Molecular Aspects of Photodynamic Therapy

Dear Colleagues,

Intensive research on photodynamic therapy (PDT),  originally based on empirical phototherapy, in which photoactive plant metabolites were used to enhance the action of sunlight, led to the discovery of the scientific foundations of photodynamic reactions, the creation of artificial light sources and several generations of photosensitizers, and their practical application. The basic PDT process includes the photosensitized generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) aimed at combating life-threatening neoplasms and pathogens. The main advantages of PDT are its non-invasiveness, selectivity of action and efficiency in relation to objects resistant to traditional chemotherapy. This becomes possible due to local lesion irradiation, the selective accumulation of a photosensitizer in or near the ROS-sensitive structures and the extremely short ROS lifetimes. This Special Issue is focused on studies of ROS-sensitive targets in eukaryotic cells, bacteria and viruses, photosensitizer delivery carriers, studies on the interactions of photosensitizers with cytoplasmic membranes and intracellular structures of cancer and cancer stem cells, endotheliocytes of cancer vessels, bacterial cells and matrices of biofilms, structures of virus envelopes and genetic apparatus. Along with experimental research, studies on the use of molecular modeling and information technologies are welcome.

Dr. Marina G. Strakhovskaya
Dr. Gennady A. Meerovich
Guest Editors

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