| abstract |
The invention relates generally to optical agents for biomedical applications, including phototherapy. The invention includes optical agents, and related therapeutic methods, comprising compounds with an acyclic N—N bond having at least one aromatic and/or heterocyclic aromatic group providing phototherapeutic agents, including Type 1 phototherapeutic agents. In some embodiments, for example, the invention provides compounds for phototherapeutic methods having one or more photolabile acyclic N—N bonds capable of undergoing photoactivated cleavage to produce reactive species, such as radicals, ions, etc., that achieve a desired therapeutic effect, such as selective and/or localized tissue damage and/or cell death. |