New Advances in Photosensitizers and Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photosensitizers represent promising fields of research that are primarily dedicated to the treatment of cancers but also have potential applications in treating infectious diseases. The encouragement and promotion of scientific research in these domains appears to be of exceptional importance from the perspective of developing more effective anti-infective therapies and realizing the benefits associated with their implementation. Here are several key reasons why conducting and promoting research on PDT and photosensitizers in combating infectious diseases is worthwhile:

• Alternative to antibiotics and resistance mitigation: PDT offers an alternative to antibiotics and assists in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria;
• Resistance avoidance potential: PDT operates at a physical level, reducing the risk of developing drug resistance;
• Effectiveness against diverse pathogens: PDT has the potential to eradicate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites;
• Relatively safe therapy: PDT can selectively target pathogens, minimizing harmful side effects for patients;
• Low invasiveness: PDT demonstrates therapeutic potential in cases where traditional methods are too risky;
• Treatment of acute and chronic infections: PDT can be applied to a wide range of infections, including skin infections, urinary tract infections, and gastric mucosal inflammation;
• Targeted therapy potential: PDT can be tailored to specific pathogens or types of infections;
• Innovations in photosensitizers;
• Relatively inexpensive method and easy to administer.

Research in the field of PDT and photosensitizers is significant due to their potential in treating infectious diseases, particularly those resistant to conventional therapies, as well as various other medical conditions. These endeavors hold the potential to enhance patient quality of life, advance more effective and less invasive therapeutic methods, and introduce novel medical technologies.

This Special Issue on photodynamic therapy aims to provide a comprehensive exploration and dissemination of knowledge, research, and insights in the field of PDT. This edition aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of PDT among a wide readership, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas among researchers and professionals in the field. It serves as a platform to showcase the latest advances, innovative approaches, and emerging trends in photodynamic therapy, ultimately contributing to the advancement of this therapeutic modality.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Dorota Kowalczuk
Prof. Dr. Joanna Bartosińska
Guest Editors

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• applications of PDT in infective therapy
• antimicrobial PDT
• PDT in antibacterial therapy (including biofilms and chronic wounds)
• PDT in antiviral therapy
• PDT in antifungal therapy
• PDT in the treatment of fungi
• PDT in the treatment of parasites
• PDT in combination with other types of therapy
• PDT in targeted therapy
• PDT in the diagnosis of infectious diseases
• PDT and pathogen detection in infectious diseases
• clinical applications of PDT
• new photosensitizers and their effects
• new carrier systems for PDT and their characterization
• new technologies in PDT