New research on “blue light photodynamic therapy”, reported by the US medical news
The abuse of antibiotics has led to a rapid increase in the number of multidrug resistant bacteria, which is a serious problem in a clinically vicious cycle. Human antibacterial efforts require the use of higher doses of antibiotics to fight against bacteria, resulting in higher drug toxicity and more Superbug. The development of new antibiotics is not as effective as the rapid variation of microorganisms, leading to drug resistance. Therefore, the development of alternative antibacterial methods has become a top priority for scientists.
Professor Anren Hu co-operated with Kaizhi Zhang and other teachers, at the Department of Medical Laboratory Biotechnology, Tzu Chi University, has established an antibacterial R & D team to develop photodynamic therapy research with light. The team successfully has developed photosensitizers that are sensitive, bioselective, and specific to visible blue light, and concluded photodynamic therapies can replace antibiotics. For three consecutive years, the team obtained support of the “Blue Light Antibacterial Research” funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The team used LED blue light to excite the non-toxic photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill the pathogenic bacteria. Based on the photochemical characteristics of photodynamic therapy, the team investigated the effects of light on pathogenic microorganisms and tissue cells. This is for searching of the most appropriate bactericidal or bacteriostatic conditions without affecting normal cells. The new antibacterial methods hopefully can prevent from inducing the bacteria to develop resistance.
The team used bioanalytical technology to monitor the chemical substances secreted by the bacteria subject to light stimulation. The team then observed the morphology and biochemical molecular variation of the bacteria. The team sequenced by tandem mass spectrometry to explain photolysis that induced the production of functional protein and the variation of carbonylation, exploring the mechanism of action on the bacteria. These achievements have been published in the “International Journal of Biophysics” and “Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B-Biology” in February and September of 2018, respectively. The publication of the paper has attracted extensive attention and many journal editors have actively invited the team to further submit paper. In addition to antibacterial effects, blue-light photodynamic therapy can be applied to other medical fields. Recently, Professor Hu Anren was interviewed by the Shandley McMurray, a medical column editor of “the University Health News”. The content was reported on October 15th. The topic is “Blue Light Therapy Can Treat Skin Cancer without Causing Nasty Side Effects” focusing on the future development and new knowledge of blue light power in medicine. In addition, the research on blue light dynamic therapy developed by Tzu Chi University in Taiwan is valued!
Professor Hu said that the research results were mainly completed by Ming-Yeh Yang who graduated from the doctoral class of the Institute of Medical Sciences Tzu Chi University in this year. We also relied on the support of the University, the Tzu Chi Medical Center and the off-campus Ministry of Science and Technology. Professor Hu Anren’s laboratory website: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anren_Hu