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Pharmaceutics
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“The Power of Light” in Biomedical and Pharmaceutics: New Approaches...
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“The Power of Light” in Biomedical and Pharmaceutics: New Approaches for Photodynamic Purposes

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Targeting and Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 1279

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Lucinda V. Reis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CQ-VR—Chemistry Centre of Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: squaraine dyes; croconaine dyes; photosensitizers; fluorescent probes; medicinal chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eurico Lima

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CQ-VR—Chemistry Centre of Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: dye chemistry; photosensitizers; photodynamic therapy; chemical biology; photobiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More than a century ago, the Swiss physician and naturopath Arnold Rickly famously stated "Water is good, air is better, and light is the best of all". What was once a philosophical reflection on the healing power of nature has now found solid ground in modern science.

Nowadays, light is no longer just a symbol of life and vitality: it is a precise, controllable tool with extensive therapeutic potential. Among the most exciting advances in this field is photodynamic therapy (PDT), a technique that harnesses the interplay between light and photosensitizers (PSs) to trigger localized biological effects. With its origins in oncology, PDT is now making waves far beyond cancer treatment, offering new possibilities in antimicrobial strategies, dermatology, ophthalmology, and even pharmaceutical delivery systems.

This Special Issue, “The Power of Light” in Biomedical and Pharmaceutics: New Approaches for Photodynamic Purposes, invites original research articles and reviews highlighting recent innovations in photodynamic strategies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the development of novel PSs and PS-based systems, advanced light-delivery technologies, mechanistic insights, and interdisciplinary applications across biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and to shedding light, both literally and figuratively, on the exciting boundaries of photodynamic knowledge. Pharmaceutics invites submissions related to drug delivery systems and innovative formulations, while Biomedicine encourages contributions centered on biological aspects.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Biomedicines.

Dr. Lucinda V. Reis
Dr. Eurico Lima
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceutics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • light
  • photosensitizers
  • photochemistry
  • photobiology
  • photodynamic therapy

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2722 KB  
Article
Uniform Cu-Based Metal–Organic Framework Micrometer Cubes with Synergistically Enhanced Photodynamic/Photothermal Properties for Rapid Eradication of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
by Xiaomei Wang, Ting Zou, Weiqi Wang, Keqiang Xu and Handong Zhang
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(8), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17081018 - 6 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections demands innovative non-antibiotic therapeutic strategies. Dual-modal photoresponse therapy integrating photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal (PTT) effects offers a promising rapid antibacterial approach, yet designing single-material systems with synergistic enhancement remains challenging. This study aims to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections demands innovative non-antibiotic therapeutic strategies. Dual-modal photoresponse therapy integrating photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal (PTT) effects offers a promising rapid antibacterial approach, yet designing single-material systems with synergistic enhancement remains challenging. This study aims to develop uniform Cu-based metal–organic framework micrometer cubes (Cu-BN) for efficient PDT/PTT synergy. Methods: Cu-BN cubes were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method using Cu(NO3)2 and 2-amino-p-benzoic acid. The material’s dual-mode responsiveness to visible light (420 nm) and near-infrared light (808 nm) was characterized through UV–Vis spectroscopy, photothermal profiling, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation assays. Antibacterial efficacy against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was quantified via colony counting under dual-light irradiation. Results: Under synergistic 420 + 808 nm irradiation for 15 min, Cu-BN (200 μg/mL) achieved rapid eradication of multidrug-resistant E. coli (99.94%) and S. aureus (99.83%). The material reached 58.6 °C under dual-light exposure, significantly exceeding single-light performance. Photodynamic analysis confirmed a 78.7% singlet oxygen (1O2) conversion rate. This enhancement stems from PTT-induced membrane permeabilization accelerating ROS diffusion, while PDT-generated ROS sensitized bacteria to thermal damage. Conclusions: This integrated design enables spatiotemporal PDT/PTT synergy within a single Cu-BN system, establishing a new paradigm for rapid-acting, broad-spectrum non-antibiotic antimicrobials. The work provides critical insights for developing light-responsive biomaterials against drug-resistant infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue “The Power of Light” in Biomedical and Pharmaceutics: New Approaches for Photodynamic Purposes)
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Review

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35 pages, 968 KB  
Review
Advancing Lung Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Photodynamic Therapy and Nanoparticle Applications
by Andreea Moise-Crintea, Anne-Marie Constantin, Elena Mihaela Jianu, Ioana Maria Orlea, Minodora Manea, Roxana Oana Cojocariu, Rahela Carpa, Bogdan-Andrei Borlea, Cristina-Maria Boznea, Razvan Lucian Coseriu and Alina Sovrea
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(12), 1579; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17121579 - 8 Dec 2025
Abstract
Lung cancer remains a significant global health challenge. The high mortality rate is primarily caused by late diagnoses and the limitations of conventional therapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses photosensitizing compounds, specific wavelengths of light, and oxygen to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species [...] Read more.
Lung cancer remains a significant global health challenge. The high mortality rate is primarily caused by late diagnoses and the limitations of conventional therapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses photosensitizing compounds, specific wavelengths of light, and oxygen to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that selectively destroy cancer cells, has emerged as a promising, minimally invasive alternative. Despite its advantages, traditional PDT has limitations. These include the limited penetration depth of light and the hypoxic nature of the tumor microenvironment. Nanotechnology has transformed PDT by enabling the precise delivery of photosensitizers, improving their stability, overcoming physiological barriers, and allowing for deeper tissue targeting. This review analyzes the molecular mechanisms of PDT, the evolution of photosensitizer and nanoparticle design, strategies to overcome PDT limitations, and the impact of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the potential of combining PDT with other cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and gene therapy, is being investigated. While preclinical successes are remarkable, clinical implementation of nanoparticle-based PDT faces complex regulatory pathways, manufacturing scalability challenges, and the need for robust long-term safety data. Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and biomarker discovery will accelerate the development of personalized treatments and usher in a new era of targeted oncology for lung cancer patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue “The Power of Light” in Biomedical and Pharmaceutics: New Approaches for Photodynamic Purposes)
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