photosensitizer
|pho-to-sen-si-ti-zer|
🇺🇸
/ˌfoʊtoʊˈsɛnsɪtaɪzər/
🇬🇧
/ˌfəʊtəʊˈsɛnsɪtaɪzə/
light sensitivity enhancer
Etymology
'photosensitizer' originates from the combination of 'photo-' from Greek 'phōs' meaning 'light' and 'sensitizer' from Latin 'sensibilis' meaning 'sensitive'.
'photosensitizer' was formed by combining the Greek and Latin roots to describe substances that increase sensitivity to light.
Initially, it referred to any substance that increased light sensitivity, but now it is primarily used in medical contexts, especially in photodynamic therapy.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a substance that increases the sensitivity of an organism, cell, or tissue to light, often used in photodynamic therapy.
The photosensitizer was used in the treatment to target cancer cells.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/06 15:22