How Do Photosensitizers Accumulate in Tumor Cells?
Photosensitizers accumulate in tumor cells through several mechanisms, primarily due to the unique characteristics of tumor microenvironments. Factors include: - Enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect: Tumor blood vessels are often leaky, allowing larger molecules like photosensitizers to penetrate more easily. - Active targeting: Some photosensitizers are conjugated with molecules that specifically bind to cancer cell markers. - Passive diffusion: Non-targeted photosensitizers may also accumulate in tumor cells due to differences in the cellular uptake and retention between cancerous and normal tissues.
