Development of Novel Oxygen-Independent Photosensitizers

: We proposed a strategy of photooxidizer-reduction activated alkylator (P-A) hybrid molecule to develop novel oxygen-independent photosensitizers. Two prototypes of such photosensitizers camptothecin-indolequinone (CPT-IQ) and camptothecin-nitrofuryl (CPT-NF) was designed and prepared. A mechanism of photo-induced oxidation and alkylation of 2'-deoxyguanosine by CPT-IQ was investigated. CPT-NF was confirmed to effectively induce DNA cleavage via 365-nm UV irradiation both under normaxia and hypoxia.