Glycofullerene–corrole hybrids: a new class of multifunctional nanomaterials with potential in targeted photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Corrole photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) have garnered significant attention due to their promising potential in cancer treatment. Advances in understanding their photophysical and photochemical properties have facilitated the development of more efficient and targeted PDT strategies. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a series of alkyne-substituted gallium(III) corrole complexes, as well as their conjugation to azide-functionalized glycofullerenes via copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reactions. The resulting glycofullerene–corrole conjugates were obtained and fully characterized using standard spectroscopic techniques. Their photodynamic efficacy was evaluated in vitro using HeLa cells. Among the series, the mono- and tris-alkyne-substituted corroles, as well as the monofunctionalized glycofullerene conjugate, exhibited the most potent PDT effects in cells, achieving IC₅₀ values below 1.0 µM under blue irradiation at 420 nm with a total light dose as low as 5 J cm⁻². These findings highlight the potential of gallium(III) corrole-based nanostructures as water-soluble and efficient photosensitizers for PDT applications.