Photodynamic viral inactivation: Recent advances and potential applications

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are growing at a frightening rate worldwide, has put the world on a long-standing alert. The COVID-19 health crisis reinforced the pressing need to address a fast-developing pandemic. To mitigate these health emergencies and prevent economic collapse, cheap, practical, and easily applicable infection control techniques are essential worldwide. Application of light in the form of photodynamic action on microorganisms and viruses has been growing and is now successfully applied in several areas. The efficacy of this approach has been demonstrated in the fight against viruses, prompting additional efforts to advance the technique, including safety use protocols. In particular, its application to suppress respiratory tract infections and to provide decontamination of fluids, such as blood plasma and others, can become an inexpensive alternative strategy in the fight against viral and bacterial infections. Diverse early treatment methods based on photodynamic action enable an accelerated response to emerging threats prior to the availability of preventative drugs. In this review, we evaluate a vast number of photodynamic demonstrations and first-principle proofs carried out on viral control, revealing its potential and encouraging its rapid development toward safe clinical practice. This review highlights the main research trends and, as a futuristic exercise, anticipates potential situations where photodynamic treatment can provide a readily available solution.

Biosafety chemistry and biosafety materials: A new perspective to solve biosafety problems

“…In contrast, new chemicals and materials can wonderfully assist the rapid detection and preliminary screening of such pathogens. For example, we can develop new chemical reagents, novel materials, and clinical diagnostic kits for infectious diseases such as COVID-19, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, AIDS, hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, influenza, and diarrhea; we could also design high-throughput diagnostic chemical reagents or materials and supporting equipment accordingly that can simultaneously detect multiple pathogens and discrepancy in drug resistance [20] , [37] ; chemically modified environmental-friendly metals like copper or silver nanoparticles, and even polymer-metal nanocomposites could be prepared for antibacterial or antiviral applications in sterilization [26] , [38] , [39] , [40] ; novel chemical formulations, materials, sprays, gels, and other relevant products with photo [41] , [42] , [43] , sound, magnetic [44] , [45] and thermal responsiveness might be developed; specifically designed disinfectants and biosafety cleaning systems could be applied for the open environment as well as confined space especially with personnel on-site.…”

“…[49] . In short, it is imperative to apply new chemical subtances and materials to develop light, electric, sound, magnetic, and thermo-responsive disinfectants that are colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-corrosive, environment-friendly, and degradable with no heavy metal residuals [41] , [42] , [43] .…”

Photodynamic disinfection and its role in controlling infectious diseases

“…A considerable number of in vitro studies regarding photoinactivation of viruses have been performed, and have already been reviewed by several authors [ 80 , 81 , 268 – 271 ]. It was found that photoinactivation of viruses possessing a lipid envelope, like the one presented in Fig.…”

A novel antibacterial and antifouling nanocomposite coated endotracheal tube to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia

“…As an active method to kill microbes on device surfaces, the ETT can be coated with various antiseptic substances to prevent VAP. Examples of such antiseptic substances include silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) [ 14 , 15 ], silver sulfadiazine/chlorhexidine [ 16 ], zinc oxide [ 17 ], antimicrobial peptide [ 18 ], and photodynamic therapy [ 19 , 20 ] wherein the incorporation of these substances into surface coatings has been found to minimize biofilm formation and bacterial growth. In addition, some passive methods to deal with microbial adhesion have been applied to ETTs to produce a contamination-resistant surface by altering the surface composition and pattern.…”