International Journal for Innovation Education and Research ISSN 2411-2933 01-06-2022 International Educative Research Foundation and Publisher © 2022 pg. 84 Protoporphyrin IX Associated with Visible Light for the Treatment of Trichophyton rubrum Causing Onychomycosis - An Updated Review Matheus Alexandre da Silva Taliari 1 , Andressa Costa Fontes 1 , Fellipe Genasculi Araujo 2 , Luis Lênin Vicente Pereira 1,3 , Luciana Estevam Simonato 1,4 , José Martins Pinto Neto 1,4 , André Wilian Lozano 1,4 , Nilton Cesar Pezati Boer 1 , Wagner Rafael da Silva 1 , Rafael Guerra de Aquino 1,2 , Farid Jamil Silva de Arruda 2 , Fábio Zanusso Prates 5 , Noedi Leoni de Freitas 1,6 , Jean Donizete Silveira Taliari 1,2,4 , Rogério Rodrigo Ramos 1,2* 1 Universidade Brasil (UB), Fernandópolis, Brazil 2 Centro Universitário de Santa Fé do Sul (UNIFUNEC), Santa Fé do Sul, Brazil 3 Centro Universitário de Jales (UNIJALES), Jales, Brazil 4 Fundação Educacional de Fernandópolis (FEF), Fernandópolis, Brazil 5 Santa Casa de Votuporanga, Votuporanga, Brazil 6 União das Faculdades dos Grandes Lagos (UNILAGO), São José do Rio Preto, Brazil Corresponding author: Rogério Rodrigo Ramos, Projected Road F1 s/n, Santa Rita Farm, Medical School, Universidade Brasil, Box: 15613-899, Fernandópolis, Brazil. E-mail: rogerio.enfer@gmail.com Abstract Systemic medications used during the treatment of onychomycosis caused by Trichophyton rubrum may have relapse, making them costly and insignificant for the patient. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an advantageous therapeutic option for disease control, mainly due to the absence of risk of microbial resistance. The action of PDT is combined by three elements: photosensitizer (PS), visible light (VL) and molecular oxygen, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or singlet oxygen formation ( 1 O 2 ), both ROS (type I mechanism) as 1 O 2 (type II mechanism) induce damage and death to microbial cells. This research was proposed as a study through a non-systematic review, to investigate the action of PS "Protoporphyrin IX" (Pp IX) associated with visible light on T. rubrum, contemplating clinical and relevant data regarding the treatment of onychomycosis by PDT. PubMed survey was conducted from June 2021 to April 2022. The research strategy included clinical trials, randomized trials, systematic reviews, meta- analyses and reviews in English. Pp IX has affinity for T. rubrum, which is justified by the incorporation of Pp IX into the cell membrane, which led to inhibition by LV irradiation. Thus, the photodynamic process of Pp IX may lead to cell death by type I and II mechanisms. The data found are promising, however, new studies in vitro and in vivo are suggested, since few studies have been found related to the theme.