Supramolecular photosensitizers using extended macrocyclic hosts for photodynamic therapy with distinct cellular delivery† † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: General information, synthesis and characterization, host–guest chemistry, photodynamic therapy related cell experiments, and DFT calculations. See DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d3sc00107e

ABSTRACT: The photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) mostly possess conjugated skeletons that are over-sized and poorly water-soluble to be encapsulated by conventional macrocyclic receptors. Herein, we report that two fluorescent hydrophilic cyclophanes, AnBox·4Cl and ExAnBox·4Cl, can effectively bind hypocrellin B (HB), a pharmaceutically active natural PS for PDT, with binding constants of the 107 level in aqueous solutions. The two macrocycles feature extended electron-deficient cavities and can be facilely synthesized through photo-induced ring expansions. The corresponding supramolecular PSs (HB⊂AnBox4+ and HB⊂ExAnBox4+) exhibit desirable stability, biocompatibility, and cellular delivery, as well as excellent PDT efficiency against cancer cells. In addition, living cell imaging

SUBMITTER: Zheng X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10055832 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature