Near‐Infrared‐Activated Organic Photosensitizers: Design and Photodynamic Efficacy Against Bacterial Infections

The misuse and abuse of antibiotics results in drug‐resistant bacteria, which pose a fatal threat to human beings. In recent years, the development of organic photosensitizers and biology has provided many innovative ideas for the treatment of bacterial infections. Compared with ultraviolet or visible light, near‐infrared (NIR) light is conducive to the construction of a photodynamic antibacterial platform for deep‐tissue treatment. With the continuous exploration of the design and application of aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) and classical small organic molecules, organic photosensitizers have shown great application potential in antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT). In this paper, the research progress of AIEgens and classical organic small molecules with NIR light absorption and emission in the treatment of bacterial infections through photodynamic therapy is reviewed. Moreover, the insights in the design, synthesis, and features of organic photosensitizers are emphasized. Finally, the main problems existing in organic photosensitizers with different structures, as well as the current challenges and prospects in aPDT are discussed.