Photodynamic therapy: aspects of application and modification capabilities (literature review)

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy is a modern and proven type of treatment for both nononcological or precancerous processes, and various oncological diseases, including basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of various localizations. The key elements of photodynamic therapy are a light source with a certain wavelength, which acts as an activator for non-toxic photosensitizers, which, in turn, contributes to the creation of reactive oxygen species, which provide the main therapeutic effect. Currently, photodynamic therapy remains the subject of research, despite its long historical path. Many new developments and trends that are relevant for practical application have been proposed. On the one hand, these are the possibilities of modifying the main components of PDT; various therapeutic combinations have also been developed that lead to an increase in the effectiveness of therapy. For example, the use of nanocarriers makes it possible to implement a targeted method and, as a result, increase the selectivity of photodynamic therapy, which provides a better result with fewer side effects. This article provides an overview of the current progress in the use of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of malignancies and presents new preclinical bioengineering approaches that can solve problems in this area and thus increase the effectiveness and usefulness of such treatments.

Keywords

• oncology
• photodynamic therapy
• photosensitizers
• antitumor treatment
• modification possibilities
• nanotechnology