Photodynamic Applications in Antibacterial Therapies
Summary
Photodynamic antibacterial therapy harnesses light-activated photosensitisers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that selectively eradicate pathogenic bacteria. By confining cytotoxic ROS production to illuminated regions, this approach minimises damage to host tissues and overcomes the limitations of conventional antibiotics, particularly against multidrug-resistant strains. Advances in nanotechnology and supramolecular chemistry have enabled the design of delivery vehicles—ranging from cell-based carriers to smart polymers and aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens—that improve photosensitiser solubility, targeting and photostability. These platforms facilitate precise localisation of light and sensitiser, real-time imaging of bacterial burden and synergistic combinations with immune modulation or photothermal effects. Globally, photodynamic antibacterial strategies are emerging as versatile tools for wound management, implant coatings and deep-tissue infections, offering a sustainable route to curb antibiotic resistance and enhance treatment outcomes.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of host-cell-mediated photosensitiser delivery. In one approach, macrophages loaded with a near-infrared photosensitiser homed to sites of multidrug-resistant bacterial infection, internalised pathogens into lysosomes and, upon irradiation, achieved complete eradication and 100 % survival in murine and rat models. Another investigation employed glucose-polymer-modified gold nanoparticles as bacterial “nanoprobes” that enter cells via transport pathways. Irradiation induced nanoparticle aggregation, amplifying photoacoustic imaging signals and enhancing light-triggered bacterial killing by several-fold, thus enabling ultrasensitive detection and precise photodynamic ablation of diverse bacterial populations in vivo.
Photodynamic Applications in Antibacterial Therapies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in photodynamic applications in antibacterial therapies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Photodynamic therapy (PDT): A treatment modality in which light-activated photosensitisers produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species to kill target cells or pathogens.
Photosensitiser: A molecule that, upon absorption of specific wavelengths of light, transfers energy to molecular oxygen or other substrates, generating reactive oxygen species.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules (such as singlet oxygen and free radicals) that damage cellular components, leading to microbial death.
Aggregation-induced emission (AIE): A photophysical phenomenon in which certain luminogens become highly emissive upon aggregation, enhancing fluorescence under physiological conditions.
Photoacoustic imaging: A hybrid imaging technique that detects acoustic waves generated by pulsed light absorption to visualise biological structures and monitor therapy in real time.
References
- Adoptive macrophage directed photodynamic therapy of multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. Nature Communications (2023).
- Bacteria eat nanoprobes for aggregation-enhanced imaging and killing diverse microorganisms. Nature Communications (2022).
- AIEgens for microorganism‐related visualization and therapy. Interdisciplinary Medicine (2023).
- Fluorescence Imaging and Photodynamic Inactivation of Bacteria Based on Cationic Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes with Aggregation‐Induced Emission Properties. Advanced Healthcare Materials (2021).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.