Scientists and clinicians create a bright future for photodynamic therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has evolved recently by the availability of lasers and optical fibres suitable for light delivery to many sites within the body, and synthesis of more effective photosensitizers. From a clinical point of view, PDT is a way of producing localised tissue destruction with light. One of the most striking aspects of PDT induced tissue destruction is that connective tissues like collagen and elastin are largely unaffected. PDT offers many challenges and opportunities for existing and new optical technologies, including lasers. The basic principle can be applied to disease processes in a wide range of organs. The secret to making the most of this evolving new therapeutic modality is to understand the biology of what PDT can do to living tissue, identify when that is relevant to the treatment of human disease and then ensure that adequate drug and light doses are delivered to all relevant sites.