Photosensitizer

A photosensitizer being used in photodynamic therapy.

A photosensitizer is a molecule that produces a chemical change in another molecule in a photochemical process. Photosensitizers are commonly used in polymer chemistry in reactions such as photopolymerization, photocrosslinking, and photodegradation. Photosensitizers generally act by absorbing energy electromagnetic radiation in the form of ultraviolet or visible light and transferring it to adjacent molecules.

Applications

Medical

Photosensitisers are a key part of Photodynamic therapy (PDT) which is used to treat some cancers. They help to produce singlet oxygen to damage tumours. They can be divided into porphyrins, chlorophylls and dyes - See Photodynamic_therapy#Photosensitizers

See also

• Phototoxicity
• Photosensitivity
• Artificial photosynthesis