Development Of Novel Photosensitizers For Photodynamic Inactivation Of Bacteria

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.

Nanostructures for Antimicrobial Therapy discusses the pros and cons of the use of nanostructured materials in the prevention and eradication of infections, highlighting the efficient microbicidal effect of nanoparticles against antibiotic-resistant pathogens and biofilms. Conventional antibiotics are becoming ineffective towards microorganisms due to their widespread and often inappropriate use. As a result, the development of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms is increasingly being reported. New approaches are needed to confront the rising issues related to infectious diseases. The merging of biomaterials, such as chitosan, carrageenan, gelatin, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) with nanotechnology provides a promising platform for antimicrobial therapy as it provides a controlled way to target cells and induce the desired response without the adverse effects common to many traditional treatments. Nanoparticles represent one of the most promising therapeutic treatments to the problem caused by infectious micro-organisms resistant to traditional therapies. This volume discusses this promise in detail, and also discusses what challenges the greater use of nanoparticles might pose to medical professionals. The unique physiochemical properties of nanoparticles, combined with their growth inhibitory capacity against microbes has led to the upsurge in the research on nanoparticles as antimicrobials. The importance of bactericidal nanobiomaterials study will likely increase as development of resistant strains of bacteria against most potent antibiotics continues. Shows how nanoantibiotics can be used to more effectively treat disease Discusses the advantages and issues of a variety of different nanoantibiotics, enabling medics to select which best meets their needs Provides a cogent summary of recent developments in this field, allowing readers to quickly familiarize themselves with this topic area

"Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy: Concepts and Applications explores the novel anti-microbial therapeutic technique. As the world is search of new, efficient modalities for fighting against microorganisms, this book can deliver a complete understanding about the concept and knowledge about the emerging technique 'antimicrobial photodynamic therapy' (aPDT) for the scientific communities and budding researchers. The book aligns concepts, significance, and applications of the technique in a systematic way. Chapters in the book discussed in detail about microorganism, pathogenesis, conventional treatment methods, significance of new treatment approaches, to the concept of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. The authors described the mechanism behind and applications with examples from best research studies. Book also discusses in detail about the photosensitizers, one chapter especially emphasizes the natural photosensitizers. Use of nanostructures in the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is elaborated. Book concludes with the well explored application of the therapeutic technique in dentistry. Features: Book efficiently covers the topic in detail with scientifically proven examples. Applications of the therapeutic approach is well discussed, readers can find the research gaps, challenges, and future of the technique. Starts from basics, which makes the readers to understand why the approach is relevant and important to be studied. Elucidated concept and applications in simple way makes it accessible to every level reader"--

Increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a serious worldwide problem, and to combat resistant bacteria, new antibacterial approaches are to be developed. One alternative to traditional antibiotic therapy is photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT). PACT is based on excitation of photosensitizers (PS) capable of transferring the absorbed light energy to dissolved molecular oxygen causing generation of reactive oxygen species, which irreversibly damage bacterial cell components. The overall efficiency of PACT has been proven for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The effectiveness of PACT can be increased by encapsulation of PS in liposomes providing more concentrated delivery of PS, enhanced cytotoxicity, improved pharmacokinetic properties, sustained release, and prolonged action of the PS. For continuous and reusable application, PS can be immobilized in polymers. Chemiluminescence, sonodynamic treatment, and radiofrequency irradiation allow to perform excitation of PS in the dark without external illumination, opening prospects for combating internal infections. Combination of PS with antibiotics can gain a synergistic effect, allowing in some cases to overcome the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics.

This book provides detailed and current information on using fullerenes (bucky-balls) in photodynamic therapy (PDT), one of the most actively studied applications of photonic science in healthcare. This will serve as a useful source for researchers working in photomedicine and nanomedicine, especially those who are investigating PDT for cancer treatment and infectious disease treatment. The book runs the gamut from an introduction to the history and chemistry of fullerenes and some basic photochemistry, to the application of fullerenes as photosensitizers for cancer and antimicrobial inactivation.

In his acclaimed Codex Alera novels, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher has created a fascinating world in which the powerful forces of nature take physical form. But even magic cannot sway the corruption that threatens to destroy the realm of Alera once and for all... When the power-hungry High Lord of Kalare launches a merciless rebellion against the First Lord, young Tavi of Calderon joins a newly formed legion under an assumed name. And when the ruthless Kalare allies himself with a savage enemy of the realm, Tavi finds himself leading an inexperienced, poorly equipped legion—the only force standing between Alera and certain doom...

This essential volume comprehensively discusses redox-active therapeutics, focusing particularly on their molecular design, mechanistic, pharmacological and medicinal aspects. The first section of the book describes the basic aspects of the chemistry and biology of redox-active drugs and includes a brief overview of the redox-based pathways involved in cancer and the medical aspects of redox-active drugs, assuming little in the way of prior knowledge. Subsequent sections and chapters describe more specialized aspects of central nervous system injuries, neurodegenerative diseases, pain, radiation injury and radioprotection (such as of brain, lungs, head and neck and erectile function) and neglected diseases (e.g., leishmaniasis). It encompasses several major classes of redox-active experimental therapeutics, which include porphyrins, salens, nitrones, and most notably metal-containing (e.g., Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sb) drugs as either single compounds or formulations with nanomaterials and quantum dots. Numerous illustrations, tables and figures enhance and complement the text; extensive references to relevant literature are also included. Redox-Active Therapeutics is an invaluable addition to Springer’s Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice series. It is essential reading for researchers, clinicians and graduate students interested in understanding and exploring the Redoxome—the organism redox network—as an emerging frontier in drug design, redox biology and medicine.