title: Low band gap donor-acceptor conjugated polymer nanoparticles and their NIR-mediated thermal ablation of cancer cells.
abstract: Low band gap D-A conjugated PNs consisting of 2-ethylhexyl cyclopentadithiophene co-polymerized with 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (for nano-PCPDTBT) or 2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole (for nano-PCPDTBSe) have been developed. The PNs are stable in aqueous media and showed no significant toxicity up to 1 mg · mL(-1) . Upon exposure to 808 nm light, the PNs generated temperatures above 50 °C. Photothermal ablation studies of the PNs with RKO and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells were performed. At concentrations above 100 µg · mL(-1)  for nano-PCPDTBSe, cell viability was less than 20%, while at concentrations above 62 µg · mL(-1)  for nano-PCPDTBT, cell viability was less than 10%. The results of this work demonstrate that low band gap D-A conjugated polymers 1) can be formed into nanoparticles that are stable in aqueous media; 2) are non-toxic until stimulated by IR light and 3) have a high photothermal efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: MacNeill
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Coffin
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Nicole H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Levi-Polyachenko
mesh_terms: D001393:Azoles / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013830:Thiadiazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001393:Azoles; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D013830:Thiadiazoles; D013876:Thiophenes; C555055:poly(2,6-(4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta(2,1-b-3,4-b0)dithiophene))-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole); C042817:piaselenole; C015700:benzo-1,2,3-thiadiazole