Molecular acceptor engineering to precisely design a NIR type I photosensitizer for efficient PDT-based synergistic therapy

Abstract

Molecular design plays a crucial role in regulating the photophysical properties and photodynamic therapy (PDT) performance of photosensitizers (PSs); however, realizing PDT-based synergistic therapy based on sole PSs is still rarely reported. Herein, three near-infrared red type I PSs (named TP1, TP2, and TP3) were synthesized by adjusting their electron acceptors. The results demonstrated that these PSs exhibited aggregation-enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation efficiency and cyano groups on PSs can reduce ROS generation in solution while achieving efficient PDT-based synergistic therapy in cells via glutathione depletion.