Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment used for various types of malignancies and is a minimally invasive alternative to the traditional surgical and chemotherapy treatments. The components of PDT are a photosensitive agent, light, and tissue oxygen. Studies have shown that photosensitive agents absorb light at selective wavelengths and can be activated to chemically change the internal environment of cancer cells, by exciting oxygen molecules, causing cell death.  PDT is rapidly emerging as a highly efficient means of specifically targeting and eradicating cancerous cells without harming healthy tissue. In this project, we use spectroscopy to explore the light absorbing properties of a variety of photosensitizers to determine which of them will make the most efficient cancer treatment drug.

Screening of organic compounds for use as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment of cancer

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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