Tricyano-Methylene-Pyridine Based High-Performance Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizer for Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Photosensitizers equipped with high reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capability and bright emission are essential for accurate tumor imaging and precise photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, traditional aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) photosensitizers cannot simultaneously produce desirable ROS and bright fluorescence, resulting in poor image-guided therapy effect. Herein, we report an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer TCM-Ph with a strong donor–π–acceptor (D–π–A) structure, which greatly separates the HOMO–LUMO distribution and reduces the ΔEST, thereby increasing the number of triplet excitons and producing more ROS. The AIE photosensitizer TCM-Ph has bright near-infrared emission, as well as a higher ROS generation capacity than the commercial photosensitizers Bengal Rose (RB) and Chlorine e6 (Ce6), and can effectively eliminate cancer cells under image guidance. Therefore, the AIE photosensitizer TCM-Ph has great potential to replace the commercial photosensitizers.

Regulating donor configuration to develop AIE-active type I photosensitizers for lipid droplet imaging and high-performance photodynamic therapy under hypoxia

“…3b Finally, OH can be detected by the indicator HPF. 35,37 In the presence of the three photosensitizers, the fluorescence intensity in HPF solution showed the largest increase combined with SMP-CNPY, indicating the generation of more OH (Fig. 3d and Fig.…”

“…Additionally, the indicator ABDA was oxidized, resulting in a decrease in its absorbance. 35 This characteristic allowed ABDA to be used for detecting type II photosensitizers. After white light irradiation for 5 minutes, in the absence of photosensitizers, the absorbance of ABDA remained almost unchanged.…”

“…3c and Fig. S5, S7, ESI †).Finally, OH can be detected by the indicator HPF 35,37. In the presence of the three photosensitizers, the fluorescence intensity in HPF solution showed the largest increase combined…”