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. 2023 Aug 3;15(8):2075. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082075

Table 2.

The benefits and drawbacks of utilizing coherent light sources (such as lasers) versus non-coherent sources (like LED and lamps) for superficial PDT [78].

Light Source Advantages Disadvantages
Laser
(coherent)

  • <0.1 nm spectral bandwidth

  • High power

  • Efficient coupling to optical fibres

  • Uniform irradiance can be easily achieved

  • Adaptive emission (VCSEL, Edge-emitting laser)

  • Faster modulation than LEDs

  • Only for small areas
LED
(non-coherent)

  • Low cost

  • Small

  • Adaptive emission (SLED, ELED)

  • Used for whole-body or point treatment

  • LEDs can fit down biopsy channels, permitting deep-seated PDT

  • 5–10 nm spectral bandwidth

  • Large beam divergence
Lamp
(non-coherent)

  • Low cost

  • Simple design

  • Wide illumination field

  • Multi-photon irradiance

  • UV and NIR radiation (optical filtering is needed)

  • Large beam divergence

  • High coupling losses with light guides