Single-molecule chemiluminescent photosensitizer for a self-activating and tumor-selective photodynamic therapy of cancer.

While photodynamic therapy is known for significant advantages over conventional cancer therapies, its dependence on light has limited it to treating tumors on or just under the skin or on the outer lining of organs/cavities. Herein, we have developed a single-molecule photosensitizer capable of intracellular self-activation and with potential tumor-selectivity due to a chemiluminescent reaction involving only a cancer marker. Thus, the photosensitizer is directly chemiexcited to a triplet excited state capable of generating singlet oxygen, without requiring either a light source or any catalyst/co-factor.

Study of the Combination of Self-Activating Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy for Cancer Treatment.

Cancer is a very challenging disease to treat, both in terms of treatment efficiency and side-effects. To overcome these problems, there have been extensive studies regarding the possibility of improving treatment by employing combination therapy, and by exploring therapeutic modalities with reduced side-effects (such as photodynamic therapy (PDT)). Herein, this work has two aims: (i) to develop self-activating photosensitizers for use in light-free photodynamic therapy, which would eliminate light-related restrictions that this therapy currently possesses; (ii) to assess their co-treatment potential when combined with reference chemotherapeutic agents (Tamoxifen and Metformin).

Theoretically obtained insight into the mechanism and dioxetanone species responsible for the singlet chemiexcitation of Coelenterazine.

Coelenterazine is a widespread bioluminescent substrate for a diverse set of marine species. Moreover, its imidazopyrazinone core is present in eight phyla of bioluminescent organisms. Given their very attractive intrinsic properties, these bioluminescent systems have been used in bioimaging, photodynamic therapy of cancer, as gene reporter and in sensing applications, among others.

A theoretical study of the UV absorption of 4-methylbenzylidene camphor: from the UVB to the UVA region.

In this study, a theoretical approach was used to study the UV absorption of the UVB filter, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor. The main objective of this work was to design new UVA filters based on this rather photo-stable compound, so that photo-degradation in this UV region can be avoided without the use of other molecules. This objective was achieved by the simultaneous addition of two appropriate substituents, which led to red-shifts of up to 0.

Structural, energetic, and UV-Vis spectral analysis of UVA filter 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane.

The growing awareness of the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation has increased the production and consumption of sunscreen products, which contain organic and inorganic molecules named UV filters that absorb, reflect, or scatter UV radiation, thus minimizing negative human health effects. 4-tert-Butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane (BMDBM) is one of the few organic UVA filters and the most commonly used. BMDBM exists in sunscreens in the enol form which absorbs strongly in the UVA range.