Photosensitizers in clinical PDT

Photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy allow for the transfer and translation of light energy into a type II chemical reaction. In clinical practice, photosensitizers arise from three families-porphyrins, chlorophylls, and dyes. All clinically successful photosensitizers have the ability to a greater or lesser degree, to target specific tissues or their vasculature to achieve ablation. Each photosensitizer needs to reliably activate at a high enough light wavelength useful for therapy. Their ability to fluoresce and visualize the lesion is a bonus. Photosensitizers developed from each family have unique properties that have so far been minimally clinically exploited. This review looks at the potential benefits and consequences of each major photosensitizer that has been tried in a clinical setting. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.