Structural, Photophysical, and Photobiological Studies on BODIPY‐Anthracene Dyads

Abstract

Abstract We report the structural, photophysical, and photobiological properties of a promising BODIPY‐anthracene dyad (BAD) that was previously shown to induce a therapeutic effect against MDA‐MB‐468 cells. The BODIPY was synthesized and its crystal structure was elucidated. We further investigate the potential of this molecule as a versatile photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy against AY27 and F98 cancer cell models. Both necrosis and apoptosis were found to play a role in cell death and G1 phase arrestation was observed following PDT. From time‐resolved spectroscopic analysis of absorbance and luminescence, it was found that the singlet oxygen quantum yield of the most promising BODIPY‐anthracene dyad is high (>70 %) and originates from a triplet state. Interestingly, despite the efficient PDT effect, long‐lived triplet states or singlet oxygen formation were not observed when water (or D 2 O) was used as the solvent but were readily observed in solvents such as MeOH and EtOH.