Photodynamic therapy (Pdt): An alternative approach for combating covid-19

The COVID-19 disease initially originated in Wuhan (China) and then spread worldwide has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) Many attempts are ongoing to find an effective therapeutic treatment and vaccine to cure or prevent the disease, but the success is very little Even some of the approved vaccines are also disputed for safety issues This is the time where we should think of alternative treatments to control the disease effectively Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a technique that is widely used in cancer treatment and against various microbes In this technique, a light-induced photosensitizer generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately killing the target cells Considering these facts, an attempt has been made to review the current literature on viral inactivation using PDT approach Accordingly, the mechanism of PDT action has been discussed, along with an update on the use of various photosensitizers (PSs) and nanoparticles The capsid proteins and nucleic acid (RNA) of SARS-CoV-2 can be a possible target for PDT To understand this interaction further, computational modeling studies have been discussed to help design effective PSs Overall, the PDT technique has therapeutic potential and should be tested as a complementary or alternative treatment for control of COVID-19 using the PSs like curcumin, psoralen derivatives, riboflavin, etc This review discusses COVID-19, its outbreak, diagnosis, the existing treatment modalities, and how PDT can be an effective alternative treatment for controlling the disease © 2021 by the authors