ReviewCurrent issues in molecular biology2025
The Role of MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry in Photodynamic Therapy: From Photosensitizer Design to Clinical Applications.
Review in Current issues in molecular biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Extraoral Detection of Biomarkers and Pathogens in Saliva: Comprehensive, Panoramic Review.Biosensors · 2026Review
- Advances in Near-Infrared BODIPY Photosensitizers: Design Strategies and Applications in Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has evolved considerably over the past decades, progressing from first-generation porphyrins to second- and third-generation photosensitizers, including nanocarrier-based systems with improved selectivity and bioavailability. In parallel, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has become a gold standard for the characterisation of complex biomolecules, enabling precise determination of molecular mass, purity and stability. This narrative review explores the intersection of these two fields, focusing on how MALDI-TOF MS supports the development, characterisation and clinical application of photosensitizers used in PDT. Literature searches were performed across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Base-search, followed by targeted retrieval of studies on MALDI and PDT applications. Findings indicate that MALDI-TOF MS plays a crucial role at multiple stages: confirming the synthesis and chemical integrity of novel photosensitizers, monitoring their metabolic stability in biological systems and characterising photodegradation products after PDT. Moreover, MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) enables spatial mapping of photosensitizer distribution in tissues, while rapid pathogen identification by MALDI-TOF supports antimicrobial PDT applications. Collectively, the evidence highlights that MALDI-MS is not only a tool for molecular characterisation but also a versatile analytical platform with a direct translational impact on PDT. Its integration with other omics and multimodal imaging approaches is expected to enhance the personalization and clinical effectiveness of photodynamic therapy.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.