Department of Chemistry2024-11-0920211948-587510.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c000182-s2.0-85103780192https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/2001Iodination of the silicon-fluorescein core revealed a new class of highly cytotoxic, red-shifted and water-soluble photosensitizer (SF-I) which is also fairly emissive to serve as a theranostic agent. Singlet oxygen generation capacity of SF-I was evaluated chemically, and up to 45% singlet oxygen quantum yield was reported in aqueous solutions. SF-I was further tested in triple negative breast (MDA MB-231) and colon (HCT-116) cancer cell lines, which are known to have limited chemotherapy options as well as very poor prognosis. SF-I induced efficient singlet oxygen generation and consequent photocytotoxicity in both cell lines upon light irradiation with a negligible dark toxicity while allowing cell imaging at the same time. SF-I marks the first ever example of a silicon xanthene-based photosensitizer and holds a lot of promise as a small-molecule-based theranostic scaffold.pdfPharmacologyPharmacyJournal Articlehttps://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00018651790900012Q2NOIR02867