Heterodimeric Photosensitizer as Radical Generators to Promoting Type I Photodynamic Conversion for Hypoxic Tumor Therapy

Abstract Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using traditional type II photosensitizers (PSs) has been limited in hypoxic tumors due to excessive oxygen consumption. The conversion from type II into a less oxygen‐dependent type I PDT pathway has shown the potential to combat hypoxic tumors. Herein, the design of a heterodimeric PS, NBSSe , by conjugating a widely used type I PS NBS and a type II PS NBSe via molecular dimerization, achieving the aggregation‐regulated efficient type I photodynamic conversion for the first time is reported. Electrochemistry characterizations and theoretical calculations elucidate that NBSSe tends to form a S +· /Se −· radical pair via intramolecular electron transfer in the co‐excited…

• IR
  Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 21925802, 22090011, 22338005
• CP
  China Postdoctoral Science Foundation

  Award: 2024M752119
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Awards: DUT22LAB608, DUT22LAB601
• SI
  Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology Innovation Program for Excellent Young Researchers

  Awards: 00000208, 00000225