Fluorination of Aza-BODIPY for Cancer Cell Plasma Membrane-Targeted Imaging and Therapy.

ABSTRACT: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great potential in cancer treatment, leveraging photosensitizers (PSs) to deliver targeted therapy. Fluorination can optimize the physicochemical and biological properties of PSs for better PDT performance. Here, we report some high-performance multifunctional PSs specifically designed for cancer PDT by fluorinating aza-BODIPY with perfluoro-tert-butoxymethyl (PFBM) groups. Fluorination plays several roles, including enhancing selective cancer cell uptake, plasma membrane (PM) targeting, and inducing pyroptosis. It also enables fluorescence imaging (FLI) and fluorine-19 magnetic resonance imaging (¹⁹F MRI) as well as facilitates oxygen delivery and oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) measurements. Comparative physicochemical and biolo

SUBMITTER: Li A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11744507 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature