)-20-(4-(butyramido-methylcysteinyl)-hydroxyphenyl)-[21,23]-porphine trichloride (PORTHE). This study investigates single PORTHE green laser/LED PDT of varying degrees of onychomycoses in a human nail model.

Detection and differentiation of causative organisms of onychomycosis in an ex vivo nail model by means of Raman spectroscopy.

Background: Onychomycosis is worldwide the most prevalent infection of the nail. It is mainly caused by the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and to a lesser extent Trichophyton tonsurans. The yeast Candida albicans and the mould Scopulariopsis brevicaulis can also cause onychomycosis.

Photodynamic and Nail Penetration Enhancing Effects of Novel Multifunctional Photosensitizers Designed for The Treatment of Onychomycosis.

Novel multifunctional photosensitizers (MFPSs), 5,10,15-tris(4-N-methylpyridinium)-20-(4-phenylthio)-[21H,23H]-porphine trichloride (PORTH) and 5,10,15-tris(4-N-methylpyridinium)-20-(4-(butyramido-methylcysteinyl)-hydroxyphenyl)-[21H,23H]-porphine trichloride (PORTHE), derived from 5,10,15-Tris(4-methylpyridinium)-20-phenyl-[21H,23H]-porphine trichloride (Sylsens B) and designed for treatment of onychomycosis were characterized and their functionality evaluated. MFPSs should function as nail penetration enhancer and as photosensitizer for photodynamic treatment (PDT) of onychomycosis. Spectrophotometry was used to characterize MFPSs with and without 532 nm continuous-wave 5 mW cm(-2) laser light (± argon/mannitol/NaN3 ).

Focus on skin as a possible port of entry for solid nanoparticles and the toxicological impact.

Today, various anthropogenic sources account for an increasing atmospheric nanoparticle (NP) concentration and thus increase of human exposure to NPs. The situation may become problematic since commercial applications of nanotechnology expand more rapidly than the scientific knowledge on NP exposure. This review focuses on skin as a route of exposure for NPs and the toxicological impact in skin with special attention to physicochemical properties of NPs and skin.

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and effectiveness.

Sunscreens are used to provide protection against adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV)B (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm) radiation. According to the United States Food and Drug Administration, the protection factor against UVA should be at least one-third of the overall sun protection factor. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) minerals are frequently employed in sunscreens as inorganic physical sun blockers.