Photosensitizers with multiple degradation modes for efficient and postoperatively safe photodynamic therapy

Yonggang Li; Peng Zhang; Yujun Xie; Jiapei Yang; Yuqi Yang; Leilei Shi; Wenbo Wu; Zhen Li

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122182

Photosensitizers with multiple degradation modes for efficient and postoperatively safe photodynamic therapy

Biomaterials. 2023 Aug:299:122182. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122182. Epub 2023 May 31.

Authors

Yonggang Li¹, Peng Zhang², Yujun Xie¹, Jiapei Yang³, Yuqi Yang¹, Leilei Shi⁴, Wenbo Wu⁵, Zhen Li⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Aggregation Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, PR China.
² Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital (The Affiliated Luohu Hospital) of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518001, PR China.
³ Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Universities for Nutritional Metabolism and Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases 3025 Shennan Middle Road, Shenzhen, 518001, PR China.
⁴ Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Universities for Nutritional Metabolism and Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases 3025 Shennan Middle Road, Shenzhen, 518001, PR China. Electronic address: shillei@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Aggregation Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, PR China. Electronic address: wuwb@tju.edu.cn.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Aggregation Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, PR China; Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China; Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou, 350207, PR China. Electronic address: lizhentju@tju.edu.cn.

PMID: 37276795
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122182

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is emerging as a powerful tool for cancer treatment due to its unique advantages in terms of noninvasive and spatiotemporal selectivity. However, the residue of photosensitizers (PSs), which usually lead to thorny post-treatment side effects after photodynamic therapy (PDT), is one of bottlenecks for clinical translation. Herein, PSs with multiple degradation modes are developed to solve this issue. Upon 660 nm laser excitation, PSs can produce different types of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in which ¹O₂ and O₂^·- could kill the cancer cells, while ·OH could oxide the PSs themselves for photodegradation. After PDT, the residual few number of PSs could be further oxidized by endogenous ROS for biodegradation, and the degradation products could be further excreted by urine. This process therefore solves the slow-metabolism issue of traditional PSs. Among them, SQSe demonstrates the highest killing efficiency with best degradation ability, as confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo results. The postoperative safety of SQSe is further verified by assessment on in vivo artificially induced post-operative side effects.

Keywords: Metabolizable; Multiple degradation modes; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizers; Postoperative side effects.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Oxides / therapeutic use
Photochemotherapy* / methods
Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

Photosensitizing Agents
Reactive Oxygen Species
Oxides