Laguna Hills, CA 92653 PDT essentially has three steps. First, a
light sensitizing liquid, cream, or intravenous drug
(photosensitizer) is applied or administered. Second, there is
an incubation period of minutes to days. Finally, the target
tissue is then exposed to a specific wavelength of light which
then helps activate the photosensitizing medication. • 1.
Application of photosensitizer drug • 2. Incubation period • 3.
Light activationAlthough first discovered around 1913, PDT in
the modern sense is a fairly new, evolving science whereby
varying incubation times of a light sensitizing drug are used in
combination with varying types of available light sources
depending on the target tissue. The basic premise of PDT is
selective tissue destruction. Although the photosensitizer may
be absorbed all over by many cells, atypical or cancerous cells
preferentially take up more of the drug and also may retain the
drug for longer duration than normal tissues. At present, the
primary limitation of available PDT tech