Bacterial PDT

Numerous clinical trials of PDT have been carried out (phases I to IV). Light-activated drugs used in PDT have potential in cancer treatment located at a number of sites (e.g., esophagus, lungs, skin, head and neck, brain, mouth, and bladder) (Sibata et al., 2000). Other targets for the therapy include troublesome bacterial infections, Barrett s esophagus, arthritis, atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries, and abnormal blood vessels in the retinas of people with age-related macular degeneration (the... 

The application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in treatment of bacterial infections will definitely continue to attract the attention of scientists. It is considered unlikely that bacteria develop resistance against singlet oxygen therefore, PDT may become a useful weapon to battle infections. For treatment of infections in the oral cavity, a smart toothpaste containing a photosensitizer that is selectively absorbed by bacteria is under development. This can be used in combination with a laser toothbrush designed recently (Moore, 1998). Sensitizers can further be incorporated into bandages for disinfection of wounds or in cellophane films used to wrap food (Moore, 1998). 

This chapter will provide an overview of the most recent syntheses and applications of glyconanoparticles that have deepened our understanding of multivalent carbohydrate-protein interactions. Together with sensitive detection devices, inhibitors of bacterial adhesion to host tissue, and cancer vaccines in therapeutic systems, including photosensitizers for photodynamic therapies (PDT), these novel bionanomaterials are finding widespread relevance. The recent development of... 

Abstract This chapter discusses the various modalities of photomedicine, an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that involves the study and application of light with respect to health and disease. The following main concepts are covered Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for the treatment of cancer, PDT for bacterial infections, vascular PDT, photochemical internalisation, photochemical tissue bonding and the use of lasers in medicine. 

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