Application of time-resolved fluorescence microscopy to assess the metabolic state of tissue macrophages in photodynamic therapy

In order to optimize the current clinical evaluation of photodynamic therapy and improve existing protocols, it is necessary to study the dynamic interactions between the photosensitizer, light and oxygen to further understand the dosimetry at microscopic and macroscopic scales. In this work, new approaches based on the use of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy to assess the state of the tumor cells microenvironment allowing to quantify the parameters determining the mechanisms of the PS, light and oxygen effect on a malignant tumor are explored.