Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of BODIPY-Caged Resiquimod as a Dual-Acting Phototherapeutic.

ABSTRACT: Resiquimod, an imidazoquinoline scaffold, exhibits potent immunotherapeutic activity but is associated with off-target effects, limiting its clinical utility. To address this limitation, we developed a novel BODIPY-caged resiquimod that is responsive to red light, combining photocaging and photodynamic therapy functionalities. Molecular docking studies guided identification of the optimal caging site for resiquimod, effectively masking its immune activity. BODIPY-caged resiquimod remained inactive under dark conditions, effectively masking resiquimod's immunostimulatory effects. However, red light irradiation precisely uncaged resiquimod, inducing robust immune activation, even in the presence of N-acetyl cysteine as an antioxidant. Notably, the attachment of resiquimod to BODIPY re

SUBMITTER: Roshdy E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11873906 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature