Science has yet to tackle one of the remaining and most formidable foes of humanity; Cancer. This disease kills thousands of people every year and though many types of therapy exist they are long, expensive and are usually accompanied with unpleasant side effects. Of recent a movement out from this dark reality has emerged a possibility of a brighter future in the world of cancer research. Though Photodynamic Therapy is in its early stages of research it has shown to be quite effective in eradicating cancerous lesions quickly. The advantage that Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) has over other present methods of cancer treatment is that it does not require extensive operations or harmful drugs. It is this advantage that is so intriguing and has thus caught the eye of many cancer researchers and patients alike around the world.

Photodynamic Therapy is the use of light to activate light sensitive molecules (photosensitizers) such as porphyrins to eliminate cancerous tumors. Specifically PDT involves directing and accumulating photosensitizers into a specific region of the body (cancerous tissue). Following the localization of these photosensitive molecules a light source containing the appropriate wavelength to sufficiently excite the photosensitizer is introduced. Activation of the photosensitizer causes the generation of “active molecular species, such as free radicals and singlet oxygen that are toxic to cells and tissues”.(1)