Divergent Syntheses of Near‐Infrared Light‐Activated Molecular Jackhammers for Cancer Cell Eradication

Abstract Aminocyanines incorporating Cy7 and Cy7.5 moieties function as molecular jackhammers (MJH) through vibronic‐driven action (VDA). This mechanism, which couples molecular vibrational and electronic modes, results in picosecond‐scale concerted stretching of the entire molecule. When cell‐assoc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bowen Li, Ciceron Ayala‐Orozco, Tengda Si, Lixin Zhou, Zicheng Wang, Angel A. Martí, James M. Tour
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Advanced Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202405965
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Aminocyanines incorporating Cy7 and Cy7.5 moieties function as molecular jackhammers (MJH) through vibronic‐driven action (VDA). This mechanism, which couples molecular vibrational and electronic modes, results in picosecond‐scale concerted stretching of the entire molecule. When cell‐associated and activated by near‐infrared light, MJH mechanically disrupts cell membranes, causing rapid necrotic cell death. Unlike photodynamic and photothermal therapies, the ultrafast vibrational action of MJH is unhindered by high concentrations of reactive oxygen species scavengers and induces only a minimal temperature increase. Here, the efficient synthesis of a library of MJH is described using a practical approach to access a key intermediate and facilitating the preparation of various Cy7 and Cy7.5 MJH with diverse side chains in moderate to high yields. Photophysical characterization reveals that structural modifications significantly affect molar extinction coefficients and quantum yields while maintaining desirable absorption and emission wavelengths. The most promising compounds, featuring dimethylaminoethyl and dimethylcarbamoyl substitutions, demonstrate up to sevenfold improvement in phototherapeutic index compared to Cy7.5 amine across multiple cancer cell lines. This synthetic strategy provides a valuable platform for developing potent, light‐activated therapeutic agents for cancer treatment, with potentially broad applicability across various cancer types.
ISSN:2198-3844