title: Photosensitizer-encapsulated amphiphilic chitosan derivative micelles: photoactivity and enhancement of phototoxicity against human pancreatic cancer cells.
abstract: Photosensitizer-encapsulated amphiphilic chitosan derivative (Photosan-DA-Chit) micelles with controlled photoactivity have been prepared using a simple self-assembly method in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 6.2). The fluorescence quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime of the Photosan-DA-Chit micelles were lower than those of free Photosan, which indicated that the micelles were suppressing the photoactivity of Photosan. However, upon incubation with human pancreatic cancer cells (i.e., Panc-1 cells), the Photosan-DA-Chit micelles showed higher fluorescence activity than free Photosan and generated higher levels of reactive oxygen species under laser illumination. The Photosan-DA-Chit micelles therefore exhibited strong phototoxicity, which led to significant levels of apoptosis in the Panc-1 cells. In the absence of light, however, the Photosan-DA-Chit micelles showed no cytotoxicity. These results indicated that they could be used as a potential photodynamic therapy in pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Designed Synthesis and Application of Polymer Material, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Huajie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Designed Synthesis and Application of Polymer Material, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Shuangping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Designed Synthesis and Application of Polymer Material, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Long
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Designed Synthesis and Application of Polymer Material, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
authors.forename: Li-Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Zhaohua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Designed Synthesis and Application of Polymer Material, Key Laboratory for Polymeric Composite and Functional Materials of Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: yanglq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Liqun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008823:Micelles; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D008823:Micelles; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D048271:Chitosan