Type
I photosensitization provides an effective solution to the
problem of unsatisfactory photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) effects caused
by the tumor hypoxia. The challenge in the development of Type I mode
is to boost the photosensitizer’s own electron transfer capacity.
Herein, we found that the use of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to encapsulate a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF)
photosensitizer PS can significantly promote the Type
I PDT process to generate a mass of superoxide anions (O2
•–). This Type I photosensitization opened
a new strategy by employing BSA as “electron reservoir”
and TADF photosensitizer as “electron pump”. We integrated
these roles of BSA and PS in one system
by preparing nanophotosensitizer PS@BSA. The Type I PDT
performance was demonstrated with tumor cells under hypoxic conditions.
Furthermore, PS@BSA took full advantage of the tumor-targeting
role of BSA and achieved efficient PDT for tumor-bearing
mice in the in vivo experiments. This work provides
an effective route to improve the PDT efficiency of hypoxic tumors.
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