Abstract

Knowledge on the absorption spectrum of photosensitizing drugs used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) is of great importance to optimise this tumour treatment modality. Many photosensitizers have an absorption maximum used for PDT in the red wavelength region. The spectral width of this peak is usually rather narrow, and the maximum often changes due to the chemical environment. For optimal treatment with a narrow-band light source such as a laser, it is thus important to gain information on the exact wavelength of the absorption peak inside the tissue.

© 1998 IEEE