An All‐in‐One Organic Semiconductor for Targeted Photoxidation Catalysis in Hypoxic Tumor. (16th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Weihua; Sun, Zhen; Jiang, Chunhuan; Sun, Wenbo; Yu, Bin; Wang, Wei; Lu, Lehui
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 133:Number 30(2021)
• Page Start: 16777
• Page End: 16784
• Publication Date: 2021-06-16
• Subjects: cancer therapy -- organic semiconductors -- photoxidation; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202105206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Tumor hypoxia severely limits the therapeutic effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Although many methods for oxygen generation exist, substantial safety concerns, spatiotenporal uncontrollability, limited efficacy, and complicated procedures have compromised their practical application. Here, we demonstrate a biocompatiable all‐in‐one organic semiconductor to provide a photoxidation catalysis mechanism of action. A facile method is developed to produce gram‐level C5 N2 nanoparticles (NPs)‐based organic semiconductor. Under 650 nm laser irradiation, the semiconductor split water to generate O2 and simultaneously produce singlet oxygen ( 1 O2 ), showing that the photocatalyst for O2 evolution and the photosensitizer (PS) for 1 O2 generation could be synchronously achieved in one organic semiconductor. The inherent nucleus targeting capacity endows it with direct and efficient DNA photocleavage. These findings pave the way for developing organic semiconductor‐based cancer therapeutic agents. Abstract : Gram‐scale organic semiconductor C5 N2 NPs were synthesized by a one‐pot bottom‐up method. The all‐in‐one semiconductor, with a low band gap of 1.63 eV and inherent nucleus targeting and strong photooxidation capacity, could accumulate at cell nucleus, split H2 O to produce O2 and also generate cytotoxia 1 O2 under high‐tissue‐penetrable NIR irradiation, successfully achieving effective and enhanced PDT in a hypoxic tumor.