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The combination between photoactive molecules and inorganic structures is of great interest for the development of advanced materials in the field of optics. Particularly, zeotypes with extra-large pore size are attractive because they allow the encapsulation of bulky dyes. The microporous aluminophoshate Mg-ITQ-51 (IFO-type structure) represents an ideal candidate because of the synergic combination of two crucial features: the IFO framework itself, which is composed of non-interconnected one-dimensional extra-large elliptical channels with a diameter up to 11 Å able to host bulky guest species, and the particular organic structure-directing agent used for the synthesis (1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene, DMAN), which efficiently fills the IFO pores, and is itself a photoactive molecule with interesting fluorescence properties in the blue range of the visible spectrum, thus providing a densely-incorporated donor species for FRET processes. Besides, occlusion of DMAN dye in the framework triggers a notable improvement of its fluorescence properties by confinement effect. To extend the action of the material and to mimic processes such as photosynthesis in which FRET is essential, two robust laser dyes with bulky size, rhodamine 123 and Nile Blue, have been encapsulated for the first time in a zeolitic framework, together with DMAN, in a straightforward one-pot synthesis. Thus, photoactive systems with emission in the entire visible range have been achieved due to a partial FRET between organic chromophores protected in a rigid aluminophosphate matrix.

Styryl dyes are generally poor fluorescent molecules inherited from their flexible molecular structures. However, their emissive properties can be boosted by restricting their molecular motions. A tight confinement into inorganic molecular sieves is a good strategy to yield highly fluorescent hybrid systems. In this work, we compare the confinement effect of two Mg-aluminophosphate zeotypes with distinct pore systems (the AEL framework, a one-dimensional channeled structure with elliptical pores of 6.5 Å × 4.0 Å, and the CHA framework, composed of large cavities of 6.7 Å × 10.0 Å connected by eight-ring narrower windows) for the encapsulation of 4-DASPI styryl dye (trans-4-[4-(Dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide). The resultant hybrid systems display significantly improved photophysical features compared to 4-DASPI in solution as a result of tight confinement in both host inorganic frameworks. Molecular simulations reveal a tighter confinement of 4-DASPI in the elliptical channels of AEL, explaining its excellent photophysical properties. On the other hand, a singular arrangement of 4-DASPI dye is found when confined within the cavity-based CHA framework, where the 4-DASPI molecule spans along two adjacent cavities, with each aromatic ring sitting on these adjacent cavities and the polymethine chain residing within the narrower eight-ring window. However, despite the singularity of this host–guest arrangement, it provides less tight confinement for 4-DASPI than AEL, resulting in a slightly lower quantum yield.

Styryl dyes are generally poor fluorescent molecules inherited from their flexible molecular structures. However, their emissive properties can be boosted by restricting their molecular motions. A tight confinement into inorganic molecular sieves is a good strategy to yield highly fluorescent hybrid systems. In this work, we compare the confinement effect of two Mg-aluminophosphate zeotypes with distinct pore systems (the AEL framework, a one-dimensional channeled structure with elliptical pores of 6.5 Å × 4.0 Å, and the CHA framework, composed of large cavities of 6.7 Å × 10.0 Å connected by eight-ring narrower windows) for the encapsulation of 4-DASPI styryl dye (trans-4-[4-(Dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide). The resultant hybrid systems display significantly improved photophysical features compared to 4-DASPI in solution as a result of tight confinement in both host inorganic frameworks. Molecular simulations reveal a tighter confinement of 4-DASPI in the elliptical channels of AEL, explaining its excellent photophysical properties. On the other hand, a singular arrangement of 4-DASPI dye is found when confined within the cavity-based CHA framework, where the 4-DASPI molecule spans along two adjacent cavities, with each aromatic ring sitting on these adjacent cavities and the polymethine chain residing within the narrower eight-ring window. However, despite the singularity of this host–guest arrangement, it provides less tight confinement for 4-DASPI than AEL, resulting in a slightly lower quantum yield.

BODIPY dyes have recently attracted attention as potential photosensitizers. In this work, commercial and novel photosensitizers (PSs) based on BODIPY chromophores (haloBODIPYs and orthogonal dimers strategically designed with intense bands in the blue, green or red region of the visible spectra and high singlet oxygen production) were covalently linked to mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) further functionalized with PEG and folic acid (FA). MSNs approximately 50 nm in size with different functional groups were synthesized to allow multiple alternatives of PS-PEG-FA decoration of their external surface. Different combinations varying the type of PS (commercial Rose Bengal, Thionine and Chlorine e6 or custom-made BODIPY-based), the linkage design, and the length of PEG are detailed. All the nanosystems were physicochemically characterized (morphology, diameter, size distribution and PS loaded amount) and photophysically studied (absorption capacity, fluorescence efficiency, and singlet oxygen production) in suspension. For the most promising PS-PEG-FA silica nanoplatforms, the biocompatibility in dark conditions and the phototoxicity under suitable irradiation wavelengths (blue, green, or red) at regulated light doses (10–15 J/cm2) were compared with PSs free in solution in HeLa cells in vitro., Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa (España), Gobierno Vasco, Universidad del País Vasco, Sección Deptal. de Química Orgánica (Óptica y Optometría), Fac. de Óptica y Optometría, TRUE, pub

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are widely known for their versatile applications. One of the most extended is as drug delivery systems for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. This review compiles the most representative examples in the last years of functionalized MSNs as photosensitizer carriers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) against cancer. Several commercially available photosensitizers (PSs) demonstrated poor solubility in an aqueous medium and insufficient selectivity for cancer tissues. The tumor specificity of PSs is a key factor for enhancing the PDT effect and at the same time reducing side effects. The use of nanoparticles and particularly MSNs, in which PS is covalently anchored or physically embedded, can overcome these limitations. For that, PS-MSNs can be externally decorated with compounds of interest in order to act as an active target for certain cancer cells, demonstrating enhanced phototoxicity in vitro and in vivo. The objective of this review is to collect and compare different nanosystems based on PS-MSNs pointing out their advantages in PDT against diverse types of cancers.

[ES] Compuestos para etiquetado fluorescente. La presente invención se refiere a unos compuestos de estructura BODIPY con buenas propiedades para el etiquetado fluorescente específico de C-nucleófilos, así como su procedimiento de obtención que permite de manera eficiente y económica la preparación de una gran diversidad de compuestos de forma directa, rápida, y con buenos rendimientos de reacción. La aplicación de estos compuestos incluye, aunque no exclusivamente, su uso como marcadores biológicos para la tinción selectiva de células y microrganismos vivos, como sondas fluorescentes en biosensores en bioimagen de organismos vivos o los captadores de energía en células solares, o como emisores en láseres de colorante o como emisores en sistemas OLED., [EN] Fluorescent labeling compounds. The present invention refers to compounds with a BODIPY structure with good properties for the specific fluorescent labeling of C-nucleophiles, as well as its obtaining procedure that allows efficiently and economically the preparation of a great diversity of compounds directly, quickly. , and with good reaction yields. The application of these compounds includes, although not exclusively, their use as biological markers for the selective staining of living cells and microorganisms, as fluorescent probes in biosensors in bioimaging of living organisms or energy harvesters in solar cells, or as emitters in lasers. dye or as emitters in OLED systems.

[EN] The present invention relates to compounds of BODIPY structure having good properties for the specific fluorescent labelling of C-nucleophiles and to the process of obtainment thereof, which enables the efficient and economic preparation of a great diversity of compounds in a direct, fast way and with good reaction yields. The application of these compounds includes, but is not limited to, their use as biomarkers for selective staining of living cells and microorganisms, as fluorescent probes in biosensors in bioimaging of living organisms or energy scavengers in solar cells, or as emitters in dye lasers or as emitters in OLED systems., [ES] La presente invención se refiere a unos compuestos de estructura BODIPY con buenas propiedades para el etiquetado fluorescente específico de C-nucleófilos, así como su procedimiento de obtención que permite de manera eficiente y económica la preparación de una gran diversidad de compuestos de forma directa, rápida, y con buenos rendimientos de reacción. La aplicación de estos compuestos incluye, aunque no exclusivamente, su uso como marcadores biológicos para la tinción selectiva de células y microrganismos vivos, como sondas fluorescentes en biosensores en bioimagen de organismos vivos o los captadores de energía en células solares, o como emisores en láseres de colorante o como emisores en sistemas OLED., [FR] La présente invention concerne des composés de structure BODIPY ayant de bonnes propriétés pour l'étiquetage fluorescent spécifique de C-nucléophiles, ainsi que leur procédé d'obtention permettant de manière efficace et économique la préparation d'une grande variété de composés de manière directe, rapide et avec de bons rendements de réaction. L'application de ces composés comprend, même de manière non exclusive, leur utilisation comme marqueurs biologiques pour la coloration sélective de cellules et de micro-organismes vivants, comme sondes fluorescentes dans des biocapteurs en bio-imagerie d'organismes vivants ou capteurs d'énergie dans des cellules solaires ou comme émetteurs dans des lasers à colorant ou comme émetteurs dans des systèmes OLED.

Magnetotactic bacteria are envisaged as potential theranostic agents. Their internal magnetic compass, chemical environment specificity and natural motility enable these microorganisms to behave as nanorobots, as they can be tracked and guided towards specific regions in the body and activated to generate a therapeutic response. Here we provide additional diagnostic functionalities to magnetotactic bacteria Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense MSR-1 while retaining their intrinsic capabilities. These additional functionalities are achieved by incorporating Tb or Gd in the bacteria by culturing them in Tb/Gd supplemented media. The incorporation of Tb provides luminescence properties, enabling potential applications of bacteria as biomarkers. The incorporation of Gd turns bacteria into dual contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, since Gd adds T1 contrast to the existing T2 contrast of unmodified bacteria. Given their potential clinical applications, the diagnostic ability of the modified MSR-1 has been successfully tested in vitro in two cell models, confirming their suitability as fluorescent markers (Tb-MSR-1) and dual contrast agents for MRI (Gd-MSR-1).

Received 18th July 2022, Accepted 23rd November 2022, The search for efficient heavy atom free photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a very active field. We describe herein a simple and easily accessible molecular design based on the attachment of an enamine group as an electron-donor moiety at the meso position of the BODIPY core with different alkylation patterns. The effect of the alkylation degree and solvent polarity on the photophysical properties in terms of splitting absorption bands, fluorescence efficiencies and singlet oxygen production is analyzed in depth experimentally using spectroscopic techniques, including femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption (fs- and ns-TA) and using computational simulations based on time-dependent density functional theory. The correlation between the theoretical/experimental results permits the rationalization of the observed photophysical behavior exhibited by meso-enamine-BODIPY compounds and the determination of mechanistic details, which rule the population of the triplet state manifold. The potential applicability as a theragnostic agent for the most promising compound is demonstrated through in vitro assays in HeLa cells by analyzing the internalization, localization and phototoxic action., MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, Gobierno vasco (España), Sección Deptal. de Química Orgánica (Óptica y Optometría), Fac. de Óptica y Optometría, TRUE, pub

235 p., En este trabajo se han propuesto nuevos colorantes basados principalmente en la estructura del cromóforo BODIPY, así como nuevos nanosistemas híbridos fotoactivos para su potencial implementación en el campo biomedicina, en particular para bioimagen y terapia fotodinámica del cáncer.Primero, el desarrollo de nuevos biomarcadores fluorescentes se basó en la modificación del cromóforo BODIPY para mejorar su solubiliad en medios acuosos y su selectividad hacia orgánulos específicos de la célula i.e. mitocondria. Para ellos, se añadieron grupos hidrofílicos y biomoleculas especificas, respectivamente. Posteriormente, se estudió la funcionalización del cromóforo BODIPY con el objetivo de lograr fotosensibilizadores con alta producción de oxigeno singlete por un lado mediante la introducción de átomos halogenados y además sistemas ¿-conjugados que desplazan la absorción hacia la región roja dentro de la ventana clínica, o por otro lado anclando grupos dadores de electrones que activen un estado de transferencia de carga intramolecular capaz de modular la capacidad fluorescente junto con la generación de oxígeno singlete, ideal para aplicaciones teranosticas.Además, se sintetizaron tres tipos de nanopartículas esféricas de sílice (no porosas, mesoporosas y ormosil) de entorno a 50 nm de tamaño, que junto con una nanoarcilla sintética (laponita) de unos 100 nm, se utilizaron como trasportadores de colorantes: fluoroforos (principalmente ocluidos en el core) o fotosensibilizadores (unidos covalentemente en la superficie externa). Estos nanosistemas se funcionalizaron además con polietilen glicol y ácido fólico para mejorar su estabilidad en agua y su selectividad hacia células tumorales.

Three different molecular designs based on BODIPY dye have been proposed as photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) by the inclusion of halogen atoms (Iodine) at 2,6-positions and with extended conjugation at 3, 5-positions and varying the substitution at meso position. The synthesis is described and their main photophysical features including singlet oxygen production and triplet states were characterized by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy (steady-state and time-correlated) and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The results were compared with the commercial Chlorin e6. The three new red-halogen-BODIPYs showed a great balance between singlet oxygen generation (Phi(Delta)>= 0.40) and fluorescence (Phi(fl)>= 0.22) for potential application on PDT, and particularly in theragnosis. In vitro experiments in HeLa cells were done to study their performance and to elucidate the best potential candidate for PDT.

346 p. (eng.) 246 p. (eusk.), En esta tesis se desarrollan y estudian materiales híbridos zeotípicos fotoactivos para la obtención de sistemas multifuncionales en estado sólido con interesantes propiedades ópticas aptas para aplicaciones en el campo de la fotónica. Para ello, se atrapan colorantes orgánicos en nanocavidades restringidas de estructuras inorgánicas de aluminofosfato dopadas con metales (con Si o Mg, obteniendo estructuras tipo SAPO y MgAPO, respectivamente) para promover procesos fotofísicos nuevos y/o mejorados en los materiales por efecto sinérgico, en comparación con los fluoróforos aislados.En este trabajo se preparan un gran número de materiales de colorante-AlPO, combinando varias estructuras con diferentes formas y tamaños de poros/canales en el rango de dimensiones moleculares, con una amplia gama de colorantes orgánicos, principalmente de las familias de estirilos y aromáticos fusionados de tres anillos. La inclusión de fluoróforos en las cavidades de los AlPOs realizada "in situ" por el método de inclusión por cristalización permite el desarrollo directo de materiales híbridos fluorescentes con funcionalidades ópticas destacadas y específicas en un solo paso y en cortos periodos de tiempo, describiendo así una síntesis rentable y eficiente para sistemas avanzados.Por un lado, como resultado de la sinergia entre moléculas fotoactivas push-pull con anfitriones de aluminofosfato canalizados en 1D (AFI, ATS y AEL) y una estructura de tipo jaula-3D (CHA), se obtienen sistemas sólidos ópticamente densos con capacidad de fluorescencia mejorada y respuesta altamente anisotrópica a la luz linealmente polarizada. A través de esta estrategia las aplicaciones logradas son diversas, desde emisores NIR hasta generadores de segundo armónico y láseres en estado sólido a nivel de partícula.Por otro lado, la oclusión simultánea de diferentes especies fotoactivas en los aluminofosfatos (IFO y AEL) promueve la probabilidad de procesos de FRET en cascada entre moléculas orgánicas ocluidas en

Current methods for the preparation of functional small-molecule fluorophores generally require labor-intensive, multi-step synthetic routes for all the major chromophoric groups. In spite of recent significant contributions from numerous laboratories, the paucity of rapid, straightforward and wide-scope synthetic strategies in this field is limiting the development of advanced probes for bioimaging, sensing and therapeutic applications. We describe herein a general and robust methodology for the one-step fluorescent labeling of a wide variety of molecules having C-, N-, P-, O-, S-, or halide-nucleophilic centers, using stable and readily available acetoxymethyl-BODIPYs as reagents in the presence of an acid catalyst. This modular methodology allows a very facile preparation of mono- and di-functional probes incorporating a broad assortment of biomolecules, enzyme cofactors, natural products, and other chromophores, as well as chemical functionalities for a wide range of applications including bioorthogonal conjugation, polymerization, and supramolecular chemistry, among others. The photophysical properties and preliminary applications of the new probes in live-cell imaging were also studied. The described strategy enables the high-throughput engineering of novel BODIPY dyes with diverse functionalities for basic and applied science with potential for innovative technological applications.

BINOL moieties of different electronic demand are useful blocks for enabling the photo-production and modulation of triplet excited states in readily-accesible BINOL-based O-BODIPY dyes from standard F-BODIPY precursors. The rapid and rational development of smarter triplet-enabling BODIPY dyes on the basis of this strategy (e.g., TADF biomarker 4a or room temperature phosphor 4g) paves the way for advancing photonic applications based on organic triplet photosensitizers.

The first fluorescent probes that are actively channeled into the mitochondrial matrix by a specific mitochondrial membrane transporter in living cells have been developed. The new functional probes (BCT) have a minimalist structural design based on the highly efficient and photostable BODIPY chromophore and carnitine as a biotargeting element. Both units are orthogonally bonded through the common boron atom, thus avoiding the use of complex polyatomic connectors. In contrast to known mitochondria-specific dyes, BCTs selectively label these organelles regardless of their transmembrane potential and in an enantioselective way. The obtained experimental evidence supports carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) as the key transporter protein for BCTs, which behave therefore as acylcarnitine biomimetics. This simple structural design can be readily extended to other structurally diverse starting FBODIPYs to obtain BCTs with varied emission wavelengths along the visible and NIR spectral regions and with multifunctional capabilities. BCTs are the first fluorescent derivatives of carnitine to be used in cell microscopy and stand as promising research tools to explore the role of the carnitine shuttle system in cancer and metabolic diseases. Extension of this approach to other small-molecule mitochondrial transporters is envisaged.

BODIPY dyes have recently attracted attention as potential photosensitizers. In this work, commercial and novel photosensitizers (PSs) based on BODIPY chromophores (haloBODIPYs and orthogonal dimers strategically designed with intense bands in the blue, green or red region of the visible spectra and high singlet oxygen production) were covalently linked to mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) further functionalized with PEG and folic acid (FA). MSNs approximately 50 nm in size with different functional groups were synthesized to allow multiple alternatives of PS-PEG-FA decoration of their external surface. Different combinations varying the type of PS (commercial Rose Bengal, Thionine and Chlorine e6 or custom-made BODIPY-based), the linkage design, and the length of PEG are detailed. All the nanosystems were physicochemically characterized (morphology, diameter, size distribution and PS loaded amount) and photophysically studied (absorption capacity, fluorescence efficiency, and singlet oxygen production) in suspension. For the most promising PS-PEG-FA silica nanoplatforms, the biocompatibility in dark conditions and the phototoxicity under suitable irradiation wavelengths (blue, green, or red) at regulated light doses (10–15 J/cm2) were compared with PSs free in solution in HeLa cells in vitro.

A new fluorescent probe has been developed by slightly modifying the structure of a BODIPY-carnitine probe previously described by our group. [1] The introduction of Br atoms at the available positions of the chromophore (2 and 6) had the desired effect of causing the probe to generate significant amounts of singlet oxygen when submitted to green light irradiation, while retaining some of the initial probe¿s fluorescence. In vitro fluorescence microscopy studies have shown staining of mitochondria as well as other parts of the cell at concentrations as low as 5 µM. Furthermore, apoptosis of approximately 80% of the irradiated cells previously treated with moderate concentrations of the new probe could be confirmed by flow cytometry only two hours after irradiation, whereas no significant degree of apoptosis was observed in the control experiment without irradiation. These findings support our hypothesis, suggesting that the new probe does not provoke cell death while kept in darkness and that the apoptosis observed in irradiated cells can be attributed to phototoxicity caused by the release of vast amounts of reactive oxygen species during irradiation. Both its fluorescence and its ability to selectively destroy cells by irradiating the desired region with green light make this new probe a promising candidate for applications in bioimaging and photodynamic therapy.

Our recent work demonstrates that certain flavoproteins can catalyze the redox activation of Pt(IV) prodrug complexes under light irradiation. Herein, we used site-directed mutagenesis on the mini singlet oxygen generator (mSOG) to modulate the photocatalytic activity of this flavoprotein toward two model Pt(IV) substrates. Among the prepared mutants, Q103V mSOG displayed enhanced catalytic efficiency as a result of its longer triplet excited-state lifetime. This study shows, for the first time, that protein engineering can improve the catalytic capacity of a protein toward metal-containing substrates.

This article is part of a Special Issue dedicated to Dr. Thomas Dougherty. Version of Record online: 20 April 2020, Accepted manuscript online: 20 February 2020, Manuscript accepted: 20 December 2019, Manuscript received: 30 September 2019. This is the peer reviewed version, which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13232]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions., This minireview is devoted to honoring the memory of Dr. Thomas Dougherty, a pioneer of modern photodynamic therapy (PDT). It compiles the most important inputs made by our research group since 2012 in the development of new photosensitizers based on BODIPY chromophore which, thanks to the rich BODIPY chemistry, allows a finely tuned design of the photophysical properties of this family of dyes to serve as efficient photosensitizers for the generation of singlet oxygen. These two factors, photophysical tuning and workable chemistry, have turned BODIPY chromophore as one of the most promising dyes for the development of improved photosensitizers for PDT. In this line, this minireview is mainly related to the establishment of chemical methods and structural designs for enabling efficient singlet oxygen generation in BODIPYs. The approaches include the incorporation of heavy atoms, such as halogens (iodine or bromine) in different number and positions on the BODIPY scaffold, and also transition metal atoms, by their complexation with Ir(III) center, for instance. On the other hand, low‐toxicity approaches, without involving heavy metals, have been developed by preparing several orthogonal BODIPY dimers with different substitution patterns. The advantages and drawbacks of all these diverse molecular designs based on BODIPY structural framework are described., Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Comunidad de Madrid, Gobierno Vasco, Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa, Sección Deptal. de Química Orgánica (Óptica y Optometría), Fac. de Óptica y Optometría, TRUE, inpress

By simultaneous occlusion of rationally chosen dyes, emitting in the blue, green and red region of the electromagnetic spectrum, into the one-dimensional channels of a magnesium-aluminophosphate with AEL-zeolitic type structure, MgAPO-11, a solid-state system with efficient white light emission under UV excitation, was achieved. The dyes herein selected—acridine (AC), pyronin Y (PY), and hemicyanine LDS722—ensure overall a good match between their molecular sizes and the MgAPO-11 channel dimensions. The occlusion was carried out via the crystallization inclusion method, in a suitable proportion of the three dyes to render efficient white fluorescence systems by means of fine-tuned FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) energy transfer processes. The FRET processes are thoroughly examined by the analysis of fluorescence decay traces using the femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion technique

Functionalized fluorescent silica nanoparticles were designed and synthesized to selectively target cancer cells for bioimaging analysis. The synthesis method and characterization of functionalized fluorescent silica nanoparticles (50–60 nm), as well as internalization and subcellular localization in HeLa cells is reported here. The dye, rhodamine 101 (R101) was physically embedded during the sol–gel synthesis. The dye loading was optimized by varying the synthesis conditions (temperature and dye concentration added to the gel) and by the use of different organotriethoxysilanes as a second silica precursor. Additionally, R101, was also covalently bound to the functionalized external surface of the silica nanoparticles. The quantum yields of the dye-doped silica nanoparticles range from 0.25 to 0.50 and demonstrated an enhanced brightness of 230–260 fold respect to the free dye in solution. The shell of the nanoparticles was further decorated with PEG of 2000 Da and folic acid (FA) to ensure good stability in water and to enhance selectivity to cancer cells, respectively. In vitro assays with HeLa cells showed that fluorescent nanoparticles were internalized by cells accumulating exclusively into lysosomes. Quantitative analysis showed a significantly higher accumulation of FA functionalized fluorescent silica nanoparticles compared to nanoparticles without FA, proving that the former may represent good candidates for targeting cancer cells.

235 p., En este trabajo se han propuesto nuevos colorantes basados principalmente en la estructura del cromóforo BODIPY, así como nuevos nanosistemas híbridos fotoactivos para su potencial implementación en el campo biomedicina, en particular para bioimagen y terapia fotodinámica del cáncer.Primero, el desarrollo de nuevos biomarcadores fluorescentes se basó en la modificación del cromóforo BODIPY para mejorar su solubiliad en medios acuosos y su selectividad hacia orgánulos específicos de la célula i.e. mitocondria. Para ellos, se añadieron grupos hidrofílicos y biomoleculas especificas, respectivamente. Posteriormente, se estudió la funcionalización del cromóforo BODIPY con el objetivo de lograr fotosensibilizadores con alta producción de oxigeno singlete por un lado mediante la introducción de átomos halogenados y además sistemas ¿-conjugados que desplazan la absorción hacia la región roja dentro de la ventana clínica, o por otro lado anclando grupos dadores de electrones que activen un estado de transferencia de carga intramolecular capaz de modular la capacidad fluorescente junto con la generación de oxígeno singlete, ideal para aplicaciones teranosticas.Además, se sintetizaron tres tipos de nanopartículas esféricas de sílice (no porosas, mesoporosas y ormosil) de entorno a 50 nm de tamaño, que junto con una nanoarcilla sintética (laponita) de unos 100 nm, se utilizaron como trasportadores de colorantes: fluoroforos (principalmente ocluidos en el core) o fotosensibilizadores (unidos covalentemente en la superficie externa). Estos nanosistemas se funcionalizaron además con polietilen glicol y ácido fólico para mejorar su estabilidad en agua y su selectividad hacia células tumorales.