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Photodynamic Therapy and Photodetection, Third Edition

A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 1820

Editor


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Guest Editor
Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, CHUV, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
Interests: photodynamic therapy; photodetection; tumor microenvironment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a combination of light with a lesion-localising photosensitiser and oxygen present in a lesion, leading to photochemical and photobiological reactions that result in irreversible photodamage to the lesion. Photodetection (PD) is based on fluorescence-spectroscopic and imaging techniques, demarcating a lesion from surrounding healthy tissues. The specific fluorescence in the lesion is induced by a light source with a suitable wavelength, in most cases with prior administration of a photosensitiser or its precursor. Although the phenomena of PDT and PD were discovered more than 100 years ago, the results from preclinical and clinical studies conducted worldwide during the past >45 years have established modern PDT and PD as clinical modalities for a number of malignant and non-malignant disorders. Photochemical internalization, a PDT-based new technology, is used for the efficient delivery of endosome-trapped molecules into the cytosol of cells. Targeted PDT and nanotechnology have recently contributed to the development of PDT and PD. As yet, no universal mechanism of action for PDT has been described; it may have different mechanisms depending on the type of a lesion treated, photosensitiser used, and/or light dose applied. This Special Issue will update the scientific literature regarding the current status of PDT and PD, with an emphasis on the mechanism of molecular action involved.

Dr. Sabrina Cavin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • photodynamic therapy (PDT)
  • photodetection (PD)
  • photosensitiser photochemical internalization (PCI)
  • quantum dots
  • nanoparticles
  • nanotechnology
  • targeted therapy
  • immunotherapy
  • vaccines

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 932 KB  
Review
Photodynamic Therapy in Dermatology
by Antonio Di Guardo, Marco Virone, Umberto Gallo, Francesca Feresin, Antonio Ricupito, Roberta De Carolis, Vincenzo Coppolelli, Steven Paul Nisticò, Giovanni Pellacani and Carmen Cantisani
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3960; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093960 - 29 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1522
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment choice whose clinical success in dermatology relies on the interaction between a photosensitizer, light of an appropriate wavelength, and tissue oxygen, leading to reactive oxygen species generation and selective cytotoxicity. This narrative review summarizes contemporary [...] Read more.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive treatment choice whose clinical success in dermatology relies on the interaction between a photosensitizer, light of an appropriate wavelength, and tissue oxygen, leading to reactive oxygen species generation and selective cytotoxicity. This narrative review summarizes contemporary mechanisms and clinical evidence supporting PDT across neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, and esthetic indications. A comprehensive literature search included randomized trials when available, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and guideline and consensus documents, complemented by mechanistic and translational studies relevant to clinical outcomes. In premalignant and neoplastic disease, strongest evidence supports field-directed PDT for actinic keratosis and high efficacy in Bowen’s disease, with favorable cosmetic outcomes and acceptable recurrence patterns. PDT plays a more selective role in basal cell carcinoma, particularly superficial and selected nodular lesions, while its routine use as monotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma remains limited by higher recurrence. Beyond oncology, PDT shows expanding utility in acne via sebomodulatory and immunomodulatory effects, and in infectious dermatoses through broad antimicrobial activity and biofilm disruption with low resistance potential. Cosmetic applications, including photorejuvenation, benefit from protocol tailoring and combination strategies that enhance penetration and remodeling. Overall, PDT is evolving into an adaptable therapeutic framework best positioned within mechanism-oriented, multimodal algorithms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photodynamic Therapy and Photodetection, Third Edition)
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