Pre-seminar Material

Speaker: Prof. Dennis K. P. NG

The Chinese University of Hong Kong
 Curriculum Link
This seminar builds on knowledge learnt in the
DSE curriculum:
•Chemistry: Topics II, VII & XIV
•Combined Science (Chemistry): Topics II & VI

Bowen’s Disease treated by

Photodynamic Therapy

Source of images: Wikipedia

 Photodynamic Therapy
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative
method to treat cancers and age-related
macular degeneration, with fewer side-effects.
• The prefix, photo-, means light.
• Special type of drugs called photosensitisers
are used in PDT.
 Photosensitisers
• Photosensitisers used are metal complexes.
• A central metal ion is linked to ligands through
dative covalent bonds.

A 2nd generation photosensitiser

 Energy Levels of Molecules
When atoms combine to give molecules, there is a redistribution
of electrons. Thus, the energy levels in molecules are not the same
as those in the atoms.

Energy gap Energy gap

Energy levels of an atom Energy levels of a molecule

 Ligands in Photosensitisers
• The ligands in photosensitisers contain conjugated
systems.
• Conjugated systems refer to alternative double and
single bonds ( C=CC=C  ) in molecules.

phthalocyanine
 Ligands in Photosensitisers
• As compared with non-conjugated systems,
electronic transition in conjugated systems
can be induced by absorption of
electromagnetic radiation with longer
wavelength.
• Photosensitisers are designed to absorb
visible light in the longer wavelength end
(i.e. red light) which is harmless.
 Processes in PDT
PDT involves:
• introducing a photosensitiser into the disease-affected
part of the human body,

• with appropriate means, shining electromagnetic

radiation (visible light) of a specific wavelength range
onto the photosensitiser,
• the photosensitisers, after absorbing electromagnetic
radiation, attain a higher energy level (or an “excited
state”).
 Energy Transfer in PDT
• When the photosensitiser falls from a higher
energy level to a lower energy level, energy is
transferred from it to molecular oxygen in
body tissues.
• These oxygen molecules will be promoted
from the ground state to an excited state, and
become high energy species.

ground state excited state

Singlet Oxygen and Triplet Oxygen
• Oxygen molecules in their ground state (O2)
are called triplet oxygen.
• The oxygen molecules in the excited state (O2*)
are called singlet oxygen which are very
reactive and strong oxidising agents.

• In PDT, the O2* formed will lead the attack of

the malignant/cancer cells.
 Scheme of PDT
Light shines on the sensitiser to energise the molecule to its excited state.

Oxygen molecules are excited by the energy

transfer process.
Sensitiser*
(Excited State)
Oxygen
molecule* Cell Damage
(Excited state)
Energy

Light

Oxygen molecule
(Ground state)
Sensitiser
(Ground State)
As the sensitiser decays to its ground state from the excited state, energy is
transferred to the oxygen molecule.
Please refer to the seminar for details
about
the development
and
applications of
photodynamic therapy
 Glossary (詞彙)
Photodynamic therapy 光動力療法
Photosensitiser 光敏劑
Ligand 配位體
Conjugated system 共軛體系
Singlet oxygen 單線態氧
Triplet oxygen 三重態氧
Photofrin 卟吩姆鈉
Absorbance 吸光度
Quantum yield 量子產率
Activation 活化
Phthalocyanine 酞青
 EDB Glossary
• The link to EDB Glossary (Chinese/English) is
http://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/curriculum-
development/kla/science-edu/ref-and-
resources/glossary.html