We describe the development of novel and biocompatible core/shell (α-NaYbF4:Tm3+)/CaF2 nanoparticles which exhibit highly efficient NIRin-NIRout upconversion (UC) for high contrast and deep bioimaging. When excited at ~980 nm, these nanoparticles emit photoluminescence (PL) peaked at ~800 nm. The quantum yield of this UC PL under low power density excitation (~0.3 W/cm2) is 0.6±0.1%. This high UC PL efficiency is realized by suppressing surface quenching effects via hetero-epitaxial growth of a biocompatible CaF2 shell which results in a 35-fold increase in the intensity of UC PL from the core. Small animal whole-body UC PL imaging with exceptional contrast (signal-to-background ratio of 310) is shown using BALB/c mice intravenously injected with aqueously dispersed nanoparticles (700 pmol/kg). High-contrast UC PL imaging of deep tissues is also demonstrated, using a nanoparticle-loaded synthetic fibrous mesh wrapped around rat femoral bone, and a cuvette with nanoparticle aqueous dispersion - covered with a 3.2-cm thick animal tissue (pork).
We report herein the synthesis and biological efficacy of near-infrared (NIR), bacteriochlorin analogues: 3-(1'-butyloxy)ethyl-3-deacetyl-bacteriopurpurin-18-N-butylimide methyl ester (3) and the corresponding carboxylic acid 10. In in vitro assays, compared to its methyl ester analogue 3, the corresponding carboxylic acid derivative 10 showed higher photosensitizing efficacy. However, due to drastically different pharmacokinetics in vivo, the PS 3 (HPLC purity >99%) showed higher tumor uptake and long-term tumor cure than 10 (HPLC purity >96.5%) in BALB/c mice bearing Colon 26 tumors. Isomerically pure R- and S- isomers of 3 (3a and 3b, purity by HPLC > 99%) under similar treatment parameters showed identical efficacy in vitro and in vivo. In addition, photosensitizer (PS) 3 showed limited skin phototoxicity and provides an additional advantage over the clinically approved chemically complex hematoporphyrin derivative as well as other porphyrin-based PDT agents, which makes 3 a promising dual-function agent for fluorescence-guided surgery with an option of phototherapy of cancer.
We report a novel post-loading approach for constructing a multifunctional biodegradable polyacrylamide (PAA) nanoplatform for tumor-imaging (fluorescence) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). This approach provides an opportunity to post-load the imaging and therapeutic agents at desired concentrations. Among the PAA nanoparticles, a formulation containing the photosensitizer, HPPH [3-(1’-hexyloxyethyl)pyropheophorbide-a], and the cyanine dye in a ratio of 2:1 minimized the undesirable quenching of the HPPH electronic excitation energy due to energy migration within the nanoparticles and/or Förster (fluorescence) resonance energy transfer (FRET) between HPPH and cyanine dye. An excellent tumor-imaging (NIR fluorescence) and phototherapeutic efficacy of the nanoconstruct formulation is demonstrated. Under similar treatment parameters the HPPH in 1% Tween 80/5% aqueous dextrose formulation was less effective than the nanoconstruct containing HPPH and cyanine dye in a ratio of 2 to 1. This is the first example showing the utility of the post-loading approach in developing a nanoconstructs for tumor-imaging and therapy.
Conjugates of 3-(1′-hexyloxyethyl)-3-devinyl pyropheophorbide-a (HPPH) with multiple Gd(III)aminobenzyl diethylenetriamine pentacetic acid (ADTPA) moieties were evaluated for tumor imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT). In vivo studies performed in both mice and rat tumor models resulted in a significant MR signal enhancement of tumors relative to surrounding tissues at 24h post-injection. The water soluble (pH: 7.4) HPPH-3Gd(III) ADTPA conjugate demonstrated high potential for tumor imaging by MR and fluorescence. This agent also produced long-term tumor cures via PDT. An in vivo biodistribution study with the corresponding 14C-analog also showed significant tumor-uptake 24 hours post-injection. Toxicological evaluations of HPHH-3Gd(III)ADTPA administered at and above imaging/therapeutic doses did not show any evidence of organ toxicity. Our present study illustrates a novel approach for the development of water soluble “multifunctional agents”, demonstrating efficacy for tumor imaging (MR and fluorescence) and phototherapy.
Herein we report the syntheses and comparative photophysical, electrochemical, in vitro, and in vivo biological efficacy of 3-(1'-hexyloxy)ethyl-3-devinylpyropheophorbide-cyanine dye (HPPH-CD) and the corresponding indium (In), gallium (Ga), and palladium (Pd) conjugates. The insertion of a heavy metal in the HPPH moiety makes a significant difference in FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer) and electrochemical properties, which correlates with singlet oxygen production [a key cytotoxic agent for photodynamic therapy (PDT)] and long-term in vivo PDT efficacy. Among the metalated analogs, the In(III) HPPH-CD showed the best cancer imaging and PDT efficacy. Interestingly, in contrast to free base HPPH-CD, which requires a significantly higher therapeutic dose (2.5 μmol/kg) than imaging dose (0.3 μmol/kg), the corresponding In(III) HPPH-CD showed excellent imaging and therapeutic potential at a remarkably low dose (0.3 μmol/kg) in BALB/c mice bearing Colon26 tumors. A comparative study of metalated and corresponding nonmetalated conjugates further confirmed that STAT-3 dimerization can be used as a biomarker for determining the level of photoreaction and tumor response.
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