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Oxygen-independent organic photosensitizer with ultralow-power NIR photoexcitation for tumor-specific photodynamic therapy

Author

Listed:
  • Yufu Tang

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Yuanyuan Li

    (Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

  • Bowen Li

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Wentao Song

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Guobin Qi

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Jianwu Tian

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Wei Huang

    (Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

  • Quli Fan

    (Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications)

  • Bin Liu

    (National University of Singapore)

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment but has limitations due to its dependence on oxygen and high-power-density photoexcitation. Here, we report polymer-based organic photosensitizers (PSs) through rational PS skeleton design and precise side-chain engineering to generate •O2− and •OH under oxygen-free conditions using ultralow-power 808 nm photoexcitation for tumor-specific photodynamic ablation. The designed organic PS skeletons can generate electron-hole pairs to sensitize H2O into •O2− and •OH under oxygen-free conditions with 808 nm photoexcitation, achieving NIR-photoexcited and oxygen-independent •O2− and •OH production. Further, compared with commonly used alkyl side chains, glycol oligomer as the PS side chain mitigates electron-hole recombination and offers more H2O molecules around the electron-hole pairs generated from the hydrophobic PS skeletons, which can yield 4-fold stronger •O2− and •OH production, thus allowing an ultralow-power photoexcitation to yield high PDT effect. Finally, the feasibility of developing activatable PSs for tumor-specific photodynamic therapy in female mice is further demonstrated under 808 nm irradiation with an ultralow-power of 15 mW cm−2. The study not only provides further insights into the PDT mechanism but also offers a general design guideline to develop an oxygen-independent organic PS using ultralow-power NIR photoexcitation for tumor-specific PDT.

Suggested Citation

  • Yufu Tang & Yuanyuan Li & Bowen Li & Wentao Song & Guobin Qi & Jianwu Tian & Wei Huang & Quli Fan & Bin Liu, 2024. "Oxygen-independent organic photosensitizer with ultralow-power NIR photoexcitation for tumor-specific photodynamic therapy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46768-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46768-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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