A photo-degradable BODIPY-modified Ru() photosensitizer for safe and efficient PDT under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is promising for cancer treatment but still suffers from some limitations. For instance, PDT based on 1 O 2 generation (in a type-II mechanism) is heavily dependent on high oxygen concentrations and will be significantly depressed in hypoxic tumors. In addition, the residual photosensitizers after PDT treatment may cause severe side-effects under light irradiation. To solve these problems, herein a BODIPY (boron dipyrromethene)-modified Ru( ii ) complex [Ru(dip) 2 (tpy-BODIPY)] 2+ (complex 1 , dip = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) was designed and synthesized. Complex 1 exhibited both high singlet oxygen quantum yield ( Φ = 0.7 in CH 3 CN) and excellent superoxide radical (O 2 &z.rad; − ) generation, and thus demonstrated efficient PDT activity under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Moreover, complex 1 is photo-degradable in water, and greatly loses its ROS generation ability after PDT treatment. These novel properties of complex 1 make it promising for efficient PDT under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions with reduced side-effects. A BODIPY-modified Ru( ii ) photosensitizer displayed efficient PDT, and also reduced side-effects thanks to its fast photo-degradation in water.