| Abstract: | Photodynamic therapy is a relatively recent addition to the clinic, primarily for the treatment of cancer but also for psoriasis, age-related macular degeneration and other diseases. Photodynamic therapy utilises a photosensitiser that targets the disease site to produce a photochemical reaction following delivery of light. The properties of the photosensitiser are critical to the outcome of the technique and numerous classes have been developed in the past decade, including porphyrins and related compounds, chlorins, phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines, texaphyrins, core-modified porphyrins and various cationic dyes. The potential of this technique is apparent from the extensive number of patents that have been awarded over the past three years. |
