Design and synthesis of a chemiluminogenic phototherapy agent

In this thesis, a novel therapeutic agent based on resorufin scaffold with chemiluminogenic properties was developed. Owing to its chemiluminogenic structure that is responsive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), it enables a multimodal therapeutic approach that can be activated by external stimuli such as light and/or ultrasound. The photodynamic, sonodynamic, and sonophotodynamic properties of the material were systematically investigated. To enhance its bioavailability and targetability, the agent was formulated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) modified with folic acid (FA). In vitro biological tests including cytotoxicity and biocompatibility assays, which confirmed the biocompatibility of the agent, were performed. Furthermore, when incubated with luminal breast cancer (MCF-7) cells, the agent induced a marked reduction in cell viability upon exposure to light (PDT) and/or ultrasound (SDT). Comparative analyses of treatment groups demonstrated that sonophotodynamic therapy (SPDT) elicited a stronger anticancer effect than single-mode approaches (PDT or SDT). In conclusion, this study reports the development of a chemiluminogenic, targetable, and multimodal therapeutic agent. By introducing an innovative strategy particularly in the field of sonophotodynamic therapy, this agent holds significant potential as a safe and effective alternative for cancer treatment.