Screening of Photosensitizers by Chemiluminescence Monitoring of Formation Dynamics of Singlet Oxygen during Photodynamic Therapy

Finding an efficient photosensitizer is crucial in ensuring a therapeutic effect of photodynamic treatment. Currently, screening of photosensitizers during photodynamic therapy is achieved by evaluating the total yield of singlet oxygen (1O2), rather than monitoring the formation dynamics of 1O2. 1O2-based chemiluminescence (CL) is a suitable method to directly monitor the generated amount of 1O2. Herein, the tetraphenylethene-sodium dodecyl sulfonate surfactant with aggregation-induced emission characteristics can remarkably amplify the intrinsic CL emission from 1O2 by integrating its micellar microenvironment with a CL energy acceptor effect in a cage-like structure. We present a new luminescence platform for the rapid screening of photosensitizers by monitoring the formation dynamics of 1O2 during photodynamic therapy. This study will not only be critical in optimizing the irradiation time during photodynamic therapy but also open a new door to the discovery of efficient photosensitizers.