Enhanced Afterglow Performance of Persistent Luminescence Implants for Efficient Repeatable Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) have been used for bioimaging without autofluorescence background interference, but the poor afterglow performance impedes their further applications in cancer therapy. To overcome the Achilles' heel of PLNPs, herein we report the construction of injectable persistent luminescence implants (denoted as PL implants) as a built-in excitation source for efficient repeatable photodynamic therapy (PDT). The injectable ZGC (ZnGaO:Cr) PL implants were prepared by dissolving ZGC PLNPs in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/N-methylpyrrolidone oleosol, which demonstrated much stronger persistent luminescence (PersL) intensity and longer PersL lifetime than that of ZGC PLNPs both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, the intratumorally fixed ZGC PL implants can serve as a built-in excitation source for repeatable light emitting diode (LED) and PersL-excited PDT upon and after periodic LED irradiation, which leads to the overall improvement of therapeutic effectiveness for efficient tumor growth suppression. This work represents efficient repeatable PDT based on the injectable yet periodically rechargeable ZGC PL implants.

Low‐Dose X‐ray Activation of W(VI)‐Doped Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for Deep‐Tissue Photodynamic Therapy

“…Persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) are promising luminescent materials that can store excitation energy and then slowly release the trapped charge carriers to emit long‐lasting phosphorescence without continuous excitation . Recent developments have demonstrated that the PLNPs can be used as potential energy mediators for PDT treatment, but, to the best of our knowledge, there are few reports for in vivo X‐ray activated PLNP‐mediated PDT treatment.…”

Electronic structure engineering and biomedical applications of low energy-excited persistent luminescence nanoparticles

“…[71][72][73][74][75][77][78][79] However, in complex biological environments, these probes are typically affected by strong background uorescence generated by biological substrates. 80 Due to the need of sustained excitation, it will signicantly reduce the sensitivity and limit of detection. Usually, the uorescence lifetime of biological substrates is only a few nanoseconds.…”

“…At the same time, the light source can also excite other matrix molecules in the tissues, leading to intense autouorescence. 80 Such intense autouorescence would strongly affect the uorescent signal of the targets of interest and hamper the improvement in imaging sensitivity and accuracy. Given that the uorescent lifetime of proteins and small molecules is below nanoseconds, PLNPs are ideal alternatives to these traditional uorescent probes for bioimaging because the lifetime of PLNPs can reach several minutes and hours.…”

Functionalized gold nanostructures: promising gene delivery vehicles in cancer treatment

“…Deep tissue imaging with a long period has been achieved in vivo using repeated excitation with low-energy LEDs. [132][133][134] Several cellular uptake detections can be done using the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) as mentioned in few examples. A comparison between the cellular uptake of PEI and PEG-Au PENPs has been done using the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), proving that L25/ pDNA polyplex has almost the same cellular uptake as that of PEI/pDNA polyplex.…”