Issue 1, 2022

A ruthenium–oligonucleotide bioconjugated photosensitizing aptamer for cancer cell specific photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Ruthenium complexes have emerged as a promising class of compounds for use as photosensitizers (PSs) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to their attractive photophysical properties and relative ease of chemical alteration. While promising, they generally are not inherently targeting to disease sites and may therefore be prone to side effects and require higher doses. Aptamers are short oligonucleotides that bind specific targets with high affinity. One such aptamer is AS1411, a nucleolin targeting, G-quadruplex forming, DNA aptamer. Here we present the first example of direct conjugation of a Ru(II) polypyridyl complex-based PS to an aptamer and an assessment of its in vitro cancer cell specific photosensitization including discussion of the challenges faced.

Graphical abstract: A ruthenium–oligonucleotide bioconjugated photosensitizing aptamer for cancer cell specific photodynamic therapy

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Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 Jul 2021
Accepted
31 Oct 2021
First published
02 Nov 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Chem. Biol., 2022,3, 85-95

A ruthenium–oligonucleotide bioconjugated photosensitizing aptamer for cancer cell specific photodynamic therapy

L. K. McKenzie, M. Flamme, P. S. Felder, J. Karges, F. Bonhomme, A. Gandioso, C. Malosse, G. Gasser and M. Hollenstein, RSC Chem. Biol., 2022, 3, 85 DOI: 10.1039/D1CB00146A

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