Supramolecular photosensitizers as improved tools for anticancer and antimicrobial treatments

VERA, CLAUDIA CECILIA; TULLI, FIORELLA; BORSARELLI, CLAUDIO D.

Anales de la Asociación Química Argentina

Comité Editorial de Anales de la Asociación de Química Argentina

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2020

2545-8655

Light absorption by a molecule called photosensitizer (PS) in the presence of molecular oxygen triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in a biological milieu are able to degrade target molecules. This effect is called photodynamic action (PDA) and is the root of photodynamic therapy (PDT), which in recent years became a very useful and versatile tool for killing both harmful cells and pathogens. With the development of functionalized supramolecular structures with photosensitizing properties, nowadays the horizons of PDT in antitumoral and antimicrobial applications have been greatly improved and expanded. In this review article, we discussed the basics of the photosensitization and PDT processes, reviewing some of the most recent advances on emerging applications of supramolecular photosensitizers against multi-drug resistant pathogens as well as in cancer theranostic treatments, where both diagnostic and therapy is performed with the same supramolecular ensemble.