Photodynamic Therapy Applications with Rose Bengal Dyes
Summary
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) harnesses light, oxygen and a photosensitiser to generate reactive oxygen species that selectively destroy target cells or pathogens. Rose Bengal dyes, a class of halogenated xanthene compounds, have emerged as versatile photosensitisers due to their high singlet‐oxygen quantum yield and strong absorption in the visible spectrum. Initially adopted in ophthalmology and liver‐function diagnostics, Rose Bengal is now being repurposed for oncological, dermatological and antimicrobial interventions. In cancer applications, its capacity to induce multiple cell‐death pathways—including apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis—addresses tumour heterogeneity and drug resistance. In dermatology, novel fluorescence‐coupled analytical methods have facilitated precise quantification of skin penetration and deposition of Rose Bengal in ex vivo human skin, guiding formulation design. Antimicrobial PDT with high‐purity Rose Bengal has demonstrated rapid eradication of Gram‐positive bacteria and biofilms under low‐intensity illumination, offering a non‐antibiotic approach to multidrug‐resistant infections. Advances in nanocarriers and cell‐targeting strategies—such as surface‐functionalised polymeric nanoparticles and metabolic‐stress protocols that enhance intracellular dye accumulation—are expanding the scope of Rose Bengal PDT. Together, these developments underscore the global significance of Rose Bengal dyes as modular photosensitisers for precision therapy and infection control.
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Photodynamic Therapy Applications with Rose Bengal Dyes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in photodynamic therapy applications with rose bengal dyes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Photosensitiser: A light‐activated compound that transfers energy to molecular oxygen to produce cytotoxic species.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen that induce oxidative damage to biomolecules.
Singlet oxygen: An electronically excited state of molecular oxygen with high reactivity towards lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Exosomes: Extracellular vesicles secreted by cells that participate in intercellular communication and can mediate drug efflux.
Biofilm: A structured microbial community encased in a self‐produced polymeric matrix attached to surfaces, often resistant to conventional antimicrobials.
References
- Fluorescence-Coupled Techniques for Determining Rose Bengal in Dermatological Formulations and Their Application to Ex Vivo Skin Deposition Studies. Pharmaceutics (2023).
- Timing the multiple cell death pathways initiated by Rose Bengal acetate photodynamic therapy. Cell Death & Disease (2011).
- Overview of Cell Death Mechanisms Induced by Rose Bengal Acetate‐Photodynamic Therapy. International Journal of Photoenergy (2011).
- Photodynamic Efficiency of Xanthene Dyes and Their Phototoxicity against a Carcinoma Cell Line: A Computational and Experimental Study. Journal of Chemistry (2017).
- Antibacterial Activity of Pharmaceutical-Grade Rose Bengal: An Application of a Synthetic Dye in Antibacterial Therapies. Molecules (2022).
- Enhanced Delivery of Rose Bengal by Amino Acids Starvation and Exosomes Inhibition in Human Astrocytoma Cells to Potentiate Anticancer Photodynamic Therapy Effects. Cells (2022).
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