Medicinal Chemistry

Fluorescent Dyes Used in Polymer Carriers as Imaging Agents in Anticancer Therapy

Abstract

Beata Miksa

This review highlights the role of fluorescent dyes as active “molecular photoswiches” focusing on the application in bioimaging and anticancer therapies in the field of therapeutic delivery. The author describes the development of prodrugs targeted to specific cell types and polymeric nanocarriers (capsules, micelles and silica nanoparticles) used as fluorescent probes which offer advantages in the integration of “smart” features of fluorescent dyes into synthetic materials. The incorporation of biologically responsive components that cleave upon changes in pH or light irradiation is fundamental to the successful design of such carriers with capabilities to load and release therapeutics specifically at a target site.