A Membrane‐Targeting Photosensitizer with Aggregation‐Induced Emission Characteristics for Highly Efficient Photodynamic Combat of Human Coronaviruses

Abstract

COVID‐19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has resulted in global social and economic disruption, putting the world economy to the largest global recession since the Great Depression. To control the spread of COVID‐19, cutting off the transmission route is a critical step. In this work, the efficient inactivation of human coronavirus with photodynamic therapy (PDT) by employing photosensitizers with aggregation‐induced emission characteristics (DTTPB) is reported. DTTPB is designed to bear a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails, mimicking the structure of phospholipids on biological membranes. DTTPB demonstrates a broad absorption band covering the whole visible light range and high molar absorptivity, as well as excellent reactive oxygen species sensitizing ability, making it an excellent candidate for PDT. Besides, DTTPB can target membrane structure, and bind to the envelope of human coronaviruses. Upon light irradiation, DTTPB demonstrates highly effective antiviral behavior: human coronavirus treated with DTTPB and white‐light irradiation can be efficiently inactivated with complete loss of infectivity, as revealed by the significant decrease of virus RNA and proteins in host cells. Thus, DTTPB sensitized PDT can efficiently prevent the infection and the spread of human coronavirus, which provides a new avenue for photodynamic combating of COVID‐19.

Photodynamic Inactivation of Human Coronaviruses

“…PhytoQuin acts in a light-dependent manner to damage nearby macromolecules, which is consistent with a ROS-mediated mechanism of action as observed for other photosensitizers. Our study provides strong support for the addition of PhytoQuin and the PhytoQuin constituent emodin to the growing list of PSs with antiviral activity against CoVs [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37].…”

The fast-growing field of photo-driven theranostics based on aggregation-induced emission

“…6d). 113 DTTPB was constructed by linking two cationic AIE PS units together through a benzene ring. The hydrophobic parts of DTTPB could generate a hydrophobic interaction with the nonpolar tail of virus phospholipids, while the hydrophilic ones could align on lipid bilayer surfaces of the viruses through electrostatic interactions.…”

Simultaneous Photodynamic Eradication of Tooth Biofilm and Tooth Whitening with an Aggregation‐Induced Emission Luminogen

“…Previously, we demonstrated that DTTPB exerted neglectable influence on cells by employing CCK 8 experiments. [40] In this work, we further evaluated its biocompatibility by conducting a hemolysis experiment and fluorescence staining. For comparison, the biocompatibility of 5% H 2 O 2 was also evaluated under the same experimental conditions (Figure 6, Figures S15 and S16, Supporting Information).…”