Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (4): 951-959.doi: 10.1007/s40242-021-1190-7

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Near-infrared Aza-BODIPY Dyes Through Molecular Surgery for Enhanced Photothermal and Photodynamic Antibacterial Therapy

YU Qing, HUANG Xuan, ZHANG Tian, WANG Weili, YANG Dongliang, SHAO Jinjun, DONG Xiaochen   

  1. Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics(KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials(IAM), Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
  • Received:2021-04-27 Revised:2021-06-09 Online:2021-08-01 Published:2021-06-16
  • Contact: SHAO Jinjun, DONG Xiaochen E-mail:iamjjshao@njtech.edu.cn;iamxcdong@njtech.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China(Nos.BK20200092, BK20200710).

Abstract: The widespread use of high-dose antibiotics will not only lead to the rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance and increased incidence of drug-resistant bacterial infections, but also produce toxic side effects on normal tissues. Herein, two near-infrared dyes BDP-4PTZ and BDP-4DPA were synthesized, and the electron donors of diphenylamine and phenothiazine with the only difference of sulphur(S)-lock between the two phenyl rings were introduced onto the electron acceptor aza-dipyrromethene boron difluoride(aza-BODIPY) through molecular surgery. Through co-precipitation into nanoparticles(NPs), BDP-4PTZ NPs and BDP-4DPA NPs were fabricated with good biocompatibility. Upon 660 nm photoirradiation, BDP-4PTZ NPs and BDP-4DPA NPs showed excellent photothermal conversion efficiency(43% and 50%, respectively) and reactive oxygen species(ROS) production performance(ca. 3.6 and 6 times higher than that of indocyanine green, respectively). In vitro antibacterial experiments indicated that both NPs could effectively destroy the bacteria's membrane to eradicate drug-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, the bacterial abscess was effectively eliminated after treatment with BDP-4DPA NPs under 660 nm photoirradiation without adverse effects. Thus, through molecular surgery, BDP-4DPA without the S-lock demonstrates synergistic photothermal and photodynamic antimicrobial activities, which is promising for further molecular design towards effective neo-antimicrobial phototherapy.

Key words: Aza-dipyrromethene boron difluoride(aza-BODIPY), Photothermal therapy, Photodynamic therapy, Photosensitizer, Antibacterial therapy