Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a minimally invasive therapeutic approach that utilizes oxygen-interacting photosensitizer (PS) to be activated by light of specific wavelength to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), for treating malignant and nonmalignant diseases. PS, light, and oxygen are the three critical elements of PDT. PDT has become the fourth most popular cancer treatment after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, and the applications of PDT have been extended to the treatment of antimicrobial infections, such as bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. In this chapter, the recent advances in novel PSs, light sources, oxygen supply, and synergistic therapy for enhanced PDT are summarized, the dosimetry and clinical applications of PDT are highlighted, and the main challenges and prospects for enhanced PDT are briefly discussed, respectively.