Photodissociation of bromine-substituted nitroimidazole radiosensitizers




Pihlava Lassi, Berholts Marta, Niskanen Johannes, Vladyka Anton, Kooser Kuno, Stråhlman Christian, Eng-Johnsson Per, Kivimäki Antti, Kukk Edwin

PublisherRoyal Society of Chemistry

2023

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

25

18

13004

13011

1463-9084

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP04888D

https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP04888D

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179460510



Heavy elements and some nitroimidazoles both exhibit radiosensitizing properties through different mechanisms. In an effort to see how the overall radiosensitivity might be affected when the two radiosensitizers are combined in the same molecule, we studied the gas-phase photodissociation of two brominated nitroimidazoles and a bromine-free reference sample. Synchrotron radiation was employed to initiate the photodynamics and energy-resolved multiparticle coincidence spectroscopy was used to study the ensuing dissociation. We observed the brominated samples releasing high amounts of potentially radiosensitizing fragments upon dissociation. Since bromination also increases the likelihood of the drug molecule being ionised per a given X-ray dose, we conclude that heavy-element substitution of nitroimidazoles appears to be a viable path towards new, potent radiosensitizer drugs.


Last updated on 2025-27-03 at 21:47