Aryl-Ketone-Modified Cy7 Photosensitizer

Hypoxia-tolerant Type-I PDT

The first heptamethine cyanine type-I photosensitizer capable of both H-abstraction and electron transfer, inducing autophagy, necrosis, and ferroptosis in hypoxic tumors.

Fuping, Han · Zhou, Xiao · Zhang, Zhenyu · Hongyi, Zhang · Li, Xin · Shi, Tiancong · Long, Saran · Sun, Wen · Du, Jianjun · Fan, Jiangli · Peng, Xiaojun

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 2025

Advantages

Exhibits bright fluorescence

Generates hydroxyl and alkyl radicals upon NIR irradiation

Induces mitochondrial autophagy in hypoxic tumor cells

Significantly inhibits solid tumor growth