Promotion of innovative treatment therapies

Scientist Dr. Schastak developed photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the infrared photosensitizer THPTS. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modern, minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that uses light and a special dye. The dye selectively accumulates in diseased tissue and is activated by light of a specific wavelength. This produces highly reactive singlet oxygen, which specifically destroys diseased cells without severely damaging surrounding tissue.

Thanks to the financial support of the TAO Foundation, important treatment steps using THPTS ​​photodynamic therapy were implemented. This not only enabled initial treatment attempts in dental practice, but also experimental studies on combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria at a renowned university hospital. The TAO Foundation’s funding thus makes a significant contribution to the further development of this innovative form of therapy and simultaneously supports research toward new, gentler treatment methods.