What is the mechanism of action in killing the cancer?
It is the same for both SPDT and SDT. Light or sound activation raises the energy level of the sensitizer, producing an “activated “molecule. This is turn reacts with nearby oxygen to form “free radical “oxygen. This is a super powerful oxidant, so powerful that it is quite unstable and it reacts with the nearest oxidizable material – the organic matter in the cancer cell. This breaks down the organic matter, destroying the cells structure, and killing or damaging the cell. The free radical oxygen has a very small radius of action, so it only damages the cells that it is in – the cancer cells. There are other mechanisms of action.
It is the same for both SPDT and SDT. Light or sound activation raises the energy level of the sensitizer, producing an “activated “molecule. This is turn reacts with nearby oxygen to form “free radical “oxygen. This is a super powerful oxidant, so powerful that it is quite unstable and it reacts with the nearest oxidizable material – the organic matter in the cancer cell. This breaks down the organic matter, destroying the cells structure, and killing or damaging the cell. The free radical oxygen has a very small radius of action, so it only damages the cells that it is in – the cancer cells. There are other mechanisms of action.
