ABSTRACT
The Biophotonics Group from the Sa˜o Carlos Institute of Physics
in the University of Sa˜o Paulo has been focusing on determining
clinical protocols for microbial control using photodynamic therapy
(PDT) as an alternative to conventional treatments. In vitro and in vivo studies have been performed to establish the best photosensitizers and illumination parameters, as well as to understand
the mechanisms of PDT in microorganisms. Instrumentation has
been developed to perform uniform and controlled illumination
especially designed for the target tissue or organ, and new
photosensitizers have been created for several conditions. The initial
investigation is performed at cell culture assays, and then the
protocol is tested on animal models. Furthermore, many clinical
protocols have been applied. This chapter presents the challenges
faced, developments occurred, and results obtained in the last six
years.
