Multi-photon photosensitizers (PSs) could significantly improve the efficacy of photodynamic therapy due to the long-wavelength favorability for deeper tissue penetration and lower biological damage. However, most studies are limited to single-photon or two-photon PSs at a relatively short-wave excitation window. To overcome this barrier, we rationally design a series of rigid plane compounds with efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in vitro under laser irradiation. Furthermore, the studies show that one of the compounds (U-TsO) could induce rapid multi-types of cell death under three-photon exposure, suggesting a promising clinical outcome in ex vivo 3D multicellular tumor spheroid. This work offers a novel strategy to construct functional materials with competitive multi-photon photodynamic therapy (PDT) outcome.
Keywords: photodynamic therapy; reactive oxygen species; rigid planar photosensitizers; three-photon absorption.
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