RNA-Activatable Near-Infrared Photosensitizer for Cancer Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has recently come to the forefront as an exceptionally powerful and promising method for the treatment of cancer. Existing photosensitizers are predominantly engineered to target diverse biomolecules, including proteins, DNA, lipids, and carbohydrates, and have proven to greatly enhance the efficacy or specificity of PDT. However, it is noteworthy that there exists a conspicuous scarcity of photosensitizers specifically designed to target RNAs. Recognizing the crucial and multifaceted roles played by RNAs in various cellular processes and disease states, we have ventured into the development of a novel RNA-targeting photosensitizer, named Se-718, designed specifically for PDT-based cancer therapy. Se-718 has been engineered to exhibit a high molar absorption coefficient in the NIR region, which is crucial for effective PDT. More importantly, Se-718 has demonstrated a distinct RNA-targeting capability, as evidenced through rigorous testing in both circular dichroism and fluorescence experiments. Furthermore, Se-718 has been shown to display both type I and type II photodynamic properties. This unique characteristic enables the efficient killing of cancer cells under a wide range of oxygen conditions, both normoxic (21% O₂) and hypoxic (2% O₂). The IC₅₀ of Se-718 can be as low as 100 nM, and its light-to-dark toxicity ratio is an impressive 215 times higher, outperforming most photosensitizers currently available. Moreover, in vivo studies conducted with tumor-bearing mice have demonstrated the excellent antitumor effects and high safety profile of Se-718. Considering the outstanding PDT efficacy of Se-718, we are optimistic that the development of RNA-targeting photosensitizers may provide an innovative and highly effective option for cancer therapeutics in the near future.