<p><a></a>Chromophores that absorb in the
tissue-penetrant far-red/near-infrared window have long served as photocatalysts
for the generation of singlet oxygen for photodynamic
therapy. However, the cytotoxicity and side-reactions associated with
singlet oxygen sensitization have posed a problem for using long
wavelength photocatalysis to initiate other types of chemical reactions
in biological environments. Described here is the use of Si-Rhodamine
(SiR) dyes as photocatalysts for inducing rapid bioorthogonal chemistry
using 660 nm light through the oxidation of a dihydrotetrazine to a tetrazine
in the presence of trans-cyclooctene dienophiles. SiRs have been commonly
used as fluorophores for applications in biology, but have not
previously been applied to catalyze chemical reactions. A
dihydrotetrazine/tetrazine pair is described that displays high stability
in both oxidation states. A series of SiR derivatives were evaluated, and
the Janelia-SiR dyes were found to be especially effective in catalyzing
rapid photooxidation at low catalyst loadings (typically 1 µM). A protein
that was site-selectively modified by trans-cyclooctene was
quantitively conjugated upon exposure to 660 nm light and a
dihydrotetrazine. By contrast, a previously described methylene blue
catalyst was found to rapidly degrade the protein. SiR-red light
photocatalysis was used to crosslink hyaluronic acid derivatives that were
functionalized by dihydrotetrazine and trans-cyclooctenes, enabling 3D
culture of human prostate cancer cells. This photoinducible hydrogel
formation could also be carried out in vivo in live mice
through subcutaneous injection of a solution containing SiR
photocatalyst and a Cy7-labeled hydrogel precursor, followed by
brief in vivo irradiation with 660 nm light to produce a stable
hydrogel material. This cytocompatible method for using red light photocatalysis
to activate bioorthogonal chemistry is anticipated to find broad
applications where spatiotemporal control is needed in the in
vivo environment. <br></p>