Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections

To address the clinical challenges posed by symbiotic drug-resistant bacterial infections and tumor microenvironments, this study designed and synthesized novel carbazole/benzindole-based photosensitizers <b>A1</b>–<b>A4</b>, systematically evaluating their antitumor and anti...

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Main Authors: Zihao Wang, Xiao Liu, Yifan Ma, Jiaxin Zheng, Ke Xu, Yingxue Chang, Zhaoyan Ye, Yong Ling, Lei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2560
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author Zihao Wang
Xiao Liu
Yifan Ma
Jiaxin Zheng
Ke Xu
Yingxue Chang
Zhaoyan Ye
Yong Ling
Lei Wang
author_facet Zihao Wang
Xiao Liu
Yifan Ma
Jiaxin Zheng
Ke Xu
Yingxue Chang
Zhaoyan Ye
Yong Ling
Lei Wang
author_sort Zihao Wang
collection DOAJ
description To address the clinical challenges posed by symbiotic drug-resistant bacterial infections and tumor microenvironments, this study designed and synthesized novel carbazole/benzindole-based photosensitizers <b>A1</b>–<b>A4</b>, systematically evaluating their antitumor and antibacterial therapeutic potential through chemo-photodynamic therapy. Especially, compound <b>A4</b> demonstrated potent Type I/II reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capabilities. In vitro experiments revealed that <b>A4</b> concentration-dependently inhibited HT-29 cells under hypoxic conditions (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.89 μM) with a prominent photodynamic index (PI > 9.23), and substantially promoted cancer cell programmed death. In antibacterial evaluations, <b>A4</b> achieved the complete eradication of dermal MRSA infections within 7 days through ROS-mediated membrane disruption under illumination. In the HT-29 xenograft model, the PDT–chemotherapy synergy strategy achieved a tumor suppression rate of 96%. This work establishes an innovative strategy for the combinatorial management of multidrug-resistant infections and solid tumors.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 1420-3049
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Molecules
spelling doaj-art-c87b95c2643a484faec059151346151a2025-08-20T02:20:59ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-06-013012256010.3390/molecules30122560Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial InfectionsZihao Wang0Xiao Liu1Yifan Ma2Jiaxin Zheng3Ke Xu4Yingxue Chang5Zhaoyan Ye6Yong Ling7Lei Wang8Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaDepartment of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, ChinaTo address the clinical challenges posed by symbiotic drug-resistant bacterial infections and tumor microenvironments, this study designed and synthesized novel carbazole/benzindole-based photosensitizers <b>A1</b>–<b>A4</b>, systematically evaluating their antitumor and antibacterial therapeutic potential through chemo-photodynamic therapy. Especially, compound <b>A4</b> demonstrated potent Type I/II reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation capabilities. In vitro experiments revealed that <b>A4</b> concentration-dependently inhibited HT-29 cells under hypoxic conditions (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.89 μM) with a prominent photodynamic index (PI > 9.23), and substantially promoted cancer cell programmed death. In antibacterial evaluations, <b>A4</b> achieved the complete eradication of dermal MRSA infections within 7 days through ROS-mediated membrane disruption under illumination. In the HT-29 xenograft model, the PDT–chemotherapy synergy strategy achieved a tumor suppression rate of 96%. This work establishes an innovative strategy for the combinatorial management of multidrug-resistant infections and solid tumors.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2560photodynamic therapy (PDT)drug-resistant bacterial infectionMRSAreactive oxygen species (ROS)tumor microenvironment
spellingShingle Zihao Wang
Xiao Liu
Yifan Ma
Jiaxin Zheng
Ke Xu
Yingxue Chang
Zhaoyan Ye
Yong Ling
Lei Wang
Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections
Molecules
photodynamic therapy (PDT)
drug-resistant bacterial infection
MRSA
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
tumor microenvironment
title Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections
title_full Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections
title_fullStr Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections
title_full_unstemmed Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections
title_short Novel Type I/II Carbazole/Benzindole Photosensitizers Achieve Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy for Suppressing Solid Tumors and Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections
title_sort novel type i ii carbazole benzindole photosensitizers achieve chemo photodynamic synergistic therapy for suppressing solid tumors and drug resistant bacterial infections
topic photodynamic therapy (PDT)
drug-resistant bacterial infection
MRSA
reactive oxygen species (ROS)
tumor microenvironment
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2560
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