Patent ID: 7303926

Claim:
A method of performing a phototherapeutic procedure comprising: (a) administering a photosensitizing mixture to a target tissue in an animal, the photosensitizing mixture comprising organic azides having the formula E-L-DYE-X—N 3 wherein the organic azides function through both type 1 and type 2 mechanisms and where DYE is an aromatic or a heteroaromatic radical derived from the group consisting of cyanines, indocyanines, phthalocyanines, rhodamines, phenoxazines, phenothiazines, phenoselenazines, fluoresceins, porphyrins, benzoporphyrins, squaraines, corrins, croconiums, azo dyes, methine dyes, and indolenium dyes; E is a hydrogen atom or is selected from the group consisting of somatostatin receptor binding molecules, ST receptor binding molecules, neurotensin receptor binding molecules, bombesin receptor binding molecules, cholecystekinin receptor binding molecules, steroid receptor binding molecules, and carbohydrate receptor binding molecules; L is selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) a —, —(CH 2 ) b CONR 1 —, —N(R 2 )CO(CH 2 ) o —, —OCO(CH 2 ) d —, —(CH 2 ) e CO 2 —, —OCONH—, —OCO 2 —, —HNCONH—, —HNCSNH—, —HNNHCO—, —OSO 2 —, —NR 3 (CH 2 ) e CONR 4 —, —CONR 5 (CH 2 ) f NR 6 CO—, and —NR 7 CO(CH 2 ) g CONR 8 —; X is either a single bond or is selected from the group consisting of —(CH 2 ) h —, —OCO—, —HNCO—, —(CH 2 ) i CO—, and —(CH 2 ) j OCO—; R 1 to R 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, —OH, C1-C10 polyhydroxyalkyl, C1-C10 alkoxyl, C1-C10 alkoxyalkyl, —SO 3 H, —(CH 2 ) k CO 2 H, and —(CH 2 ) l NR 9 R 10 ; R 9 and R 10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C10 alkyl, C5-C10 aryl, and C1-C10 polyhydroxyalkyl; and a to l independently range from 0 to 10; and (b) exposing the target tissues to light of wavelength between 300 and 950 nm with sufficient power and fluence rate to enable the organic azides to cause necrosis or apoptosis of the target tissue.