Some derivatives can usefully absorb in the near-infrared.[3] It has also been demonstrated that supramolecular coordination of an anion can switch-off the photosensitising ability of azadipyrromethene derivatives,[4] which could improve the selectivity of photodynamic therapy agents.
^Gallagher, W M; Allen, L T; O'Shea, C; Kenna, T; Hall, M; Gorman, A; Killoran, J; O'Shea, D F (19 April 2005). "A potent nonporphyrin class of photodynamic therapeutic agent: cellular localisation, cytotoxic potential and influence of hypoxia". British Journal of Cancer. 92 (9): 1702–1710. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6602527. PMC 2362044. PMID 15841085.
^Byrne, A T; O'Connor, A E; Hall, M; Murtagh, J; O'Neill, K; Curran, K M; Mongrain, K; Rousseau, J A; Lecomte, R; McGee, S; Callanan, J J; O'Shea, D F; Gallagher, W M (13 October 2009). "Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy with BF2-chelated Tetraaryl-Azadipyrromethene agents: a multi-modality molecular imaging approach to therapeutic assessment". British Journal of Cancer. 101 (9): 1565–1573. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605247. PMC 2778519. PMID 19826417.
^Taylor, Andrew J.; Beer, Paul D. (2024). "Halogen bonding aza-BODIPYs for anion sensing and anion binding-modulated singlet oxygen generation". Chemical Communications. doi:10.1039/D4CC02330G.