title: A novel nanoprobe based on single-walled carbon nanotubes/photosensitizer for cancer cell imaging and therapy.
abstract: Nanomedicine and nanotechnology have provided an effective platform for integration of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), a highly effective means of transporting cargos of various sizes and types across the cell membrane, are gradually playing a bigger and more important role in the field of nanomedicine. In this study, a novel nanoprobe based on SWCNTs and a fluorescent photosensitizer pyropheophorbide a (PPa), was developed and was used for cancer cell imaging and therapy in vitro. Phospholipids bearing polyehylene-glycol modified SWCNTs that can provide an interface for the conjugation of PPa were prepared by ultrasonication. The polyehylene-glycol modified SWCNTs were then conjugated with PPa by using covalent functionalization method to construct SWCNT-PEG-PPa nanoprobe. The functionalization of SWCNTs was evidenced by UV-vis absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra. Imaging of cancer cells with SWCNT-PEG-PPa nanoprobe was confirmed using two cancer cell lines via laser scanning confocal microscope tests, and killing of cancer cells with SWCNT-PEG-PPa was demonstrated using cytotoxicity tests. Moreover, the stability of SWCNT-PEG-PPa was further investigated. Our experiments indicated that the resulting SWCNT-PEG-PPa nanoprobe should have a great potential to be a potent candidate for cancer imaging and therapy.
authors: MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science, Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China.
authors: Zhongmin
authors: Z
authors: Ou
authors: Baoyan
authors: B
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents