Core-shell poly-methylmethacrylate nanoparticles as effective carriers of electrostatically loaded anionic porphyrin.
Among the medical applications of nanoparticles, their usage as photosensitizer (PS) carriers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted increasing attention. In the present study we explored the morphological and photophysical properties of core-shell PMMA nanoparticles (PMMA-NPs) electrostatically post-loaded with the synthetic, water soluble 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulphonatophenyl)-porphyrin (TPPS4). pH response and singlet oxygen analyses of differently loaded samples proved the high capability of the PMMA-NPs to shield the PS from the environment, while retaining the PS singlet oxygen production capability. Preliminary in vitro imaging and phototoxicity experiments on HepG2 cells demonstrated the efficacy of the system to trigger photoinduced cell death in the culture.
Italian National Research Council, Institute for the Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity, Via P. Gobetti, 101 40129 Bologna, Italy. greta.varchi@isof.cnr.it
Greta
G
Varchi
Valentina
V
Benfenati
Assunta
A
Pistone
Marco
M
Ballestri
Giovanna
G
Sotgiu
Andrea
A
Guerrini
Paolo
P
Dambruoso
Andrea
A
Liscio
Barbara
B
Ventura
D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry*; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D055672:Static Electricity
D000838:Anions; D004337:Drug Carriers; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; C016136:tetraphenylporphine sulfonate; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate