Antibodies armed with photosensitizers: from chemical synthesis to photobiological applications

Org Biomol Chem. 2015 Mar 7;13(9):2518-29. doi: 10.1039/c4ob02334j.

Abstract

Targeting photosensitizers to cancer cells by conjugating them with specific antibodies, able to recognize and bind to tumor-associated antigens, is today one of the most attractive strategies in photodynamic therapy (PDT). This comprehensive review updates on chemical routes available for the preparation of photo-immunoconjugates (PICs), which show dual chemical and biological functionalities: photo-properties of the photosensitizer and the immunoreactivity of the antibody. Moreover, photobiological results obtained with such photo-immunoconjugates using in vitro and in vivo cancer models are also discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates / chemistry*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Photosensitizing Agents