An optical coherence tomography study of a photoactive Pt( iv ) prodrug in oesophageal tissue

Photoactive diazido Pt(iv) complexes display in vivo anticancer efficacy towards oesophageal tumours, a worldwide common cancer. Here we explore the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a new method for detecting tissue penetration and damage produced by the photoactivatable anticancer complex trans,trans,trans-[Pt(pyridine)₂(N₃)₂(OH)₂] (FM190). Dehydration of the sample and a change in refractive index were observed for swine oesophageal tissue treated with FM190 and blue laser light (445 nm) using an OCT system. In contrast, tissues treated with FM190 or laser light alone showed no apparent damage.