Combination Therapies Involving Photodynamic Therapy reviews the current state of development of PDT and presents the foreseeable advancements of combination approaches to therapeutic strategies.

This volume provides a comprehensive review of resistance induced by photodynamic therapy (PDT) in tumor cells. Understanding the underlying mechanisms in this process leads to the improvement of therapeutic modality, in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy. Photodynamic therapy is a minimally invasive therapeutic procedure that can exert a selective or preferential cytotoxic activity toward malignant cells. The procedure involves administration of an intrinsically non-toxic photosensitizing agent (PS) followed by irradiation at a wavelength corresponding to a visible absorption band of the sensitizer. In the presence of oxygen, a series of events lead to direct tumor cell death, damage to the microvasculature, and induction of a local inflammatory reaction. Studies reveal that PDT can be curative, particularly in early stage tumors and this volume explores the potential of PDT, but also reveals strategic approaches to overcome resistance in tumor cells.

With today's focus on targeted and minimally invasive therapies, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is now being studied and used to combat many disease states and to investigate critical biological questions. This groundbreaking resource brings you the latest advances in photodynamic therapy and offers you a solid understanding of the design, delivery and dosimetry of the three basic ingredients of PDT - photosensitizers, light and oxygen. The book covers novel areas of mechanistic and innovative translational approaches. Moreover, it gives you an overview of the important medical applications of PDT, including approved treatments, clinical trials, and investigated therapies for cancer and non-malignant diseases.

For centuries, light has been used to cure various diseases. However, it is only recently that a new medical field has arisen. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), also known as photochemotherapy, is a fast growing technique which was initially devoted to cancer care but which is now recognised as a promising treatment technique in a variety of clinical fields. Written by recognised experts, Photodynamic Therapy provides a comprehensive explanation of what PDT is and how it has developed as a technique in areas such as the detection of lung cancer and applications in dermatology, gynaecology and neurosurgery. This book is ideal both as an introduction to PDT and as an informative text for those wishing to expand their knowledge. Practitioners in biological sciences, biotechnology and medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry will find it an invaluable source of information.

Porphyrin-lipids are ideal building blocks for the formation of self-assembled nanoparticles in multimodal imaging and therapeutics. In this study, a ~120 nm porphyrin-lipid shelled nanoemulsion loaded with paclitaxel (PLNE-PTX) was designed for combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemotherapy. The stable PLNE-PTX had sufficient loading efficiency of PTX (~3.1 %) and porphyrin (~18.3 %), and efficient tumor accumulation in mice (~5.4 ID %/g). For in vivo studies, the combination of PDT and chemotherapy (~223.2 mm3) illustrated an increased tumor growth inhibition compared with PDT (~566.9 mm3) or chemotherapy alone (~544.3 mm3) on day 16. Furthermore, a 4-fold decreased PTX dosage in combination treatment was achieved compared to chemotherapy alone, which could lower PTX toxicities. No significant side effects were observed from blood tests and H stains in mice after PLNE-PTX injection. Thus, PLNE-PTX is a suitable candidate for the synergistic and safe combination of PDT and chemotherapy for tumor treatment.

Photodynamic therapy is a proven effective treatment of actinically damaged skin cells, nonmelanoma skin cancers, and acne and other pilosebaceous conditions. As an agent for general facial rejuvenatin it has untapped potential. The current state of PDT therapy and future applications are discussed in detail in this exciting new volume. Throughout, the focus is on evidence-based clinical uses of PDT, including pretreatment regimens, avoidance and management of complications, and posttreatment suggestions.