Ir(III)-Based Photosensitizer inducing Immunogenic Cell Death via Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) provides a targeted cancer treatment strategy by utilizing photosensitizers (PS) activated by light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), effectively inducing cancer cell death. However, conventional PS often face challenges such as limited tissue penetration, insufficient ROS generation, and a narrow scope of induced cell death mechanisms. To overcome these limitations, we developed iridium based photosensitisers with enhanced ROS production efficiency. Importantly, our synthetic Ir-PS demonstrated the capability to induce ferroptosis, a programmed cell death pathway associated with strong inflammatory and immunogenic features. Preliminary fluorescence imaging revealed non-apoptotic cell death characteristics, and further biochemical validation is ongoing to elucidate the precise pathways involved. Our research highlights the potential of Ir-based photosensitizers to expand the scope and efficacy of PDT by leveraging ferroptosis, providing a promising route towards more effective and selective anticancer therapies.