Activatable Photosensitizers for Imaging and Therapy

Abstract

and was raised there and in Ottawa, Ontario. He received a B.A.Sc. in 2004 in systems design engineering from the University of Waterloo. He obtained a M.Sc. in biochemistry in 2007 from McMaster University under the supervision of Dr. David Andrews. He is presently completing a Ph.D. at the Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto with Dr. Gang Zheng. His research interests are in the fascinating world of nanoscale bioengineering, including activatable fluorophores and photosensitizers for imaging and therapy. Tracy W. B. Liu graduated with a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia in 2007. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Toronto in the department of Medical Biophysics under the cosupervision of Dr. Brian Wilson and Dr. Gang Zheng. Her doctorate studies are focused on the development of molecular beacons and their application in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics.

Scope and limitations of the TEMPO/EPR method for singlet oxygen detection: the misleading role of electron transfer

“…Its reactions include oxidation of lipids [1][2], proteins [3][4][5] and nucleic acids [6][7][8], that may trigger a biological damage. This reaction cascade can lead to undesired adverse effects, like drug-induced phototoxicity [9][10], but can also be exploited to produce beneficial effects as in photodynamic therapy [11][12].…”

Multimodal Image-Guided Surgical and Photodynamic Interventions in Head and Neck Cancer: From Primary Tumor to Metastatic Drainage

“…Therefore, a significant clinical interest is to explore alternative treatment modalities that have fewer and smaller risks but retain a high level of efficacy to improve treatment outcomes and overall quality of life. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which generates cytotoxic singlet oxygen through interactions between optical light and a photosensitizer in the presence of oxygen, has emerged as a viable tool for localized treatment of malignant tissues (15)(16)(17). Because of the extremely short life time and subsequent short diffusion distance (10-300 nm) of singlet oxygen, PDT damage is restricted to photosensitizer accumulation, enabling local tumor ablation without damaging underlining connective tissues unlike other ablation techniques (18,19).…”

Photodynamic therapy of tumors with pyropheophorbide-<em>a</em>-loaded polyethylene glycol&ndash;poly(lactic-<em>co</em>-glycolic acid) nanoparticles

“…15 The essential element for effective PDT is an ideal PS, the lack of which continues to be a major roadblock restricting the clinical utility of PDT as a first-line treatment option. 16 An ideal PS must be able to generate singlet oxygen efficiently upon activation with longer-wavelength light (650-900 nm) for deeper light penetration. 17 Most importantly, it must preferentially accumulate in tumor tissues and be rapidly cleared from 4906 liu et al normal tissues.…”