PPS Blog

Nils Ryberg Finsen (1860–1904) (Courtesy of the Clendening History of Medicine Library, University of Kansas Medical Center

“Real modern phototherapy began with Niels Ryberg Finsen, the father of ultraviolet therapy. In 1896, Finsen, aware of the bacteria-destroying effects of sunlight, developed a “chemical rays” lamp with which he treated a friend who had lupus vulgaris; within a few months the lesions were completely resolved”

This perspective by Herbert Hönigsmann from the Department of Dermatology from the Medical University of Vienna gives a history of phototherapy in dermatology, describing the key developments to date.  He covers the ancient history and describes how over many centuries, treatment with sunlight or “heliotherapy” was used in the treatment of skin diseases.  He then describes the developments made in the 19^th century when observations were made that sunlight may be beneficial for medical purposes. 

In 1974 the development of photochemotherapy marked the beginning of a huge upsurge in photodermatology and the subsequent development of high intensity UV sources with defined spectra facilitated a variety of new therapies. Photodynamic therapy, first conceived at the start of the 20^th century has developed in to a routine treatment for many diseases including cancer.

The parting words of this article come from a quote from Kendric C. Smith, one of the founding fathers of the American Society for Photobioloty: “Photodermatology – The future is Bright”.

Read the article in full, free to access until 10th August:

History of phototherapy in dermatology, Herbert Hönigsmann
Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2PP25120E

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Naphthalenic compunds have many applications in the fluorescent sensing/switching/logic systems.  In this paper from A. Prasanna de Silva and colleagues at Queen’s University in Belfast, the team examine a naphthalenic compund which is a fluorescent photoinduced electron transfer system of the ‘fluorophore-spacer-receptor’ format, whose fluorescence responds sharply to H⁺. Several structural variations of this compund are examined and it is deomonstrated that the naphthalenic derivatives display a range of H⁺-induced fluorescence switching actions.

For all the details read the article in full for free until 31^st July:

Structural effects on the pH-dependent fluorescence of naphthalenic derivatives and consequences for sensing/switching
Shuai Zheng, P. L. Mark Lynch, Terence E. Rice, Thomas S. Moody, H. Q. Nimal Gunaratne and A. Prasanna de Silva
Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2PP25069A

You can keep up to date with the latest developments from Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences by signing up for free table of contents alerts.