GSH and H2 O2 Co-Activatable Mitochondria-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy under Normoxia and Hypoxia

Abstract

Currently, photosensitizers (PSs) that are microenvironment responsive and hypoxia active are scarcely available and urgently desired for antitumor photodynamic therapy (PDT). Presented herein is the design of a redox stimuli activatable metal-free photosensitizer (aPS), also functioning as a pre-photosensitizer as it is converted to a PS by the mutual presence of glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) with high specificity on a basis of domino reactions on the benzothiadiazole ring. Superior to traditional PSs, the activated aPS contributed to efficient generation of reactive oxygen species including singlet oxygen and superoxide ion through both type 1 and type 2 pathways, alleviating the aerobic requirement for PDT. Equipped with a triphenylphosphine ligand for mitochondria targeting, ^mito aPS showed excellent phototoxicity to tumor cells with low light fluence under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, after activation by intracellular GSH and H₂ O₂ . The ^mito aPS was also compatible to near infrared PDT with two photon excitation (800 nm) for extensive bioapplications.

Keywords: activatable photosensitizer; hypoxia; photodynamic therapy; redox microenvironment; two photon excitation.