Covalently Assembled Dipeptide Nanospheres as Intrinsic Photosensitizers for Efficient Photodynamic Therapy in Vitro

Monodispersed diphenylalanine-based nanospheres with excellent biocompatibility are fabricated through a facile covalent reaction-induced assembly. Interestingly, the nanospheres exhibit red autofluorescence. Most importantly, such assembled dipeptide nanospheres can serve as intrinsic photosensitizer to convert O2 to singlet oxygen ((1) O2 ). Thus, photodynamic therapy in vitro can be achieved effectively. The versatile strategy could be extended to other biomolecules containing a primary amine group for the fabrication of potential intrinsic photosensitizers.