title: Perfluorocarbon nanoparticles enhance reactive oxygen levels and tumour growth inhibition in photodynamic therapy.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) kills cancer cells by converting tumour oxygen into reactive singlet oxygen ((1)O2) using a photosensitizer. However, pre-existing hypoxia in tumours and oxygen consumption during PDT can result in an inadequate oxygen supply, which in turn hampers photodynamic efficacy. Here to overcome this problem, we create oxygen self-enriching photodynamic therapy (Oxy-PDT) by loading a photosensitizer into perfluorocarbon nanodroplets. Because of the higher oxygen capacity and longer (1)O2 lifetime of perfluorocarbon, the photodynamic effect of the loaded photosensitizer is significantly enhanced, as demonstrated by the accelerated generation of (1)O2 and elevated cytotoxicity. Following direct injection into tumours, in vivo studies reveal tumour growth inhibition in the Oxy-PDT-treated mice. In addition, a single-dose intravenous injection of Oxy-PDT into tumour-bearing mice significantly inhibits tumour growth, whereas traditional PDT has no effect. Oxy-PDT may enable the enhancement of existing clinical PDT and future PDT design.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Yuhao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Chenxiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Kaikai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Ahu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.|Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Nano Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
authors.forename: Yiqiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D005466:Fluorocarbons; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D026082:Singlet Oxygen