Tumor oxygen microenvironment-tailored electron transfer-type photosensitizers for precise cancer therapy.

The oxygen level in a tumor typically exhibits complex characteristics, ranging from mild hypoxia to moderate and even severe hypoxia. This poses significant challenges for the efficacy of photodynamic therapy, where oxygen is an essential element. Herein, we propose a novel therapeutic strategy and develop a series of lipid droplet-targeting photosensitive dyes (Ser-TPAs), , synergistic activation of two different electron transfer-type reactions.

Fluorescence-plane polarization for the real-time monitoring of transferase migration in living cells.

Transferases are enzymes that exhibit multisite migration characteristics. Significantly, enzyme activity undergoes changes during this migration process, which inevitably impacts the physiological function of living organisms and can even lead to related malignant diseases. However, research in this field has been severely hindered by the lack of tools for the simultaneous and differential monitoring of site-specific transferase activity.

Photochemical and biological dual-effects enhance the inhibition of photosensitizers for tumour growth.

Photosensitizers typically rely on a singular photochemical reaction to generate reactive oxygen species, which can then inhibit or eradicate lesions. However, photosensitizers often exhibit limited therapeutic efficiency due to their reliance on a single photochemical effect. Herein, we propose a new strategy that integrates the photochemical effect (type-I photochemical effect) with a biological effect (proton sponge effect).