Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy in Wound Management
Summary
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has emerged as a promising non-antibiotic strategy to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in wound care. By combining a photosensitiser, light of an appropriate wavelength and molecular oxygen, aPDT generates reactive oxygen species that selectively target microbial cells, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and complex biofilms, without inducing lasting resistance. In acute and chronic wounds alike, aPDT can reduce pathogen load while simultaneously modulating host responses, promoting granulation tissue formation, angiogenesis and collagen remodelling. Novel formulations, such as photosensitiser-loaded hydrogels or nanocarriers, facilitate topical application, penetration into biofilms and controlled release. Clinically, aPDT offers rapid decontamination, minimal systemic effects and compatibility with existing dressings and wound-care protocols. Its integration into multidisciplinary wound management holds potential to enhance healing rates, reduce reliance on systemic antibiotics and address the global burden of chronic and infected wounds.
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Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy in Wound Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in wound management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT): A treatment combining light, oxygen and a photosensitiser to generate reactive oxygen species that kill microorganisms.
Photosensitiser: A light-activated compound that produces reactive oxygen species upon illumination.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that mediate microbial destruction and influence cell signalling.
Biofilm: A structured community of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix, often associated with chronic wound infection.
Chronic wound: A wound that fails to progress through the normal phases of healing within an expected timeframe, commonly complicated by infection.
Granulation tissue: Newly formed vascularised connective tissue that fills a wound during the healing process.
Macrophage polarisation: The process by which macrophages adopt pro-inflammatory (M1) or reparative (M2) phenotypes, influencing infection control and tissue repair.
References
- Photodynamic Therapy, Probiotics, Acetic Acid, and Essential Oil in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds Infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pharmaceutics (2023).
- Accelerating skin regeneration and wound healing by controlled ROS from photodynamic treatment. Inflammation and Regeneration (2022).
- Effects of ALA-PDT on the Healing of Mouse Skin Wounds Infected With Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Its Related Mechanisms. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2020).
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