Development of New Natural Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Loaded with Aluminum-Phthalocyanine for Photodynamic Therapy against Melanoma

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) mediated by photosensitizers loaded in nanostructures as solid lipid nanoparticles has been pinpointed as an effective and safe treatment against different skin cancers. Amazon butters have an interesting lipid composition when it comes to forming solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN). In the present report, a new third-generation photosensitizing system consisting of aluminum-phthalocyanine associated with Amazon butter-based solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-AlPc) is described. The SLN was developed using murumuru butter, and a monodisperse population of nanodroplets with a hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 40 nm was obtained. The study of the permeation of these AlPc did not permeate the analyzed skin, but when incorporated into the system, SLN-AlPc allowed permeation of almost 100% with 8 h of contact. It must be emphasized that SLN-AlPc was efficient for carrying aluminum-phthalocyanine photosensitizers and exhibited no toxicity in the dark. Photoactivated SLN-AlPc exhibited a 50% cytotoxicity concentration (IC50) of 19.62 nM when applied to B16-F10 monolayers, and the type of death caused by the treatment was apoptosis. The exposed phospholipid phosphatidylserine was identified, and the treatment triggered a high expression of Caspase 3. A stable Amazon butter-based SLN-AlPc formulation was developed, which exhibits strong in vitro photodynamic activity on melanoma cells.

Photosensitizers-Loaded Nanocarriers for Enhancement of Photodynamic Therapy in Melanoma Treatment

“…Higher PDT activity observed with SLN-AlPc-20μM. [ 153 ] Zn(II)-phthalocyanine disulphide (C11Pc) Gold 600–700 nm wavelength range form quartz-halogen lamp; at a fluence-rate of 175 mW/cm 2 for a total fluence of 157 J/cm 2 B78H1 transplanted in C57 mice PDT studies show that tumour growth is slowed following light activation of C11Pc conjugated to gold NP. [ 150 ] …”

“…Mello and colleagues conducted studies to investigate the efficacy of an Amazon butter-based SLN loaded with aluminium phthalocyanine (AlPc) on the B16-F10 melanoma cell line [ 153 ]. For the MTT assay, two concentrations of AlPc, 20 μM and 40 μM, were used for the SLN-AlPc complexes.…”

“…The IC 50 values were found to be 19.62 nM for SLN-AlPc-20 μM and 53.84 nM for SLN-AlPc-40 μM. The higher PDT activity observed with SLN-AlPc-20 μM compared to SLN-AlPc-40 μM might be attributed to the formation of AlPc aggregates at higher concentrations [ 153 ]. Regarding B16-F10 cell morphology under PDT, the formation of apoptotic bodies and cytoplasmic bumps was observed ( Figure 9 , reproduced after ref.…”

“…Regarding B16-F10 cell morphology under PDT, the formation of apoptotic bodies and cytoplasmic bumps was observed ( Figure 9 , reproduced after ref. [ 153 ]). The authors concluded that PDT can promote apoptosis through the activation of caspases and decrease the expression of apoptosis-inhibiting proteins, such as Bcl-2.…”

“… B16-F10 cells morphology in TEM and SEM after the PDT treatment with SLN-AlPc; it was also possible to observe formation of apoptotic bodies (*) and cytoplasmic bumps [ 153 ]. …”