Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive medical procedure used for treatment of various cancers. PDT uses a small molecule photosensitizer (PS) which when in the presence of molecular oxygen and light can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are toxic to cells. PDT has many advantages over other cancer therapies such as its localization of treatment to a small tissue area, as well the potential for multiple irradiation cycles with minimal long-term side effects. Over the past few years, researchers have aimed to increase PS cancer cell specificity to reduce off target effects. Once strategy has been to add an additional layer of activation that exploits the overexpression of enzymes found in cancer cells over normal cells. To this regard we are examining the DNA repair enzyme, O<sup>6</sup>-methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT), as a target for enzyme activatable PDT to optimize therapeutic efficiency and minimize targeting of non-cancerous cells. In this presentation, I will discuss the design, synthesis and characterization of various probes that can be activated by MGMT.

O<sup>6</sup>- Methylguanine DNA methyltransferase activatable photosensitizers for cancer therapeutics

2019 Spring National Meeting

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O6- Methylguanine DNA methyltransferase activatable photosensitizers for cancer therapeutics

O⁶- Methylguanine DNA methyltransferase activatable photosensitizers for cancer therapeutics