Curcumin, the main biologically active component of turmeric, has attracted much attention in the last decades due to its antiarthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant properties, and other biological activities. Due to its potent anti-carcinogenic properties and ability to inhibit cancer cell growth, curcumin and its derivatives have also been the focus of recent developments in photodynamic therapy (PDT). This therapy method uses near infrared light coupled with a photosensitizer to produce reactive oxygen species, therefore eradicating targeted cancer cells. The aim of this project was to conduct a structure-activity relationship study of compounds that increase the production of singlet oxygen, allow strong absorption in the near IR region, and ensure long lifetimes <i>in vivo</i>. The overall approach was the design, synthesis, and structural and optical characterization of heavy atom-containing curcumin derivatives and their difluoroboron analogs. These derivatives were also tested as photosensitizers in PDT against human ovarian adenocarcinoma and breast cancer to determine their photosensitizing capabilities.

Study of heavy-atom curcumin derivatives for use in photodynamic therapy

2019 Spring National Meeting

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