Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an attractive approach to cancer treatment because of its inherent selectivity for tumors over healthy tissue. PDT uses a non-toxic prodrug, or photosensitizer (PS) that, in the presence of light and oxygen, produces cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cause cell death and elicit an immune response. Photofrin, a porphyrin-based oligomeric mixture, is currently the only FDA-approved PS for cancer therapy, and most subsequent generation PSs are derived from macrocyclic tetrapyrroles. Metal-based PSs are of particular interest due to their tunability and potentially enhanced light-mediated anti-cancer activity owing to additional excited state reactivity. Ruthenium- and osmium-based PSs are emerging as examples, with our own TLD1433 entering a Phase 2 clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03945162) for the treatment of bladder cancer. Herein, we describe the rational design and development of a new class of metal-based PSs to further optimize their efficacy as PDT agents.

Rational design and development of novel metal-based photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.