title: Drug delivery strategies for photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy: from benchtop to clinical practice.
abstract: Light and photosensitizer-mediated killing of many pathogens, termed photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT), has been extensively investigated in vitro. A wide range of organisms from the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus to the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been proven to be susceptible to PACT. Multidrug-resistant strains are just as susceptible to this treatment as their naïve counterparts. Both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses have demonstrated susceptibility in vitro, in addition to fungi and protozoa. Significantly, however, no clinical treatments based on PACT are currently licensed. This paper provides a comprehensive review of work carried out to date on delivery of photosensitizers for use in PACT, including topical, intranasal and oral/buccal delivery, as well as targeted delivery. We have also reviewed photo-antimicrobial surfaces. It is hoped that, through a rational approach to formulation design and subsequent success in small-scale clinical trials, more widespread use will be made of PACT in the clinic, to the benefit of patients worldwide.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT97BL, UK.
authors.forename: Corona M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tunney
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McCarron
authors.forename: Ryan F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Donnelly
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents