An updated overview on the development of new photosensitizers for anticancer photodynamic therapy

• Published in: Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B 2018-03, Vol.8 (2), p.137-146
• Main Authors: Zhang, Juan, Jiang, Chengshi, Figueiró Longo, João Paulo, Azevedo, Ricardo Bentes, Zhang, Hua, Muehlmann, Luis Alexandre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-cancer; BODIPY; Oncology; Photochemical reactions; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizers; Review
• ISSN: 2211-3835; 2211-3843
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2017.09.003

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), based on the photoactivation of photosensitizers (PSs), has become a well-studied therapy for cancer. Photofrin®, belonging to the first generation of PS, is still widely used for the treatment of different kinds of cancers; however, it has several drawbacks that significantly limit its general clinical use. Consequently, there has been extensive research on the design of PS molecules with optimized pharmaceutical properties, with aiming of overcoming the disadvantages of traditional PS, such as poor chemical purity, long half-life, excessive accumulation into the skin, and low attenuation coefficients. The rational design of novel PS with desirable properties has attracted considerable research in the pharmaceutical field. This review presents an overview on the classical photosensitizers and the most significant recent advances in the development of PS with regard to their potential application in oncology. Photodynamic therapy, based on the photoactivation of photosensitizers (PS), has become a well-studied therapy for cancer. This review presents an overview on the classical photosensitizers and the most significant recent advances in the development of PS with regard to their potential application in oncology. [Display omitted]