Activatable supramolecular photosensitizers: advanced design strategies

Abstract

Activatable photosensitizers (aPSs) are a new, switchable smart photosensitizer (PS) that can enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) specificity and efficiency. aPSs are inert in healthy tissues, but can be switched on by neoplastic-associated endogenous stimuli such as pH, enzymes, and glutathione (GSH) and reduce damage to normal cells. This review summarizes aPS-based design strategies based on energy or electron transfer and self-quenching. We supplement the advanced design strategies with newly-developed molecular aPSs and focus on introducing nano-engineering supramolecular aPS construction.