Bacteriochlorophyll Sensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Recent progress in the bioproduction and chemical manipulation of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a has opened the way for utilization of highly potent sensitizers in photodynamic therapy. Although less stable than their chlorin analogues in their native form, BChl derivatives provide a superior optical and biophysical profile for the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In fact this pigment family probably represents the most ef- ficient light collectors and radical generators in nature. Here we describe a recent development of this exciting family of drugs, with particular emphasis on vascular targeted therapy (VTP).