Polyphenolic natural products as photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy: recent advances and future prospects

Xiaoyun Wang; Lian Wang; Reza Fekrazad; Lu Zhang; Xian Jiang; Gu He; Xiang Wen

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275859

Polyphenolic natural products as photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy: recent advances and future prospects

Front Immunol. 2023 Oct 31:14:1275859. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275859. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Xiaoyun Wang^#^{1

2}, Lian Wang^#¹, Reza Fekrazad^{3

4}, Lu Zhang¹, Xian Jiang^{1

2}, Gu He^{1

2}, Xiang Wen^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
² Laboratory of Dermatology, Clinical Institute of Inflammation and Immunology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
³ Radiation Sciences Research Center, Laser Research Center in Medical Sciences, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ International Network for Photo Medicine and Photo Dynamic Therapy (INPMPDT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has become a potent contender in the fight against microbial infections, especially in the context of the rising antibiotic resistance crisis. Recently, there has been significant interest in polyphenolic natural products as potential photosensitizers (PSs) in aPDT, given their unique chemical structures and inherent antimicrobial properties. Polyphenolic natural products, abundant and readily obtainable from natural sources, are generally regarded as safe and highly compatible with the human body. This comprehensive review focuses on the latest developments and future implications of using natural polyphenols as PSs in aPDT. Paramount polyphenolic compounds, including curcumin, hypericin, quercetin, hypocrellin, celastrol, riboflavin, resveratrol, gallic acid, and aloe emodin, are elaborated upon with respect to their structural characteristics, absorption properties, and antimicrobial effects. Furthermore, the aPDT mechanism, specifically its targeted action on microbial cells and biofilms, is also discussed. Polyphenolic natural products demonstrate immense potential as PSs in aPDT, representing a promising alternate approach to counteract antibiotic-resistant bacteria and biofilm-related infections.

Keywords: antibacterial; natural products; photodynamic therapy; photosensitizers; polyphenols.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Bacteria
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Humans
Photochemotherapy* / methods
Photosensitizing Agents* / pharmacology
Photosensitizing Agents* / therapeutic use

Substances

Photosensitizing Agents
Anti-Bacterial Agents

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22177084, 82273559, 82103757 and 82073473), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022M722283), PostDoctor Research Project, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (2023HXBH076), Sichuan Natural Science Foundation Project (2023NSFSC1554), the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (2022YFQ0054), Sichuan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2023MS324) and the 1.3.5 Project for Disciplines of Excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (ZYJC21036).