Medicinal Applications of Photochemistry

These early observations that might be considered a beginning of photomedicine along with the use of ultraviolet light to treat cutaneous lesions did not raise such an extensive interest as it may be expected. Indeed, only a couple of reports appeared 

Porphyrins were found to be powerful photodynamic agents which damaged cells when exposed to light. In particular, malignant tumors took up and retained hematoporphyrin to a greater extent than did normal tissue. When irradiated after 

Stobbe H (1908) Photochemie organischen Verbindugen. Zeitsch Elektrochem Angew Phys Chem 14 473-483 

Roth HD (1989) The beginning of organic photochemistry. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 28 1193-1207 

Schonberg A (1958) Praparative organische Photochemie. Springer, Berlin 

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