Photodynamic Antiviral Therapy Applications

Photodynamic antiviral therapy harnesses the interaction of light, a photosensitising agent and molecular oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species that selectively damage viral components. Upon activation by specific wavelengths, photosensitisers localise to viral envelopes or capsid surfaces, producing singlet oxygen and free radicals that oxidise lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. This non-invasive approach has been adapted for applications ranging from surface and air disinfection to treatment of localized lesions and decontamination of blood products. Advances in nanotechnology and molecular engineering have enabled the design of next-generation photosensitisers with enhanced targeting, deeper tissue penetration and improved solubility. The broad-spectrum antiviral potential of photodynamic inactivation is attracting global interest, particularly for emerging and drug-resistant viral pathogens. Studies have demonstrated efficacy against enveloped viruses such as herpes simplex virus, influenza and coronaviruses, as well as non-enveloped models. Photodynamic therapy offers repeatability without resistance development and may complement existing antiviral measures in clinical, environmental and public-health settings.

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Photodynamic Antiviral Therapy Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in photodynamic antiviral therapy applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Photosensitiser: A molecule that absorbs light and transfers energy to oxygen, producing reactive species.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules, including singlet oxygen and free radicals, that oxidise biological targets.

Singlet Oxygen: An electronically excited form of oxygen generated during photodynamic activation, capable of oxidising lipids and proteins.

Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI): The process by which viruses or other pathogens are rendered non-infectious through light-activated photosensitisation.

Enveloped Virus: A virus enclosed by a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell, often targeted by membrane-disrupting therapies.

Membrane Curvature: The geometric bending of lipid bilayers that can be altered by oxidative damage, inhibiting viral fusion.

References

1. Photodynamic Inhibition of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection by Tricationic Amphiphilic Porphyrin with a Long Alkyl Chain. Pharmaceutics (2023).
2. A Mechanistic Paradigm for Broad-Spectrum Antivirals that Target Virus-Cell Fusion. PLOS Pathogens (2013).
3. The Photosensitizer Octakis(cholinyl)zinc Phthalocyanine with Ability to Bind to a Model Spike Protein Leads to a Loss of SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity In Vitro When Exposed to Far-Red LED. Viruses (2021).