Organic nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) involves the use of nontoxic photosensitizers (PSs) with a light source of specific wavelength to selectively target and kill microbial cells via various mechanisms. Studies on aPDT have focused on the use of several carbon-based organic nanoparticles (NPs), both biodegradable and nonbiodegradable, for the encapsulation, delivery, and release of PS molecules. This system has shown several advantages which include efficient packaging of PS, localized treatment, minimal risk of developing drug resistance, biosafety, etc. Therefore this advanced technique can potentially extend a novel and promising nano-platform for designing efficient drug-delivery systems using specific PSs, thereby enhancing PDT of biofilms and microbial infections. In this chapter, the current strategies of utilizing different types of organic NPs-based PSs in aPDT is discussed, which would extend our ability to effectively eliminate microbial infections in various disease conditions.