27 articles
Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy
Aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is a treatment in which aminolevulinic acid is applied to abnormal skin, converted to protoporphyrin IX, and activated with light to destroy cells.
Antibacterial photodynamic therapy
Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), also called photodynamic inactivation or PACT, uses a light-activated photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species that kill bacteria, mainly for oral and skin infections.
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy, also called photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy or aPDT, uses a light-activated dye to generate reactive oxygen species that kill antibiotic-resistant microbes, mainly in topical skin applications.
APL-1702 (Cevira)
APL-1702 (Cevira, 希维她) is Asieris Pharmaceuticals' photodynamic drug-device combination of 5% hexaminolevulinate ointment and an LED intravaginal device for non-surgical treatment of HPV-associated cervical CIN2/HSIL, approved in China in 2026 and licensed to Theramex for Europe.
Daylight photodynamic therapy
Daylight photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT, also dPDT) is a dermatological treatment in which a photosensitizing cream is activated by daylight to treat actinic keratoses, nearly painlessly.
Hematoporphyrin Photoradiation
Hematoporphyrin photoradiation, or photodynamic therapy (PDT), is a form of photochemotherapy using visible light applied locally or topically to destroy diseased tissue. Its initial application was described in 1903.
Hemoporfin for injection (Fumeida)
Hemoporfin for injection (Fumeida, 复美达), also called HMME (hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether), is a Chinese class 1.1 photodynamic drug approved in 2016; the first drug worldwide for port-wine stain, given intravenously with 532 nm laser irradiation.
Intense Pulsed Light Therapy
Intense pulsed light (IPL, flashlamp) therapy: noncoherent, polychromatic 500-1200 nm xenon-flashlamp light using selective photothermolysis to treat vascular and pigmented lesions, unwanted hair, photoaging, and dry eye; FDA-cleared since 1995.
Light Coagulation
Light coagulation (photocoagulation, German Lichtkoagulation) is thermal treatment of tissue, chiefly the retina, with intense light or laser; pioneered by Meyer-Schwickerath in 1949 and proven by the DRS and ETDRS for diabetic eye disease.
Light dosimetry
Light dosimetry is the measurement and calculation of light energy delivered to tissue during photodynamic therapy, used to plan treatments and verify the dose received.
Low-level laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), now widely called photobiomodulation therapy, applies non-thermal red or near-infrared light to body tissues to stimulate healing, reduce pain, and reduce inflammation.
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a targeted cancer therapy in which an antibody-bound dye activated by near-infrared light kills tumor cells; its agent Akalux is approved in Japan for head and neck cancer.
Padeliporfin
Padeliporfin (WST11, Tookad, Stakel) is a palladium-bacteriochlorophyll photosensitizer for vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy of unilateral low-risk prostate cancer; EU-approved 2017, not recommended by NICE.
Photobiomodulation therapy
Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, long known as low-level laser therapy and marketed as red light therapy, uses low-power red or near-infrared light to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
Photodynamic therapy
Photodynamic therapy is a treatment in which a photosensitizing drug activated by light and oxygen generates reactive oxygen species that destroy target cells, with FDA approval for several cancers.
Photoimmunotherapy
Photoimmunotherapy, often called NIR-PIT, is a cancer treatment in which antibody-dye conjugates bound to tumor cells are activated by near-infrared light, killing them within minutes.
Photosensitizer
A photosensitizer is a molecule that absorbs light and produces reactive oxygen species that kill cells, serving as the active drug in photodynamic therapy against cancer and microbes.
Pulsed light therapy
Pulsed light therapy, known in dermatology as intense pulsed light (IPL), delivers brief flashes of broad-spectrum light to treat vascular lesions, pigmented lesions, and unwanted hair.
Radiodynamic therapy
Radiodynamic therapy is a cancer treatment in which X-rays activate a sensitizing agent that generates reactive oxygen species to kill tumor cells, reaching deep tumors that visible or near-infrared light cannot.
Radiofrequency Therapy
Radiofrequency therapy is the use of radio waves to heat, stimulate, or ablate tissue, encompassing radiofrequency ablation, pulsed radiofrequency, and non-invasive techniques used for pain, arrhythmias, and tumors.
Red Light
Red light, 620-750 nm visible radiation, is used in photobiomodulation (low-level light therapy) for skin, wounds, and pain, acting via mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase; effects are biphasic and dose-dependent.
Repeated low-level red-light therapy
Repeated low-level red-light therapy (RLRL) is a myopia-control treatment using short daily sessions of low-power 650 nm red light to slow myopia progression in children.
Talaporfin
Talaporfin sodium (mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6, NPe6, Laserphyrin) is a second-generation plant-derived photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy, activated at 664 nm, approved in Japan for early lung cancer, brain tumors, and recurrent esophageal cancer, with shorter skin photosensitivity than porfimer sodium.
Temoporfin
Temoporfin (mTHPC, Foscan) is a second-generation chlorin photosensitizer activated at 652 nm, EMA-authorized since 2001 for palliative PDT of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; FDA authorization was declined.
Ultraviolet Therapy
Ultraviolet therapy (phototherapy, PUVA, narrowband UVB): controlled UV light treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and mycosis fungoides, from Finsen's 1896 carbon-arc lamp to modern 311-nm lamps.
Upconversion nanoparticle photodynamic therapy
Upconversion nanoparticle photodynamic therapy (UCNP-PDT) is an experimental light-activated cancer and antimicrobial treatment in which lanthanide-doped nanoparticles convert deep-penetrating near-infrared light into visible light that activates a photosensitizer.
UVB phototherapy
UVB phototherapy is a dermatological treatment exposing the skin to ultraviolet B light to treat psoriasis, vitiligo, and atopic dermatitis, mostly with narrowband 311 nm lamps.