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Modulating cellular cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of fluorescent organic salts through counterion pairing
Deanna Broadwater1, Matthew Bates2, Mayank Jayaram1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Abstract:
Light-activated theranostics offer promising opportunities for disease diagnosis, image-guided surgery, and site-specific personalized therapy. However, current fluorescent dyes are limited by low brightness, high cytotoxicity, poor tissue penetration, and unwanted side effects. To overcome these limitations, we demonstrate a platform for optoelectronic tuning, which allows independent control of the optical properties from the electronic properties of fluorescent organic salts. This is achieved through cation-anion pairing of organic salts that can modulate the frontier molecular orbital without impacting the bandgap. Optoelectronic tuning enables decoupled control over the cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of fluorescent organic salts by selective generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species that control cell viability. We show that through counterion pairing, organic salt nanoparticles can be tuned to be either nontoxic for enhanced imaging, or phototoxic for improved photodynamic therapy.
Insights
Researchers developed tunable fluorescent organic salts for advanced theranostics. This optoelectronic tuning platform allows independent control over imaging and therapy applications by adjusting cytotoxicity and phototoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Current fluorescent dyes for theranostics suffer from low brightness, high cytotoxicity, and poor tissue penetration.
- Limitations hinder effective disease diagnosis, image-guided surgery, and targeted therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel platform for optoelectronic tuning of fluorescent organic salts.
- To achieve independent control over optical and electronic properties for enhanced theranostic applications.
Main Methods:
- Developed a cation-anion pairing strategy for organic salts.
- Modulated frontier molecular orbitals without altering the bandgap.
- Achieved decoupled control over cytotoxicity and phototoxicity via selective reactive oxygen species generation.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated independent control of optical properties and electronic properties in fluorescent organic salts.
- Tuned organic salt nanoparticles for non-toxicity in imaging and phototoxicity in therapy.
- Successfully generated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species to control cell viability.
Conclusions:
- Optoelectronic tuning offers a versatile platform for advanced light-activated theranostics.
- This approach overcomes limitations of current fluorescent dyes, enabling personalized medicine.
- Tunable organic salts show potential for improved diagnostic imaging and photodynamic therapy.
