Aggregation induced photodynamic therapy enhancement based on linear and nonlinear excited FRET of fluorescent organic nanoparticles

J Mater Chem B. 2013 May 14;1(18):2350-2357. doi: 10.1039/c3tb00345k. Epub 2013 Mar 26.

Abstract

A binary molecule can self-assemble to form fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) based on the Aggregation-Induced Emission Enhancement (AIEE) property and subsequently, presents an efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to generate singlet oxygen under linear and nonlinear light sources. Biologically, this FON-photosensitizer is much more phototoxic to cancer cells than to normal cells without significant dark toxicity. Eventually, a new approach, called FON FRET-PDT or AIEE FRET-PDT, to promote the PDT effect is expected.