Metal-based photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy: the future of multimodal oncology?

Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2020 Jun:56:23-27. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.10.004. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an approved medical technique to treat certain forms of cancer. It has been used to complement traditional anticancer modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and in certain cases, to replace these treatments. One critical parameter of PDT is the photosensitizer (PS); historically, a purely organic macrocyclic tetrapyrrole-based structure. This short review surveys two recent clinical examples of metal complexes, namely TOOKAD®-Soluble and TLD-1433, which have ideal photophysical properties to act as PDT PSs. We highlight the important role played by the metal ions in the PS for PDT activity.

Keywords: Bioinorganic chemistry; Medicinal inorganic chemistry; Metals in medicine; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteriochlorophylls / chemistry
  • Bacteriochlorophylls / pharmacology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Solubility
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Bacteriochlorophylls
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • palladium-bacteriopheophorbide