Octávio da Silva Ferreira

Mr. Octávio da Silva Ferreira

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
1 August 2019 in Dyes and Pigments
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Eurico LimaEurico Lima
Eurico Lima
OFOctávio da Silva Ferreira
Octávio da Silva Ferreira
VGVanessa S.D. Gomes
Vanessa S.D. Gomes
ASAdriana Oliveira Santos
Adriana Oliveira Santos
Renato BotoRenato Boto
Renato Boto
Lucinda Vaz ReisLucinda Vaz Reis
Lucinda Vaz Reis

1 March 2020 in Dyes and Pigments
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
Eurico LimaEurico Lima
Eurico Lima
OFOctávio da Silva Ferreira
Octávio da Silva Ferreira
JSJoana F. Silva
Joana F. Silva
ASAdriana Oliveira Santos
Adriana Oliveira Santos
Renato BotoRenato Boto
Renato Boto
Lucinda Vaz ReisLucinda Vaz Reis
Lucinda Vaz Reis

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CCCatarina Costa
Catarina Costa
Eurico LimaEurico Lima
Eurico Lima
MVMaria Vaz
Maria Vaz
OFOctávio da Silva Ferreira
Octávio da Silva Ferreira
Renato BotoRenato Boto
Renato Boto
Lucinda Vaz ReisLucinda Vaz Reis
Lucinda Vaz Reis
Squaraine dyes are a class of organic compounds that exhibit some characteristics inherent to those of an “ideal photosensitizer”, such as high absorption at near-infrared-close wavelengths and to produce reactive oxygen species. The introduction of amines into their squaric ring, although known to increase the phototoxicity of squaraines, can improve dyes’ water solubility and induce bathochromic shifts compared to their unsubstituted derivatives, interesting effects in biological contexts. In this work, four new squaraines were synthesized and structurally, photophysically, and photochemically characterized (including absorption and aggregation, fluorescence, light stability, and singlet oxygen generation). Their potential as fluorescent probes for albumin detection was assessed through both in silico and in vitro approaches, as well as their suitability as potential photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. For this last purpose, the 663 nm light-induced effects of the new dyes were evaluated against the PC-3 prostate cancer cell line, while their photocytotoxicity toward normal human dermal fibroblasts was also assessed using the MTT assay, to determine their potential tumor-selective effects. Low singlet oxygen quantum yields suggest that type I reactions predominate in generating cytotoxicity. Overall, the findings indicate that the designed squaraines exhibit moderate yet favorable interactions with albumin protein while demonstrating selective photodynamic effects toward prostate adenocarcinoma cancer cells, highlighting their potential as protein-assisted, tumor-targeted photosensitizers, providing a basis for further mechanistic studies.