Development of Novel β-Carboline/Furylmalononitrile Hybrids as Type I/II Photosensitizers with Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy and Minimal Toxicity.

Chemo-photodynamic therapy is a treatment method that combines chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy and has demonstrated significant potential in cancer treatment. However, the development of chemo-photodynamic therapeutic agents with fewer side effects still poses a challenge. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel series of β-carboline/furylmalononitrile hybrids - and evaluated their chemo-photodynamic therapeutic effects. Most of the compounds were photodynamically active and exhibited cytotoxic effects in four cancer cells. In particular, possessed type-I/II photodynamic characteristics, and its O quantum yield increased by 3-fold from pH 7.4 to 4.5. Most interestingly, exhibited robust antiproliferative effects by tumor-selective cytotoxicities and hypoxic-overcoming phototoxicities. In addition, generated intracellular ROS and induced hepatocellular apoptosis, mitochondrial damage, and autophagy. Finally, demonstrated extremely low acute toxicity (LD = 1415 mg/kg) and a high tumor-inhibitory rate of 80.5% through chemo-photodynamic dual therapy. Our findings may provide a promising framework for the design of new photosensitizers for chemo-photodynamic therapy.