Work

Advances in ferrocene photosensitizers: illuminating new avenues in the medicinal chemistry of cancer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment for diseases like cancer and microbial infections, relying on light-activated photosensitizers to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species. While PDT has shown clinical success, developing novel photosensitizers with improved properties remains challenging. Ferrocene, with its unique stability, redox activity, and tunability, offers an attractive scaffold for this purpose. This review delves into the recent advancements in ferrocene-based photosensitizers, exploring their design strategies, mechanisms of action, and diverse applications in medicinal chemistry. We critically discuss their potential, comparing structure-activity relationships across various ferrocene derivatives and evaluating their performance in in vitro cell line assays. Additionally, we address current challenges and future directions, highlighting their potential to significantly advance PDT and offer new therapeutic avenues.

Source: Medicinal Chemistry Research

DOI: 10.1007/s00044-025-03432-2

Authors: Diego I. Figueroa-Figueroa, Francisco Hernández-Luis

Institution: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Language: English

Topic: Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990