title: Multifunctional polycationic photosensitizer conjugates with rich hydroxyl groups for versatile water-soluble photodynamic therapy nanoplatforms.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has already shown immense potential in antitumor fields due to its low systemic toxicity and negligible drug resistance. However, the clinical application of current photosensitizers is still restricted by the low singlet oxygen yield or insolubility. Herein, series of star-like hydroxyl-rich polycations (Pc-PGEA/Pc) with flanking phthalocyanine (Pc) were proposed for effective water-soluble photosensitizers. The designed Pc-PGEA/Pc polymers consist of one Pc core and four ethanolamine and Pc-difunctionalized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) arms. The strong π-π stacking and hydrophobicity of introduced Pc units drive the amphipathic Pc-PGEA/Pc polymers to self-assemble into well-defined cationic nanoparticles. Such Pc-PGEA/Pc nanoparticles present impressive photodynamic therapy effects under moderate irradiation and remarkable photoacoustic imaging (PAI) ability. These kinds of nanoparticles also exhibit good performance as gene vectors. The PAI ability given by the proper wavelength absorbance of Pc units provides one promising method for PAI-guided combined antitumor therapy. The present work would contribute valuable information for the development of new strategies of visible antitumor therapy.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China; Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029 China; Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China; Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029 China; Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China; Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029 China; Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China.
authors.forename: Nana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Division of Nanomedicine, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China; Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029 China; Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China. Electronic address: yubr@mail.buct.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bingran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn & Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100048, China. Electronic address: shenchuanan@126.com.
authors.forename: Chuanan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China; Key Laboratory of Carbon Fiber and Functional Polymers, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100029 China; Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029 China. Electronic address: xufj@mail.buct.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fu-Jian
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D005260:Female; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010316:Particle Size; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006878:Hydroxides; D053769:Nanocapsules; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D014867:Water; C031356:hydroxide ion
keywords: Cationic nanoparticle; Gene therapy; Hydroxyl; Photodynamic therapy; Photosensitizer