Photosensitizers and antioxidants: a way to new drugs?

Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2005 Sep;4(9):694-8. doi: 10.1039/b417254j. Epub 2005 Aug 4.

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new modality of treatment of diseases involving uncontrolled cell proliferation. It is based on the production of reactive species upon illumination of a photosensitizer in the presence of oxygen. Antioxidants are primarily reducing agents prone to scavenge reactive species in one way or another. Their presence in photodynamic reactions usually reduces the efficacy of PDT. Some antioxidants like ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol or butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, however, when added to cells at adequate concentrations may enhance the photodamaging activity of PDT. The presence of transition metals and precise timing of antioxidant administration may also be important factors in increasing the efficacy of PDT. Antioxidant carrier sensitizers have been designed, synthesised and tested for their antibacterial PDT activity. The promising results raise the question whether the introduction of antioxidant moieties into sensitizer molecules would lead to the synthesis of highly effective new drugs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / chemistry*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Free Radical Scavengers / chemistry
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Metals
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Metals
  • Photosensitizing Agents