Quantum Computing for Photosensitizer Design in Photodynamic Therapy
Abstract
Use of light in healthcare is evolving with increasing applications of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for treating various cancers. PDT utilizes light-activated molecules called photosensitizers (PSs) that generate reactive oxygen species (ROSs) to induce tumor cell apoptosis and necrosis. However, the use of PDT is limited by the availability of PSs that can be activated by deep tissue-penetrating near-infrared light, exhibit low dark toxicity, and produce ROSs efficiently. Here we review the different categories of PS currently used in clinical or preclinical trials and highlight the significance of advanced computational methods, including density functional and wave function-based quantum chemistry, for understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in PS activation. Despite advancements in classical computational techniques, the complexities of excited state dynamics in highly correlated molecular systems demand innovative simulation approaches such as quantum computing. We propose that quantum computing holds promise for accurately modeling the excited-state properties of PSs to optimize their design and broaden clinical applications.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Quantum dots: synthesis, bioapplications, and toxicity
- A Guide to In Silico Drug Design
- In silico toxicology protocols
- Automated in Silico Design of Homogeneous Catalysts
- In-silico strategies in nano-drug design: Bridging nanomaterials and pharmacological applications
- mRNA codon optimization with quantum computers
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.