Fotosenzibilizátory

Fotosenzibilizátory, also known as photosensitizers, are chemical compounds that absorb light energy and then transfer this energy to other molecules. This absorption of light typically occurs in a specific range of the electromagnetic spectrum, often in the visible or ultraviolet regions. When a photosensitizer absorbs a photon, it transitions from its ground electronic state to an excited state. This excited state is unstable, and the molecule can return to its ground state by various processes, including the emission of light (fluorescence or phosphorescence) or by transferring its energy to a nearby molecule.

The effect of photosensitizers is widely utilized in various scientific and medical applications. In photodynamic therapy (PDT), photosensitizers are administered to patients and then activated by specific wavelengths of light. This activation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as singlet oxygen, which are toxic to cells and can be used to destroy cancer cells or treat other diseases. Another application is in photopolymerization, where photosensitizers initiate polymerization reactions upon exposure to light, enabling processes like 3D printing and dental fillings. Photosensitizers also play a role in analytical chemistry for detecting certain substances and in environmental remediation for breaking down pollutants. The specific properties of a photosensitizer, such as its absorption spectrum and the type of reactive species it generates, determine its suitability for a particular application.