Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In this work, several benzothiazole-based aminosquaraine dyes, displaying strong
absorption within the so-called phototherapeutic window (650–800 nm), were synthesized. The ability,
of all the new dyes, to generate singlet oxygen was assessed by determining the correspondent
phosphorescence emission and through the comparison with a standard. The quantum yields of
singlet oxygen generation were determined and exhibited to be strongly dependent on the nature of
the amino substituents introduced in the squaric ring. The photodynamic activity of the synthesized
dyes was tested against four human tumor cell lines: breast (MCF-7), lung (NCI-H460), cervical (HeLa)
and hepatocellular (HepG2) carcinomas; and a non-tumor porcine liver primary cell culture (PLP2).
All the compounds synthesized were found to be able to inhibit tumor cells growth upon irradiation
more than in the dark, in most of the cases, very significantly. Considering the photodynamic activity
exhibited and the low toxicity displayed for the non-tumor cells, some of the synthetized dyes can be
regarded as potential candidates as photosensitizers for PDT.
Description
Keywords
Photodynamic therapy Singlet oxygen Squaraine
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Mandim, Filipa; Graça, Vânia C.; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Machado, Isabel L.F.; Ferreira, Luis F.V.; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Santos, Paulo F. (2019). Synthesis, photochemical and in vitro cytotoxic evaluation of new iodinated aminosquaraines as potential sensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Molecules. ISSN 1420-3049. 24, p. 1-14