Development of a cysteine responsive chlorinated hemicyanine for image-guided dual phototherapy

Savani S., Onbasli K., Gunduz H., Aydındogan E., Erkısa M., Muti A., ...More

Bioorganic Chemistry, vol.122, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 122
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105725
  • Journal Name: Bioorganic Chemistry
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Keywords: Phototherapy, Theranostics, Hemicyanine, Cysteine, Photosensitizers, Cancer
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: No

Abstract

A cysteine (Cys) activatable chlorinated hemicyanine (Cl-Cys) was introduced as a tumour selective image-guided dual phototherapy agent. Cl-Cys exhibited a significant turn on response in its near-IR emission signal and activated its singlet oxygen generation as well as photothermal conversion potentials upon reacting with Cys. The laser irradiation of Cl-Cys induced significant cell death in cancer cells with high Cys level, while it stayed deactivated and non-emissive in a healthy cell line. A profound synergistic PDT/PTT effect was observed at high doses. Remarkably, Cl-Cys marks the first ever example of Cys-responsive small organic-based therapeutic agent and holds a great promise to develop new activity-based photosensitizers for dual phototherapy action.