Photosensitizer-based metal-organic frameworks for highly effective photodynamic therapy

Author(s)

Alves, Samara Rodrigues ^[1] ; Calori, Italo Rodrigo ^[1] ; Tedesco, Antonio Claudio ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Philosophy Sci & Letters Ribeirao Preto, Ctr Nanotechnol & Tissue Engn, Dept Chem, Photobiol & Photomed Res Grp, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications; v. 131, DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitizer, molecular oxygen, and visible light as an alternative clinical protocol against located malignant tumors and other diseases. More recently, PDT has been combined to immunotherapy as a promising option to treat metastatic cancer. However, previous generations of photosensitizers (PSs) revealed clinical difficulties such as long-term skin photosensitivity (first generation), the need for drug delivery vehicles (second generation), and intracellular self-aggregation (third generation), which have generated a somewhat confusing scenario in PDT approaches and evolution. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with exceptionally high PS loading as a building unit of MOF framework have emerged as fourth generation PS and presented outstanding outcomes under pre-clinical studies. For PS-based MOFs, the inorganic building unit (metal ions/clusters) plays an important role as a coadjuvant in PDT to alleviate hypoxia, to decrease antioxidant species, to yield ROS, or to act as a contrast agent for imaging-guided therapy. In this review, we intend to carry out a broad update on the recent history and the characteristics of PS-based MOFs from basic chemistry to the structure relationship with biological application in PDT. The details and variables that result in different photophysics, size, and morphology, are discussed. Also, we present an overview of the achievements on the pre-clinical assays in combination with other strategies, including alleviating hypoxia in solid tumors, chemotherapy, and the most recent immunotherapy for cancer. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/04507-6 - HYDROGENLS CONFINED IN 3D PRINTED MATRIX TO CONTROLLED AND SITE-SPECIFIC DELIVERY OF INGENOL-3-DODECANOATE AND FLUOROCHROME FOR PHOTODIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPY OF CEREBRAL TUMORS
• Grantee: Italo Rodrigo Calori
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/50181-1 - Use of drugs containing nanocarriers with photosensitizers and/or other active compounds applied to cell therapy and treatment of central nervous system disorders
• Grantee: Antonio Claudio Tedesco
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants