Photodynamic Inactivation of Microbial Pathogens: Medical and Environmental Applications

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was discovered over one hundred years ago after observing the death of microorganisms upon exposure to dyes and light. It is the combination of non-toxic dyes and harmless visible light that, in the presence of oxygen, produce highly toxic reactive species. The principal medical application during the last century was in cancer therapy but, in these days of rising antibiotic resistance, PDT shows increasing promise as an alternative approach to treating infections. PDT has also been used in blood product sterilization, peridontology, acne reduction, and the treatment of viral lesions such as those caused by human papilloma virus. It may also have potential as an environmentally friendly pesticide. This is the first and only book to comprehensively cover the use of light and photosensitising agents for controlling microbial pathogens. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of an emerging field. There are several chapters on the design of antimicrobial photosensitizers, their use to kill pathogenic organisms and their success in treating infections in animal models. It has long been known that gram-positive bacteria are highly susceptible to photoinactivation but the book also discusses means of widening the range of microorganisms that can be tackled by PDT. Edited by two pioneers in the application of PDT to medical and environmental issues, this book covers the basic science, translational research in animals, and the clinical applications in various medical specialities. It represents an indispensable resource for microbiologists and infectious disease doctors as well as dentists, dermatologists, gastroenterologists and transfusion specialists.

Dr Michael R. Hamblin is a Principal Investigator at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. He received his PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from Trent University in England. His interests lie in photodynamic therapy for infections, cancer, and heart disease and also in low-level light therapy for wound healing, arthritis, traumatic brain injury and hair regrowth. His research program is supported by NIH, CDMRP and CIMIT among others. He has published over 125 peer-reviewed articles, over 120 conference proceedings, book chapters and international abstracts, and holds 8 patents.