Ultralow-Power Near Infrared Lamp Light Operable Targeted Organic Nanoparticle Photodynamic Therapy

• Published in: Journal of the American Chemical Society Vol. 138; no. 44; pp. 14586 - 14591
• Main Authors: Huang, Ling, Li, Zhanjun, Zhao, Yang, Zhang, Yuanwei, Wu, Shuang, Zhao, Jianzhang, Han, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WASHINGTON American Chemical Society 09.11.2016; Amer Chemical Soc
• Subjects: absorption; biodegradability; Biological Assay; Boron Compounds - chemistry; Cell Survival; Chemistry; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; cost effectiveness; fluorescence; HeLa Cells; Humans; Infrared Rays; Molecular Structure; nanoparticles; neoplasms; Optical Imaging; photochemotherapy; Photochemotherapy - methods; photosensitizing agents; Photosensitizing Agents - chemistry; Photosensitizing Agents - economics; Photosensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Physical Sciences; polymers; Radiotherapy - methods; Science & Technology; singlet oxygen; Water - chemistry; BODIPY DYES; VITRO; OXYGEN; CLEARANCE; UPCONVERTING NANOPARTICLES; BORON DIPYRROMETHENE DERIVATIVES; IN-VIVO; PHOTOSENSITIZERS; UP-CONVERSION NANOPARTICLES; CANCER-THERAPY
• ISSN: 0002-7863; 1520-5126; 1520-5126
• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b05390

Tissue penetration depth is a major challenge in practical photodynamic therapy (PDT). A biocompatible and highly effective near infrared (NIR)-light-absorbing carbazole-substituted BODIPY (Car-BDP) molecule is reported as a class of imaging-guidable deep-tissue activatable photosensitizers for PDT. Car-BDP possesses an intense, broad NIR absorption band (600–800 nm) with a remarkably high singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ = 67%). After being encapsulated with biodegradable PLA–PEG-FA polymers, Car-BDP can form uniform and small organic nanoparticles that are water-soluble and tumor-targetable. Rather than using laser light, such nanoparticles offer an unprecedented deep-tissue, tumor targeting photodynamic therapeutic effect by using an exceptionally low-power-density and cost-effective lamp light (12 mW cm–2). In addition, these nanoparticles can be simultaneously traced in vivo due to their excellent NIR fluorescence. This study signals a major step forward in photodynamic therapy by developing a new class of NIR-absorbing biocompatible organic nanoparticles for effective targeting and treatment of deep-tissue tumors. This work also provides a potential new platform for precise tumor-targeting theranostics and novel opportunities for future affordable clinical cancer treatment.