What are the applications of singlet oxygen?

The main applications of singlet oxygen include: photodynamic cancer therapy (PDT), pathogen inactivation, and organic synthesis. Singlet oxygen's strong oxidizing properties make it effective in killing pathogens. When exposed to singlet oxygen, microorganisms like bacteria and viruses undergo oxidative damage to their cellular components, leading to their inactivation. This property allows singlet oxygen to be used for sterilization of medical equipment and water treatment. Singlet oxygen's electrophilic nature also makes it useful in organic synthesis. It can react with various organic compounds to form new chemical bonds or modify existing functional groups. Singlet oxygen-mediated reactions are often used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. In PDT, a photosensitizer is administered to a patient and selectively accumulates in cancerous cells. When activated by light, the photosensitizer produces singlet oxygen, which induces oxidative stress and ultimately kills the cancer cells. PDT is used as a minimally invasive treatment for various types of cancer.