Review
Version 1
Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Chromophore Targeting Precision Phototherapy
Version 1
: Received: 4 October 2023 / Approved: 7 October 2023 / Online: 8 October 2023 (04:32:23 CEST)
A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.
Jusuf, S.; Dong, P.-T. Chromophore-Targeting Precision Antimicrobial Phototherapy. Cells 2023, 12, 2664. Jusuf, S.; Dong, P.-T. Chromophore-Targeting Precision Antimicrobial Phototherapy. Cells 2023, 12, 2664.
Abstract
Over the past few decades, phototherapy, encompassing the utilization of both natural and artificial light, has emerged as a dependable and non-invasive strategy for addressing a diverse range of illnesses, diseases, and infections. This therapeutic approach, primarily known for its efficacy in treating skin infections such as herpes and acne lesions, involves the synergistic use of specific light wavelengths and photosensitizers like methylene blue. Photodynamic therapy, as it is termed, relies on the generation of antimicrobial reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the interaction between light and externally applied photosensitizers. Recent research, however, has highlighted the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of light itself, marking a paradigm shift in focus from exogenous agents to the inherent photosensitivity of molecules found naturally within pathogens. Chemical analyses have identified specific organic molecular structures and systems, including porphyrins and conjugated C=C bonds, as pivotal components in molecular photosensitivity. Given the prevalence of these systems in organic life forms, there is an urgent need to investigate the potential impact of phototherapy on individual molecules expressed within pathogens and discern their contributions to the antimicrobial effects of light. This review delves into the recently unveiled key molecular targets of phototherapy, offering insights into their potential downstream implications and therapeutic applications. By shedding light on these fundamental molecular mechanisms, we aim to advance our understanding of phototherapy's broader therapeutic potential and contribute to the development of innovative treatments for a wide array of microbial infections and diseases.
Keywords
phototherapy; endogenous chromophores; staphyloxanthin; photoinactivation of catalase
Subject
Biology and Life Sciences, Immunology and Microbiology
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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