Photosensitizer (PS)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-crosslinked nanohybrids for enhanced imaging-guided photodynamic cancer therapy

Nanoscale. 2017 Sep 14;9(35):12874-12884. doi: 10.1039/c7nr02279d.

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has drawn extensive attention as a promising cancer treatment modality. However, most PDT nanoagents suffer from insufficient drug loading capacity, a severe self-quenching effect, premature release of drugs and/or potential toxicity. Herein, we rationally designed an inorganic-organic nanohybrid with high drug loading capacity and superior chemical stability for enhanced PDT. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), an amine-containing cage-shaped building block, was crosslinked with chlorin e6 (Ce6), a carboxyl-containing photosensitizer, via the amine-carboxyl reaction. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers were further modified on the surface of the nanoparticle to improve the aqueous dispersibility and prolong the circulation time of the final nanoconstruct (POSS-Ce6-PEG). The as-prepared POSS-Ce6-PEG has a considerably high loading rate of Ce6 (19.8 wt%) with desirable fluorescence emission and singlet oxygen generation. Besides, in vitro experiments revealed that the nanoagent exhibited enhanced cellular uptake and a preferred intracellular accumulation within mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, resulting in high anticancer efficiency under light irradiation. Furthermore, in vivo imaging-guided PDT was also successfully achieved, showing the effective tumor targeting and ablation ability of POSS-Ce6-PEG. More importantly, the nanoagent possesses negligible dark cytotoxicity and systemic side effects. Therefore, POSS-Ce6-PEG as an eligible PDT theranostic agent holds great potential in clinical applications.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorophyllides
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Porphyrins
  • Singlet Oxygen

Substances

  • Chlorophyllides
  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Porphyrins
  • polyhedraloligosilsesquioxane
  • Singlet Oxygen
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • phytochlorin