title: Squaraine dyes in PDT: from basic design to in vivo demonstration.
abstract: The design and development of novel squaraine dyes as sensitisers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications has grown tremendously in the last decade from the time when a squaraine dye was proposed to be a potential candidate, to-date when the use of such dyes have been demonstrated in animal models for skin cancer. This perspective article highlights the basic design, tuning of absorption, triplet excited state and two-photon absorption properties and recent developments of the squaraines as PDT sensitisers.
authors.affiliation: Photosciences and Photonics, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Trivandrum, 695 019, India.
authors.forename: Rekha R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Avirah
authors.forename: Dhanya T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Jayaram
authors.forename: Nagappanpillai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adarsh
authors.forename: Danaboyina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramaiah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003503:Cyclobutanes; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010636:Phenols; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; C480596:squaraine