Medicinal Phototherapy with Photosensitizers and Crystallography in the Spingler group

We are working in two research areas: Medicinal Chemistry and Method Development of Single Crystal Growth.

In the field of MedChem, we work towards a more efficient Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Photothermal Therapy (PTT). Previously, we have synthesized novel nanometer sized porphyrin-platinum conjugates. They display excellent light toxicity when irradiated with visible light, but essentially no dark toxicity against various human cancer cell lines. Our currently best photosensitizers are characterized by an excellent light to dark toxicity ratio of >830'000 under normoxic and of >360'000 under hypoxic conditions (0.2% O₂) after irradiation at 630 nm.

Part of the group currently studies innovative ways of improving the crystallization of small molecules, which can also be used for the salt screening of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).