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Updated: Aug 24, 2025
Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy for Mouse Models of Pleural Dissemination
Published on: February 9, 2021
Rationally designed near-infrared AIEgens photosensitizer for cell membrane-targeted photo-driven theranostics
Yanpeng Dai1, Ke Xue2, Xinxin Zhao2
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan 453007, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211189, PR China.
Abstract:
The complex environment of solid tumors and the migration of cancer cells are important obstacles to the cure of tumors through conventional therapy. Developing secure and efficient photosensitizers (PSs) is the crux to the application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the noninvasive clinical treatment of tumors. Herein, a series of PSs (DCTPys) with the same skeleton structure was designed and prepared. The unique molecular structure of DCTPys endows them with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property and efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation ability. Interestingly, due to their hydrophilic and lipophilic nature, DCTPys have fine staining and visual identification performance for the plasma membrane. In addition (e.g., MeDCTPy-OH), ROS is produced by MeDCTPy-OH under white light irradiation, which could destroy the completeness of cell membranes and cause cell necrosis. Importantly, morphology imaging of the cell membrane using MeDCTPy-OH enables real-time tracking of cancer cell ablation. This allowed cell necrosis and PDT effects to be observed under mild conditions. We conclude that DCTPys are potential cell membrane-selective PSs for PDT, and it is worth systematically exploring the phototherapeutic effect of these PSs on tumors in vivo.
Insights
New photosensitizers (PSs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties offer targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) by selectively damaging cancer cell membranes. This approach enables real-time tracking of tumor ablation under mild conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Solid tumor complexity and cancer cell migration hinder conventional cancer therapies.
- Developing safe and effective photosensitizers (PSs) is crucial for advancing noninvasive photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize novel PSs (DCTPys) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties for enhanced PDT.
- To evaluate the cell membrane-staining and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capabilities of DCTPys.
- To demonstrate the potential of MeDCTPy-OH for real-time tracking of cancer cell ablation via PDT.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a series of DCTPys with a common skeleton structure.
- Characterization of DCTPys for AIE properties and ROS generation.
- Assessment of DCTPys' plasma membrane staining and visual identification performance.
- Evaluation of MeDCTPy-OH-induced cell necrosis and PDT effects under white light irradiation.
Main Results:
- DCTPys exhibit AIE properties and efficient ROS generation.
- DCTPys demonstrate effective plasma membrane staining and visual identification due to their amphiphilic nature.
- MeDCTPy-OH generates ROS under white light, leading to cell membrane damage, necrosis, and enabling real-time imaging of cancer cell ablation.
Conclusions:
- DCTPys are promising cell membrane-selective PSs for PDT.
- The ability to visualize cancer cell membrane ablation in real-time offers a new strategy for monitoring PDT efficacy.
- Further in vivo studies are warranted to explore the phototherapeutic potential of DCTPys against tumors.
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