Fluorescent Dyes Used in Polymer Carriers as Imaging Agents in Anticancer Therapy

Abstract

This review highlights the role of fluorescent dyes as active "molecular photoswiches" focusing on the application in bioimaging and anticancer therapies in the field of therapeutic delivery. The author describes the development of prodrugs targeted to specific cell types and polymeric nanocarriers (capsules, micelles and silica nanoparticles) used as fluorescent probes which offer advantages in the integration of "smart" features of fluorescent dyes into synthetic materials. The incorporation of biologically responsive components that cleave upon changes in pH or light irradiation is fundamental to the successful design of such carriers with capabilities to load and release therapeutics specifically at a target site.

Biopolymer-Inspired N-Doped Nanocarbon Using Carbonized Polydopamine: A High-Performance Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen-Evolution Reaction

“…More importantly, it is noteworthy that carbon materials can be engineered to exhibit specific catalytic capabilities for specific electrocatalytic reactions by varying the doping types, sites, and levels [21][22][23][27][28][29][30][31]. Although some of these have recently been developed as HER electrocatalysts [32][33][34], the employment of carbon-based nanomaterials as high-performance [38], (b) schematic showing the steps of the C-PDA film transfer onto Si wafer, (c) and the scheme of synthesis of N-doped carbon using dopamine as a precursor [50][51][52].…”

“…Fabrication of the carbonized polydopamine (C-PDA) for hydrogen generation. (a) Schematic of self-polymerization of dopamine on target substrate using the dipping method[38], (b) schematic showing the steps of the C-PDA film transfer onto Si wafer, (c) and the scheme of synthesis of N-doped carbon using dopamine as a precursor[50][51][52].…”

A green method for the production of an efficient bioimaging nanotool

“…25 A new challenge nowadays is, hence, the possibility of creating a biocompatible drug delivery system starting from waste materials, which can also be potentially used as a bioimaging tool. [26][27][28][29][30] In this framework, we aimed here to produce CA-based nanovesicles, and to use them as a platform to develop a green system for imaging biological specimens. We demonstrated that CA-nanovesicles (CANVs) can efficiently encapsulate rhodamine B (RhB) through an organic solvent-free procedure, and be delivered to human macrophages (MF) and HeLa cells, which show an efficient active uptake process.…”

Croconaine Rotaxane Dye with 984 nm Absorption: Wavelength‐Selective Photothermal Heating

“…In addition, there may be other dye performance requirements such as high chemical and photochemical stability, capacity for surface immobilization or bioconjugation, high solubility, and low (or high propensity) for dye self‐aggregation. One experimental approach to this dye modification challenge is to pursue covalent refinements of the dye structure, whereas an alternative strategy is to modify the dye by supramolecular encapsulation . For the last fifteen years we have pursued this latter idea by devising chemical methods of encapsulating pseudooxocarbon dyes, specifically squaraines and croconaines, within interlocked rotaxane structures …”

“…One experimental approach to this dye modification challenge is to pursue covalent refinements of the dye structure, whereas an alternative strategy is to modify the dye by supramolecular encapsulation. [8][9][10][11] For the last fifteen years we have pursued this latter idea by devising chemical methods of encapsulating pseudooxocarbon dyes, specifically squaraines and croconaines, within interlocked rotaxane structures. [12][13][14] This report describes an advance in our work on croconaine dyes, an emerging near-infrared chromophore system that is 984 nm absorption band that is distinct from the 824 nm absorption of rotaxane 1.…”