Fluorescence studies of natural photosensitizers in oncology and antimicrobial therapy

Evtifeev D.O., Zyubin A.Yu., Demishkevich E.A., Samusev I.G. Fluorescence studies of natural photosensitizers in oncology and antimicrobial therapy. Scientific and Technical Journal of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, 2026, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 223–235 (in Russian). doi: 10.17586/2226-1494-2026-26-2-223

The article provides an overview of current paper on the use of natural photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy and photodynamic inactivation of microorganisms. The existing photosensitizers with high selectivity, high singlet oxygen quantum yield and minimal dark toxicity are considered. It has been shown that natural compounds, such as curcumin, hypericin, riboflavin, berberine, chlorophyloids, psoralenes, and anthracyclines, are promising candidates for photodynamic therapy due to their biocompatibility and rich spectrum of photo and biochemical properties. Also, a review of promising rare and less studied photosensitizers was conducted. A generalized analysis of modern publications to date has been performed as well as an analysis of the authors’ experimental data on stationary, time-resolved fluorescence and microscopy (confocal and Fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy) of natural as well as their therapeutic and antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. It has been shown that hypericin and perylene quinones achieve a quantum yield of singlet oxygen ≈ 0.5–0.6 at ε > 4·10⁴ l·mol^–1·cm^–1, providing effective photodynamic therapy of tumors and a logarithmic decrease (6–7 lg CFU) bacterial load at moderate doses of light (less 20 J·cm^–2). Curcumin and riboflavin combine the therapeutic effect with bright fluorescence, allowing optical monitoring in real time. Psoralenes implement an alternative mechanism for DNA crosslinking under a long-wavelength, high-energy radiation, which underlies therapy based both on psoralens and long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation and also blood disinfection. Complexing with lanthanide ions or upconversion nanoparticles expands the excitation spectrum to the near-infrared range and enhances the diagnostic signal. Thus, natural photosensitizers are evolving into a versatile platform for the simultaneous treatment and optical monitoring of oncological and infectious diseases, while their incorporation into nanostructures — including rareearthion–based systems — extends lightpenetration depth and enables precise visualization of deepseated tissues, paving the way for the clinical adoption of nextgeneration hybrid phototherapeutic technologies.

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