Autonomous Activation of a Gated Chemiluminescent Photosensitizer Enables Targeted Photodynamic Therapy in Tumor Cells.

ABSTRACT: Chemiluminescence-based photodynamic therapy (CLPDT) offers a promising solution to the light penetration limits of traditional PDT. However, it lacks spatiotemporal control. Intracellularly activated, self-luminescent PDT agents via a molecular logic gate switch may address this key limitation. We report the synthesis of the self-activating, chemiluminescent photosensitizer (PS) that enables tumor microenvironment-controlled PDT applications. This system integrates a dioxetane-based (Diox) chemiluminescent scaffold with a ruthenium-based (Ru) PS through an oxidation and pH-sensitive linker to enable an AND-gated activation mechanism. The Diox@Ru conjugate is selectively activated by elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), characteristic of aggressive cancer phenotypes

SUBMITTER: Peng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12333359 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature