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Updated: Aug 24, 2025
Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers
Published on: October 28, 2015
Recent molecular design strategies for efficient photodynamic therapy and its synergistic therapy based on AIE
Jinxi Liu1, Wenting Chen1, Caiyun Zheng1
1Key Laboratory of Space Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710072, China.
Abstract:
Cancer seriously endangers human life and health. Recently, the development of AIEgens with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect as a new generation of photosensitizers (PSs) to circumvent aggregation-induced fluorescence quenching and reduction of ROS generation has received extensive attention in photodynamic therapy (PDT), a non-invasive anticancer therapy. Rational molecular design can enhance the photosensitization of AIE PSs to achieve effective PDT and can realize the construction of functionalized AIE PSs and synergistic therapy based on AIE PSs. To improve the efficacy of AIE PSs for cancer treatment, many groups have conducted molecular design studies and produced exciting results. This review summarizes the molecular design strategies of three types of AIE PSs for effective photodynamic therapy, focusing on the design strategies of pure organic small molecule type AIE PSs, and reviews the existing design strategies of metal complexes and conjugated polymers. Subsequently, the design strategy to achieve synergistic treatment of AIE PSs from molecular modifications is summarized. The challenges and prospects of the AIE PSs research field are further discussed.
Insights
This review explores advanced molecular design strategies for aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials used as photosensitizers (PSs) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer treatment. It highlights methods to enhance AIE PS efficacy and enable synergistic therapies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Oncology
Background:
- Cancer poses a significant threat to human health.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising non-invasive cancer treatment.
- Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials offer advantages over traditional photosensitizers by overcoming aggregation-caused quenching.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review molecular design strategies for AIE-based photosensitizers (AIE PSs) in photodynamic therapy.
- To focus on pure organic small molecule AIE PSs while also covering metal complexes and conjugated polymers.
- To summarize design strategies for synergistic cancer therapy using AIE PSs.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on molecular design strategies for AIE PSs.
- Analysis of design approaches for pure organic small molecules, metal complexes, and conjugated polymers.
- Examination of molecular modifications for synergistic treatment applications.
Main Results:
- Identified key molecular design strategies to enhance the photosensitization and efficacy of AIE PSs.
- Detailed design principles for pure organic small molecule AIE PSs.
- Summarized design approaches for metal complex and conjugated polymer AIE PSs.
- Outlined strategies for developing functionalized AIE PSs for synergistic therapy.
Conclusions:
- Rational molecular design is crucial for optimizing AIE PSs for effective cancer PDT.
- Diverse design strategies exist for different types of AIE PSs, including small molecules, metal complexes, and polymers.
- Further research into molecular modifications can unlock synergistic therapeutic approaches and address current challenges in AIE PS development.
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