Intracellular ZnO Nanorods Conjugated with Protoporphyrin for Local Mediated Photochemistry and Efficient Treatment of Single Cancer Cell

• Published in: Nanoscale research letters Vol. 5; no. 10; pp. 1669 - 1674
• Main Authors: Kishwar, S, Asif, MH, Nur, O, Willander, M, Larsson, Per-Olof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer New York 15.07.2010; Springer
• Subjects: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Biokemi och molekylärbiologi; Biologi; Biological Sciences; Cancer cell necrosis; Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Molecular Medicine; Nano Express; Nanochemistry; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Natural Sciences; Naturvetenskap; Photodynamic therapy; Protoporphyrin dimethyl ester; TECHNOLOGY; TEKNIKVETENSKAP; ZnO nanorods; ZnO nanorods; Photodynamic therapy; Protoporphyrin dimethyl ester; Cancer cell necrosis
• ISSN: 1931-7573; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11671-010-9693-z

ZnO nanorods (NRs) with high surface area to volume ratio and biocompatibility is used as an efficient photosensitizer carrier system and at the same time providing intrinsic white light needed to achieve cancer cell necrosis. In this letter, ZnO nanorods used for the treatment of breast cancer cell (T47D) are presented. To adjust the sample for intracellular experiments, we have grown the ZnO nanorods on the tip of borosilicate glass capillaries (0.5 μm diameter) by aqueous chemical growth technique. The grown ZnO nanorods were conjugated using protoporphyrin dimethyl ester (PPDME), which absorbs the light emitted by the ZnO nanorods. Mechanism of cytotoxicity appears to involve the generation of singlet oxygen inside the cell. The novel findings of cell-localized toxicity indicate a potential application of PPDME-conjugated ZnO NRs in the necrosis of breast cancer cell within few minutes.