title: A comprehensive tutorial on in vitro characterization of new photosensitizers for photodynamic antitumor therapy and photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms.
abstract: In vitro research performed on eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell cultures usually represents the initial step for characterization of a novel photosensitizer (PS) intended for application in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer or photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of microorganisms. Although many experimental steps of PS testing make use of the wide spectrum of methods readily employed in cell biology, special aspects of working with photoactive substances, such as the autofluorescence of the PS molecule or the requirement of light protection, need to be considered when performing in vitro experiments in PDT/PDI. This tutorial represents a comprehensive collection of operative instructions, by which, based on photochemical and photophysical properties of a PS, its uptake into cells, the intracellular localization and photodynamic action in both tumor cells and microorganisms novel photoactive molecules may be characterized for their suitability for PDT/PDI. Furthermore, it shall stimulate the efforts to expand the convincing benefits of photodynamic therapy and photodynamic inactivation within both established and new fields of applications and motivate scientists of all disciplines to get involved in photodynamic research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Paracelsus Medical University/Salzburger Landeskliniken, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiesslich
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gollmer
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maisch
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berneburg
authors.forename: Kristjan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plaetzer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents