Question: can you fight pathogens with photo chemistry?

Jonathan Hunter answered on 22 Jun 2016:

Yes, but it’s much harder inside the body than outside.
You can sterilize equipment (needles, surgery equipment etc) with UV light. This kills the bacteria by damaging their genetic material and killing them. It’s much harder to fight pathogens inside the body using light because human cells can be damaged by it as well!
Photochemistry can be used in the treatment of cancer as well (Photodynamic therapy). In this treatment chemicals are put into the body which accumulate inside cancer cells. A light is the shined on the cells. The chemical then becomes active and kills the cancer cells but leaves the healthy tissue alone!
Potentially, this method could be used to target bacteria but I’ve never heard of it being used! Maybe that could be a new research area!