The importance of liposomes as models and tools in the understanding of photosensitization mechanisms.

Abstract

The various applications of liposomes in understanding photosensitization are described in this paper, with particular emphasis on the various kinds of information that these models allow to obtain in phototherapy. Liposomes are simple vesicles in which an aqueous phase is enclosed by a phospholipidic membrane. They are suitable models mimicking specific situations occurring in vivo and they allow study of the influence of physicochemical, photobiological and biochemical factors on the uptake of photosensitizers by tissues, their mechanisms of action and the subsequent photoinduced tumor necrosis. Moreover, solubilization of the sensitizer into the bilayer seems to improve its tumoral selectivity and its photodynamic efficiency.

• Authors: M Hoebeke
• Journal: Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology (J Photochem Photobiol B) Vol. 28 Issue 3 Pg. 189-96 (Jun 1995) ISSN: 1011-1344 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 7623183 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Liposomes
• Photosensitizing Agents

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Membrane (physiology)
• Humans
• Liposomes
• Models, Biological
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Photochemotherapy
• Photosensitizing Agents
• Phototherapy