Desempenho da inativação fotodinâmica no tratamento de infecções fúngicas variadas: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

Photodynamic inactivation involves the administration of a photosensitizer (PS) that, when exposed to a specific wavelength of light, generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen and superoxides, resulting in the inactivation or death of microorganisms. This study aims to assess, through a literature review of the past 10 years, the efficacy of photoinactivation therapy (PDT) as an adjunct treatment for combating infections caused by four opportunistic and/or pathogenic fungal microorganism species to human health: Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Trichophyton rubrum. The results highlighted that PIT demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing colony-forming units (CFU’s), particularly when combined with antifungal agents and applied with stringent criteria, including the optimal selection of the PS and the use of light with the specific wavelength for maximum absorption at the appropriate dosage. This therapeutic approach holds promising potential for the treatment of fungal infections, suggesting an effective and innovative alternative, especially for immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients.