It is disclosed an improved transdermal sunscreen composition including porphyrin, porphyrin analogues and/or porphyrin precursors (particularly 5-aminolevulinic acid, ALA) in a sub-therapeutic dose in combination with vitamin D3 or its analogues/derivatives in a transdermal carrier or carrier system to generate biomedical effects on reducing photodamaged skin conditions, inducing skin rejuvenation and compensating vitamin D3 for sunscreen-mediated vitamin D3 reduction/deficiency while simultaneously blocking harmful UV radiation from reaching and harming DNA in the cells of the skin.

The invention is directed to a method for determining condition parameters for photodynamic therapy in which after administration of 5-aminolevulinic acids, protoporphyrin IX accumulated in cells is irradiated with light, the method including steps of: calculating, in an experimental phase, a regression curve representing a correlation among three condition parameters: cell viability (Y), intracellular protoporphyrin IX accumulation (X), and light irradiation energy density (P); and selecting in advance, prior to initiation of therapy, two condition parameters from the cell viability (Y), the intracellular protoporphyrin IX accumulation (X), and the light irradiation energy density (P), and then determining the remaining condition parameter using the regression curve. Thus, the photodynamic therapy can be optimized.

Methods of treating tumors by administering compounds to a patient are provided. Compounds such as pro drugs, e.g., 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), may be administered to the patient orally, by injection, intravenously, or topically, which then accumulate preferentially as compounds such as protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in tumor cells. After such accumulation, compounds such as PpIX are then activated in various aspects to treat tumors cells, thereby treating cancer. Cancers such as glioblastoma may be treated.

A method of performing photodynamic therapy is provided. The method includes applying, to the skin of a patient, a topical composition. The topical composition includes 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) hydrochloride, and a vehicle comprising at least one chelating agent to enhance accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in the skin. The method further includes incubating the topical composition, and following incubation, applying, to the skin, heat from a heat source for at least a first time period.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a photosensitizer use in prevention or treatment of dermatological disease in a patient, wherein the composition is used in the following order of steps: (a) topical application or subcutaneous injection of said composition to an area of the skin of said patient, (b) exposure of at least said area of the skin to light with a wavelength spectrum similar or identical to sun light for a duration of 30 min to 5 hours, and (c) exposure of at least said area of the skin to light of a wavelength spectrum comprising only one maximum in the absorbance spectrum of said photosensitizer
as well as to methods of treating dermatological disease using the outlined steps and kits of parts comprising such compositions and light sources suitable to apply the respectively indicated light.

A photodynamic therapy (PDT) apparatus and method are disclosed. The PDT apparatus can include a flexible optical applicator that includes a plurality of light emitting devices for producing an irradiance pattern of therapy light to a target area of a patient. The PDT system includes an optical light controller that includes a computer processor. The method disclosed includes determining a treatment plan based on a plurality of therapy light parameters, photosensitizing drug selection, patient specific parameters, optimized light interval and other relevant parameters. The method further includes monitoring the application of the therapy light against the treatment plan and determining an updated treat plan in the event of a deviation from an initial treatment plan.

A method of enhancing penetration of a topical composition of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) into tissue for photodynamic therapy includes topically applying ALA to a treatment area to be treated with photodynamic therapy. The method further includes, after the ALA is applied to the treatment area, covering the treatment area with a low density polyethylene barrier. The treatment area is covered with the low density polyethylene barrier prior to light treatment to minimize transepidermal water loss from the treatment area.

Disclosed are methods of obtaining zero vergence ultrasound waves for providing sonodynamic therapy with ultrasound waves that do not converge and do not diverge. The method includes coupling a sonodynamic therapy device with an array of flat piezoelectric transducers to a skin surface. A controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal at a frequency, modulate the drive signal, and drive the transducer with the modulated drive signal at the frequency to produce a zero vergence ultrasound wave to produce an average acoustic intensity sufficient to activate a sonosensitizer in a treatment region without damaging healthy cells in the treatment region.

The present invention relates to a composition for improving or promoting hair growth, which contains, as an active ingredient, a photosensitizer-peptide conjugate, and to a method for screening for the hair growth promoter using the active ingredients. ALA, which is the photosensitizer of the present invention, is preferably activated by LED radiation, and more preferably activated by radiation having a long wavelength of 650 to 675 nm. The peptide of the present invention is a peptide in which 3 to 7 amino acid residues are incorporated (most preferably, glycine-histidine-lysine), and may cooperate with the photosensitizer to enable very superior hair growth improving or promoting effects using light radiation. Further, the composition of the present invention may exhibit further superior effects when natural extracts (for example, Cimicifuga heracleifolia extracts, Scutellaria baicalensis extracts or Codonopsis lanceolata extracts) are added. Thus, the composition of the present invention can be significantly advantageously applied to drugs, quasi-drugs, and cosmetics.

This invention relates to a method of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for bladder cancer and its use as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy in the treatment of bladder cancer. The invention provides a composition comprising hexyl 5-ALA ester (HAL) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for use in a method of photodynamic therapy for bladder cancer, wherein said composition is instilled into the bladder of a patient in need of such treatment and the inside of said bladder is exposed to blue light having a fluence rate of 1.5 to 12.5 mW/cm2.