5-aminolevulinic acid-conjugated gold nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy of cancer.
BACKGROUND
Effective delivery of photosensitizer to target tumor cells that causes minimal damage to healthy cells is an important requirement in photodynamic therapy of cancer.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to use biocompatible gold nanoparticles as a vehicle to deliver 5-aminolevulinic (5-ALA) acid for selective and efficient photodynamic therapy.


RESULTS
Protoporphyrin IX accumulated preferentially in fibrosarcoma tumor cells treated with 5-ALA-conjugated nanoparticles while yielding significantly higher reactive oxygen species compared with that with 5-ALA. The elevation of reactive oxygen species resulted in 50% more cytotoxicity to tumor cells than that of 5-ALA alone. Selective destruction of tumor cells was also achieved using 5-ALA-conjugated nanoparticles in co-culture with dermal fibroblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
5-ALA-conjugated nanoparticles offer a new modality for selective and efficient destruction of tumor cells, with minimal damage to fibroblasts in the 5-ALA-photodynamic therapy.
Oo
Maung Kyaw Khaing
MK
Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, Stevens Institute of Technology, Castle Point on Hudson, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.
Yang
Xiaochuan
X
Du
Henry
H
Wang
Hongjun
H
D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000628:therapy; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet / Q000379:methods; D055672:Static Electricity
D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006046:Gold; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid