Photodynamic disinfection and its role in controlling infectious diseases

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Photochemistry

Background:

• The rise of multi-drug resistant infections and antibiotic shortages necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.
• Photodynamic disinfection (PDDI) is regaining prominence as a viable antimicrobial approach.
• PDDI shows increasing efficacy in preclinical and clinical settings for infectious disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current status and potential of PDDI in addressing clinical needs for infectious diseases.
• To highlight advancements in photosensitizers and light sources for PDDI applications.
• To discuss the factors influencing the successful clinical adoption of PDDI.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on photosensitizers and their efficacy against biofilms and in animal models.
• Analysis of photosensitizers that have reached clinical trials.
• Evaluation of the interplay between photosensitizer properties and light source characteristics.

Main Results:

• Several photosensitizers demonstrate effectiveness in inactivating biofilms and treating infectious disease models.
• A range of affordable and customizable light sources have been developed to complement photosensitizers.
• The molecular characteristics of photosensitizers for PDDI differ from those used in oncology.

Conclusions:

• PDDI is a developing field with significant potential to combat infectious diseases, particularly those resistant to conventional antibiotics.
• The success of PDDI hinges on the efficacy of photosensitizers, cost-effectiveness of light sources, procedural simplicity, and treatment efficiency.
• Further research and development are crucial for expanding PDDI's market reach and clinical utility.