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Sulfonated Ionic Covalent Organic Frameworks With Dual-State Activation for Synergistic Photodynamic-Ferroptosis
Jiarong Liang1, Xiangkun Li1, Si Wang1
1Spin-X Institute, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|June 8, 2026
Summary
Ionic engineering of sulfonated covalent organic frameworks (BD-SO3-COF) enhances cancer theranostics by simultaneously generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) through dual-state activation, leading to potent tumor regression via photodynamic therapy and ferroptosis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional photocatalysis is limited by single excitonic channel utilization, hindering reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation for cancer theranostics.
- Simultaneously harvesting both singlet and triplet excitons for enhanced ROS production remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome the excitonic bottleneck in photocatalysis for improved cancer theranostics.
- To develop an ionic engineering strategy for covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to enable dual-state exciton utilization.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized sulfonated covalent organic frameworks (BD-SO3-COF) using backbone quaternization for ionic modulation.
- Investigated excited-state dynamics and mechanisms of ROS generation (superoxide anion and singlet oxygen).
- Evaluated the efficacy of the engineered COF in triggering photodynamic therapy (PDT) and ferroptosis in cancer cells, including in vivo assessments.
Main Results:
- Ionic modulation via sulfonate moieties reshaped excited-state dynamics, suppressing radiative recombination and boosting superoxide anion generation.
- Simultaneously populated long-lived triplet excitons activated molecular oxygen to produce singlet oxygen via Dexter energy transfer.
- The engineered COF effectively induced cancer cell death through synergistic PDT and ferroptosis, demonstrating potent tumor regression with minimal toxicity in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Specific active-site engineering in ionic COFs is crucial for controlling excited-state dynamics and enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
- The developed ionic COF provides a paradigm for designing molecular photosensitizers for multi-modal cancer therapy, combining PDT and ferroptosis.
