Thymoquinone as an electron transfer mediator to convert Type II photosensitizers to Type I photosensitizers

Jiahao Zhuang, Guobin Qi, Yecheng Feng, Min Wu, Hang Zhang, Dandan Wang, Xianhe Zhang, Kok Chan Chong, Bowen Li, Shitai Liu, Jianwu Tian, Yi Shan, Duo Mao () and Bin Liu ()
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Jiahao Zhuang: International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
Guobin Qi: National University of Singapore
Yecheng Feng: Sun Yat-Sen University
Min Wu: International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
Hang Zhang: National University of Singapore
Dandan Wang: International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
Xianhe Zhang: National University of Singapore
Kok Chan Chong: National University of Singapore
Bowen Li: National University of Singapore
Shitai Liu: International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City
Jianwu Tian: National University of Singapore
Yi Shan: National University of Singapore
Duo Mao: Sun Yat-Sen University
Bin Liu: International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The development of Type I photosensitizers (PSs) is of great importance due to the inherent hypoxic intolerance of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the hypoxic microenvironment. Compared to Type II PSs, Type I PSs are less reported due to the absence of a general molecular design strategy. Herein, we report that the combination of typical Type II PS and natural substrate carvacrol (CA) can significantly facilitate the Type I pathway to efficiently generate superoxide radical (O2–•). Detailed mechanism study suggests that CA is activated into thymoquinone (TQ) by local singlet oxygen generated from the PS upon light irradiation. With TQ as an efficient electron transfer mediator, it promotes the conversion of O2 to O2–• by PS via electron transfer-based Type I pathway. Notably, three classical Type II PSs are employed to demonstrate the universality of the proposed approach. The Type I PDT against S. aureus has been demonstrated under hypoxic conditions in vitro. Furthermore, this coupled photodynamic agent exhibits significant bactericidal activity with an antibacterial rate of 99.6% for the bacterial-infection female mice in the in vivo experiments. Here, we show a simple, effective, and universal method to endow traditional Type II PSs with hypoxic tolerance.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49311-z

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