Light-triggered molecular mechanotherapy of tumor using membrane-mimicking conjugated oligoelectrolytes.

ABSTRACT: A class of light-mediated mechanotherapeutic agents was developed on the basis of conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs), which mimic the topology of lipid membranes and intrinsically exhibit excellent biocompatibility. Low-dose white light irradiation (20 milliwatts per square centimeter for 10 minutes) substantially decreased the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of the optimized COE against A549 cancer cells from more than 256 to 0.6 micromolar. Typical photodynamic and photothermal effects were not responsible for the potent anticancer efficacy. Biophysical and photophysical experiments using vesicle models revealed that COEs can induce mechanical force likely by molecular conformation change within lipid membranes under light exposure, supporting the mechanotherapeutic mechanism by w

SUBMITTER: Zhou P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12372874 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature