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Thymoquinone as an electron transfer mediator to convert Type II photosensitizers to Type I photosensitizers

Author

Listed:
  • Jiahao Zhuang

    (International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
    National University of Singapore)

  • Guobin Qi

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Yecheng Feng

    (Sun Yat-Sen University)

  • Min Wu

    (International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City)

  • Hang Zhang

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Dandan Wang

    (International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
    National University of Singapore)

  • Xianhe Zhang

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Kok Chan Chong

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Bowen Li

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Shitai Liu

    (International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
    National University of Singapore)

  • Jianwu Tian

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Yi Shan

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Duo Mao

    (Sun Yat-Sen University)

  • Bin Liu

    (International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
    National University of Singapore)

Abstract

The development of Type I photosensitizers (PSs) is of great importance due to the inherent hypoxic intolerance of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the hypoxic microenvironment. Compared to Type II PSs, Type I PSs are less reported due to the absence of a general molecular design strategy. Herein, we report that the combination of typical Type II PS and natural substrate carvacrol (CA) can significantly facilitate the Type I pathway to efficiently generate superoxide radical (O2–•). Detailed mechanism study suggests that CA is activated into thymoquinone (TQ) by local singlet oxygen generated from the PS upon light irradiation. With TQ as an efficient electron transfer mediator, it promotes the conversion of O2 to O2–• by PS via electron transfer-based Type I pathway. Notably, three classical Type II PSs are employed to demonstrate the universality of the proposed approach. The Type I PDT against S. aureus has been demonstrated under hypoxic conditions in vitro. Furthermore, this coupled photodynamic agent exhibits significant bactericidal activity with an antibacterial rate of 99.6% for the bacterial-infection female mice in the in vivo experiments. Here, we show a simple, effective, and universal method to endow traditional Type II PSs with hypoxic tolerance.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiahao Zhuang & Guobin Qi & Yecheng Feng & Min Wu & Hang Zhang & Dandan Wang & Xianhe Zhang & Kok Chan Chong & Bowen Li & Shitai Liu & Jianwu Tian & Yi Shan & Duo Mao & Bin Liu, 2024. "Thymoquinone as an electron transfer mediator to convert Type II photosensitizers to Type I photosensitizers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-49311-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49311-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juan-Juan Li & Yuqing Hu & Bing Hu & Wenbo Wang & Haiqi Xu & Xin-Yue Hu & Fei Ding & Hua-Bin Li & Ke-Rang Wang & Xinge Zhang & Dong-Sheng Guo, 2022. "Lactose azocalixarene drug delivery system for the treatment of multidrug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa infected diabetic ulcer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
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    4. Kun-Xu Teng & Li-Ya Niu & Nan Xie & Qing-Zheng Yang, 2022. "Supramolecular photodynamic agents for simultaneous oxidation of NADH and generation of superoxide radical," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
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