A targeting strategy based on the selective enzyme-mediated activation of polymeric photosensitizer prodrugs (PPP) within pathological tissue has led to the development of agents with the dual ability to detect and treat cancer. Herein, a detailed study of a simple model system for these prodrugs is described. We prepared "first-generation" PPP by directly tethering the photosensitizer (PS) phe...

BACKGROUND Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves killing of diseased cells by excitation of photosensitizer chemicals with high-energy light to produce cytotoxic oxygen species from surrounding dissolved oxygen. However, poor tissue penetration of high-energy light and hydrophobic photosensitizers limits the effectiveness to superficial pathologies. Upconversion phosphor nanoparticles convert low...

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective anticancer procedure that relies on tumor localization of a photosensitizer followed by light activation to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (e.g., (1)O2). Here we report the rational design of a Hf-porphyrin nanoscale metal-organic framework, DBP-UiO, as an exceptionally effective photosensitizer for PDT of resistant head and neck cancer. DB...

Photodynamic therapy for deep-lying lesions needs an appropriate imaging modality, precise evaluation of tissue oxygen and an effective photosensitizer. Gadolinium based metalloporphyrins Gd(III)-HMME is proposed in this study as a potential multifunctional theranostic agent, as photosensitizer, ratiometric oxygen sensor and MRI contrast agent. The time resolved spectroscopy revealed the lumine...

TiO₂ nanoparticles modified with phthalocyanines (Pc) have been proven to be a potential photosensitizer in the application of photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by TiO₂ nanoparticles modified with Pc has not been demonstrated clearly. In this study, nitrogen-doped TiO₂ conjugated with Pc (N-TiO₂-Pc) were studied by means of monitoring the gener...

Photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy allow for the transfer and translation of light energy into a type II chemical reaction. In clinical practice, photosensitizers arise from three families-porphyrins, chlorophylls, and dyes. All clinically successful photosensitizers have the ability to a greater or lesser degree, to target specific tissues or their vasculature to achieve ablation. Each p...

Near infrared (NIR) imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) is remarkable for its high-efficiency in "see and treat" field. However, hypoxia of cancer cell limits PDT dues to the low singlet oxygen yield. Here MnO2 conjugated multifunctional polypeptide nanoparticles encapsulating photosensitizer BODIPY has been prepared via a one-step reaction, which can generate oxygen in cancer cytoplasm w...

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using photosensitizer can induce diverse cellular responses, including apoptosis. Recently, it has been reported that PDT using methylaminolaevulinate may be effective in basal cell carcinoma. However, it is largely unknown whether PDT using a natural product such as curcumin can induce apoptosis in skin cancer. In this study, to confirm the photodynamic effect of cur...

Graphene and its derivatives such as graphene oxide (GO) have been widely explored as promising drug delivery vehicles for improved cancer treatment. In this review, we focus on their applications in photodynamic therapy. The large specific surface area of GO facilitates efficient loading of the photosensitizers and biological molecules via various surface functional groups. By incorporation of...