title: Site-specific prodrug release using visible light.
abstract: Using a photosensitization-singlet oxygenation-dioxetane cleavage strategy, a photodynamic prodrug system has been developed, whereby drugs bearing carbonyl groups can first be attached to a photosensitizer to give a photosensitizer-drug complex and then released from the complex upon visible light irradiation. Visible light, which has good penetration through tissue, generates singlet oxygen via the photosensitizer, which then releases the prodrug when and where required. With this system, drug mimics and methyl esters of NSAIDs have been successfully incorporated with photosensitizers related to verteporfin and then released by visible light illumination in high to quantitative yields within minutes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Room W300 - 6174 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dolphin
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D008027:Light; D015394:Molecular Structure; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000077362:Verteporfin
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D011355:Prodrugs; D000077362:Verteporfin