Chemiluminescence and Bioluminescence as an Excitation Source in the Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer: A Critical Review

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Magalhaes, CM (Author) Other; Joaquim C G E Esteves da Silva (Author) FCUP; da Silva, LP (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: ChemPhysChem

Vol. 17

Pages: 2286-2294

ISSN: 1439-4235

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 71 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-QK0

DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201600270

Abstract (EN): Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is known for its limited number of side effects, and requires light, oxygen and photosensitizer. However, PDT is limited by poor penetration of light into deeply localized tissues, and the use of external light sources is required. Thus, researchers have been studying ways to improve the effectiveness of this phototherapy and expand it for the treatment of the deepest cancers, by using chemiluminescent or bioluminescent formulations to excite the photosensitizer by intracellular generation of light. The aim of this Minireview is to give a precis of the most important general chemi-/bioluminescence mechanisms and to analyze several studies that apply them for PDT. These studies have demonstrated the potential of utilizing chemi-/bioluminescence as excitation source in the PDT of cancer, besides combining new approaches to overcome the limitations of this mode of treatment.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9