Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the most prominent therapies in the cancer treatment. PDT is a treatment that makes use of a drug, called photosensitizer or photosensitizing agent, and a peculiar type of light. When photosensitizers are irradiated by a specific wavelength of light, they produce a kind of oxygen that kills nearby cells. Needs-based research has been carried out on in the field of luminescence depending upon the disease undergoing treatment. It has the main advantage that it has no long-term side effects. Rare-earth doped upconversion (UC) materials are suitable for a vast range of potential biological applications in PDT, biological imaging, drug delivery, and sensing. The conversion of a higher wavelength photon (near infra-red [NIR] or red light region) into a lower wavelength photon (ultraviolet [UV] or near UV) is used in UC PDT. Absorbance of NIR wavelengths allow light to penetrate into deeper tissues, hence PDT of deeper tissues can be effectively done. The phosphor efficiency has been increased by the beneficial effect by co-doping and decreasing the particle size of the UC PD phosphors (UC nanoparticles). In this chapter, the mechanism of PDT, the history and scientific development related to PDT in the cancer treatment are discussed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
