Advances in Indocyanine Green-Based Codelivery Nanoplatforms for Combinatorial Therapy

Abstract

Indocyanine green (ICG), a near-infrared (NIR) agent with an excellent imaging performance, has captivated enormous interest from researchers owing to its excellent therapeutic and imaging abilities. Although various nanoplatforms-based drug delivery systems (DDS) with the ability to overcome the clinical limitations of ICG has been reported, ICG-medicated conventional cancer diagnosis and photorelated therapies still lack in exhibiting the therapeutic efficacy, resulting in incomplete or partly tumor elimination. In the view of addressing these concerns, various DDSs have been engineered for the efficient codelivery of combined therapeutic agents with ICG, aiming to achieve promising therapeutic results due to multifunctional imaging-guided synergistic antitumor effects. In this article, we will systematically review currently available nanoplatforms based on polymers, inorganic, proteins, and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), among others, for codelivery of ICG along with other therapeutic agents, providing a foundation for future clinical development of ICG. In addition, codelivery systems for ICG and different mechanism-based therapeutic agents will be illustrated. In summary, we conclude the review with the challenges and perspectives of ICG-based versatile nanoplatforms in detail.

Morphological Characteristics, Hemoglobin Content, and Membrane Mechanical Properties of Red Blood Cell Delivery Systems

“…We have chosen ICG since it is an FDA-approved chromophore with a long-standing history in clinical applications and clinical research related to optical imaging and laser-based therapeutics. 16,17 ICG has also been encapsulated into RBC-based delivery systems for optical imaging and light-based theranostics. 18,19 We present results that demonstrate that the surface area, volume, and deformability of RBC ghosts ICG are significantly reduced as compared to RBCs.…”

“…We refer to these materials as RBC ghosts ICG since in a similar fashion to the common methodologies used in the fabrication of RBC-based delivery systems containing other cargos, − the construction process is based on the formation of hemoglobin-depleted RBC ghosts as an intermediate structure, which, in this case, becomes loaded with ICG. We have chosen ICG since it is an FDA-approved chromophore with a long-standing history in clinical applications and clinical research related to optical imaging and laser-based therapeutics. , ICG has also been encapsulated into RBC-based delivery systems for optical imaging and light-based theranostics. , …”

Organic conjugated small molecules with donor–acceptor structures: design and application in the phototherapy of tumors

“…[38][39][40] Organic small-molecule photosensitizers have shown great potential in tumor phototherapy owing to their excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, facile molecular tailoring and adjustable absorption wavelength. 38,41 Various kinds of organic small-molecule photosensitizers, including cyanine dyes, [42][43][44][45] porphyrins, [46][47][48][49] BODIPY derivatives [50][51][52][53] and conjugated small molecules that contain donor-acceptor (D-A) structures, 38,54 have been developed for PTT and PDT. Among them, organic conjugated small molecules with D-A, D-A-D or A-D-A structures have gradually gained favor.…”

Role of Doxorubicin on the Loading Efficiency of ICG within Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles

“…8−13 Previous studies had shown that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approved, near-infrared (NIR)-active, indocyanine green (ICG), along with doxorubicin (DOX), is exceedingly effective against a wide range of cancers. 14 ICG-induced PTT is effective only against primary cancer cells and not against metastatic cells. 1,15 However, chemotherapy using DOX is inadequate to cure the primary tumor and is commonly practiced during postsurgery treatment.…”

“…2,6,14 In recent advancements, several ICG-DOX nano-codelivery systems such as inorganic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, and protein-based nanoparticles have been studied for chemo-PTT. 14 The polymer-based PLGA-lecithin-PEG nanoparticle showed an efficient chemo-PTT effect (ICG and DOX), prompting better apoptosis/killing of DOX-resistant Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7)/adriamycin (ADR) cells. 16 Here, the in vivo reduction in tumor size with no recurrence was also observed.…”