Type I Photosensitizers Responsive Self-Immolative Polymers: Combining Drug Release with Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

In this work, we present self-immolative polymeric micelles (SIPMs) capable of undergoing cascade degradation triggered by superoxide anions (O2−•) generated from Type I photosensitizers (PSs). This process enables controlled drug release and Type I photodynamic therapy (PDT) to amplify tumor-cell cytotoxicity, providing a platform that combines self-immolative polymer delivery system with Type I PDT.