Cancer treatment can be challenge due to tumor hypoxia. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), an approved medical intervention to treat certain types of cancer, has been utilized to complement and in certain cases to replace traditional anticancer treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In PDT, a photosensitizer (PS) that is administrated locally or systemically at a nontoxic dose can be activated with light in the presence of oxygen to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can destroy cancer cells with minimal offsite toxicity. This study introduces our work on the development of transition metal complexes as photosensitizers for PDT that show photoactivity in normoxia but may exploit alternate modes of action for activity in hypoxia. We will share insights regarding the metal-ligand combinations and their cytotoxic effect against cancer cells.

Metal-based photosensitizers for enhanced anticancer effects

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ACS Spring 2023

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