Photodynamic and photothermal synergistic behavior of triphenylamine-porphyrin nanoparticles for DNA interaction, cellular cytotoxicity and localization

Novel BODIPY-based nano-biomaterials with enhanced D-A-D structure for NIR-triggered photodynamic and photothermal therapy

Near-infrared (NIR) responsive nanoparticles are an important platform for multimodal phototherapy. Importantly, the simultaneous NIR-triggered photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal (PTT) therapy is a powerful approach to increase the antitumor efficiency of phototherapic nanoparticles due to the synergistic effect. Herein, a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based amphiphilic dye with enhanced electron donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) structure (BDP-AP) was designed and synthesized, which could self-assemble into stable nanoparticles (BDP-AP NPs) for the synergistic NIR-triggered PDT/PTT therapy. BDP-AP NPs synchronously generated singlet oxygen (1O2) and achieved preeminent photothermal conversion efficiency (61.42%). The in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that BDP-AP NPs possessed negligible dark cytotoxicity and infusive anticancer performance. BDP-AP NPs provide valuable guidance for the construction of PDT/PTT-synergistic NIR nanoagents to improve the efficiency of photoinduced cancer therapy in the future.

Reaction mechanism of nanomedicine based on porphyrin skeleton and its application prospects

Research on porphyrin-based photosensitizing drugs is becoming increasingly popular. They possess unique diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic effects that have gained wide recognition in oncology drug development. In recent years, the rapid growth of nanotechnology has brought great hope for nanopharmaceutical formulations. By combining porphyrins with various nanomaterials, people have improved the properties of porphyrin compounds, making drug delivery easier. Porphyrin-based nanoparticles can enhance the effect of photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment, providing opportunities for achieving complex targeting strategies and versatility with promising applications in drug carriers, tumor imaging, and treatment. This paper reviews recent porphyrin nanodrugs, including inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles, nanomicelles, self-assembled nanoparticles, and combination therapeutic nanodrugs, and their actions and effects on cancer cells when performing photodynamic therapy. It also discusses the drawbacks as well as the prospects for development.

Organic Nanoparticles Based on D-A-D Small Molecule: Self-Assembly, Photophysical Properties, and Synergistic Photodynamic/Photothermal Effects

Cancer is one of the major diseases threatening human health. Traditional cancer treatments have notable side-effects as they can damage the immune system. Recently, phototherapy, as a potential strategy for clinical cancer therapy, has received wide attention due to its minimal invasiveness and high efficiency. Herein, a small organic molecule (PTA) with a D-A-D structure was prepared via a Sonogashira coupling reaction between the electron-withdrawing dibromo-perylenediimide and electron-donating 4-ethynyl-N,N-diphenylaniline. The amphiphilic organic molecule was then transformed into nanoparticles (PTA-NPs) through the self-assembling method. Upon laser irradiation at 635 nm, PTA-NPs displayed a high photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE = 43%) together with efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The fluorescence images also indicated the production of ROS in cancer cells with PTA-NPs. In addition, the biocompatibility and photocytotoxicity of PTA-NPs were evaluated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and live/dead cell co-staining test. Therefore, the as-prepared organic nanomaterials were demonstrated as promising nanomaterials for cancer phototherapy in the clinic.

Triphenylamine-substituted zinc porphyrin nanoparticles with photodynamic/photothermal activity for cancer phototherapy in vitro

An amphiphilic zinc porphyrin complex with a typical donor–acceptor (D–A) structure was synthesized, where the triphenylamine acted as a donor unit while the porphyrin was used as an electronic acceptor. Due to the presence of triethylene glycol moieties on the parent structure, Zn-TPAP could spontaneously assemble to the related nanoparticles (Zn-TPAP NPs) with improved hydrophilicity. The as-prepared Zn-TPAP NPs presented relatively uniform spherical particles with the average particle sizes around 160 nm, which was suitable for tumor accumulation benefiting from the EPR effect. Due to the aggregation of the porphyrin molecules in the assembled nanostructures, Zn-TPAP NPs displayed broadened and red-shifted absorption and quenched fluorescence relative to that of Zn-TPAP. In addition to ROS generation, Zn-TPAP NPs exhibited moderate photothermal effects and the photothermal conversion efficiency was measured as 29%. Zn-TPAP NPs showed good biocompatibility and could generate ROS in the A549 cells. Under light irradiation, Zn-TPAP NPs can efficiently kill cancer cells. Thus, Zn-TPAP NPs could be used as potential nanoagents for cancer treatment through the photothermal/photodynamic synergistic modes.