title: Photosensitisers - the progression from photodynamic therapy to anti-infective surfaces.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The application of light as a stimulus in pharmaceutical systems and the associated ability to provide precise spatiotemporal control over location, wavelength and intensity, allowing ease of external control independent of environmental conditionals, has led to its increased use. Of particular note is the use of light with photosensitisers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Photosensitisers are widely used in photodynamic therapy to cause a cidal effect towards cells on irradiation due to the generation of reactive oxygen species. These cidal effects have also been used to treat infectious diseases. The effects and benefits of photosensitisers in the treatment of such conditions are still being developed and further realised, with the design of novel delivery strategies. This review provides an overview of the realisation of the pharmaceutically relevant uses of photosensitisers, both in the context of current research and in terms of current clinical application, and looks to the future direction of research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substantial advances have been and are being made in the use of photosensitisers. Of particular note are their antimicrobial applications, due to absence of resistance that is so frequently associated with conventional treatments. Their potency of action and the ability to immobilise to polymeric supports is opening a wide range of possibilities with great potential for use in healthcare infection prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Belfast, School of Pharmacy , 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL , UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Colin P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins
keywords: antimicrobial; photodynamic therapy; photosensitiser; reactive oxygen species; surfaces