The role of reactive oxygen species and their measurement in phototherapies

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated in many photoreactions and may play important roles in photodamage mechanisms, including those involved in light-based therapeutic applications. Two main types of phototherapies are currently of significant interest in which photothermal or photomechanical effects are absent or minor, namely the use of low-intensity red or near-infrared lasers for various types of biomodulation and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treatment of major diseases, both oncologic and nononcologic.