Quenching-induced deactivation of photosensitizer by nanoencapsulation to improve phototherapy of cancer.
Photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising alternative to current cancer treatment. However, conventional photosensitizers have several limitations due to their unsuitable pharmaceutical formulations and lack of selectivity. Our strategy was to exploit the advantages of nanoparticles and the quenching-induced deactivation of the model photosensitizer hypericin to produce "activatable" drug delivery systems. Efficient fluorescence and activity quenching were achieved by increasing the drug-loading rate of nanoparticles. In vitro assays confirmed the reversibility of hypericin deactivation, as the hypericin fluorescence and photodynamic activity were recovered upon cell internalization.
Zeisser-Labouèbe
Magali
M
Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland.
Mattiuzzo
Marc
M
Lange
Norbert
N
Gurny
Robert
R
Delie
Florence
F
D000873:Anthracenes; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D010569:Perylene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*
D000873:Anthracenes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin