Stereoisomeric engineering of aggregation-induced emission photosensitizers towards fungal killing.

ABSTRACT: Fungal infection poses and increased risk to human health. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an alternative antifungal approach garners much interest due to its minimal side effects and negligible antifungal drug resistance. Herein, we develop stereoisomeric photosensitizers ((Z)- and (E)-TPE-EPy) by harnessing different spatial configurations of one molecule. They possess aggregation-induced emission characteristics and ROS, viz. ¹O₂ and O₂^-• generation capabilities that enable image-guided PDT. Also, the cationization of the photosensitizers realizes the targeting of fungal mitochondria for antifungal PDT killing. Particularly, stereoisomeric engineering assisted by supramolecular assembly leads to enhanced fluorescence intensity and ROS generation

SUBMITTER: Zhu W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9672067 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature