Detection and Elimination of Senescent Cells with a Self-Assembled Senescence-Associated β-Galactosidase-Activatable Nanophotosensitizer

Senescent cells have become an important therapeutic target for many age-related dysfunctions and diseases. We report herein a novel nanophotosensitizing system that is responsive to the senescence-associated β-galactosidase (β-gal) for selective detection and elimination of these cells. It involves a dimeric zinc(II) phthalocyanine linked to a β-galactose unit via a self-immolative linker. This compound can self-assemble in aqueous media, forming stable nanoscale particles in which the phthalocyanine units are stacked and self-quenched for fluorescence emission and singlet oxygen production. Upon internalization into senescent HeLa cells, these nanoparticles interact with the overproduced senescence-associated β-gal inside the cells to trigger the disassembly process through enzymatic cleavage of the glycosidic bonds, followed by self-immolation to release the photoactive monomeric phthalocyanine units. These senescent cells can then be lit up with fluorescence and eliminated through the photodynamic action upon light irradiation with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.06 μM.