LAUSR

In this study, synthetically readily accessible, thiophene-based, organic D-π-A sensitizers exerted high phototoxicity and are valuable as sensitizer templates for use in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Evaluation of the antitumor activity of our previously synthesized D-π-A sensitizers with photo irradiation revealed their potent phototoxicity. The structural requirement of the D-π-A sensitizer for the phototoxicity was elucidated via the rapid synthesis of structurally simplified analogues and their evaluation of antitumor activity under photo irradiation. Our developed sensitizers mainly accumulated in mitochondria and damaged cancer cells via both Type I and Type II mechanisms. The developed novel template could be useful in the future development of sensitizers that could fulfill the requirements for PDT.