title: Generation-dependent templated self-assembly of biohybrid protein nanoparticles around photosensitizer dendrimers.
abstract: In this article, we show the great potential of dendrimers for driving the self-assembly of biohybrid protein nanoparticles. Dendrimers are periodically branched macromolecules with a perfectly defined and monodisperse structure. Moreover, they allow the possibility to incorporate functional units at predetermined sites, either at their core, branches, or surface. On these bases, we have designed and synthesized negatively charged phthalocyanine (Pc) dendrimers that behave as photosensitizers for the activation of molecular oxygen into singlet oxygen, one of the main reactive species in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The number of surface negative charges depends on dendrimer generation, whereas Pc aggregation can be tuned through the appropriate choice of the Pc metal center and its availability for axial substitution. Remarkably, both parameters determine the outcome and efficiency of the templated self-assembly process by which a virus protein forms 18 nm virus-like particles around these dendritic chromophores. Protein-dendrimer biohybrid nanoparticles of potential interest for therapeutic delivery purposes are obtained in this way. Biohybrid assemblies of this kind will have a central role in future nanomedical and nanotechnology applications.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Orgánica (C-I), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid/IMDEA Nanociencia (TT) , Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Setaro
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brasch
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Melissa S T
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Koay
authors.forename: Jeroen J L M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cornelissen
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Escosura
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Biohybrid protein nanoparticles; dendrimers; photosensitizer; phthalocyanine