Photodynamic therapy (
PDT), sometimes called
photochemotherapy, is a form of
phototherapy using nontoxic light-sensitive compounds that are exposed selectively to light, whereupon they become toxic to targeted malignant and other diseased cells (
phototoxicity). PDT has proven ability to kill microbial cells, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. PDT is popularly used in treating acne. It is used clinically to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including
wet age-related macular degeneration and malignant
cancers, and is recognised as a treatment strategy which is both minimally invasive and minimally toxic.