Near Infrared Dye Conjugated Nanogels for Combined Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapies

Abstract

There is a need for new and smart formulations that will help overcome the limitations of organic dyes used in photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal (PTT) therapy and significantly accelerate their clinical translation. Therefore the aim of this work was to create a responsive nanogel scaffold as a smart vehicle for dye administration. We developed a methodology that enables the conjugation of organic dyes to thermoresponsive nanogels and yields biocompatible, nanometer-sized products with low polydispersity. The potential of the dye-nanogel conjugate as a photothermal and photodynamic agent has been demonstrated by an in vitro evaluation with a model human carcinoma cell line. Additionally, confocal cell images showed their cellular uptake profile and their potential for bioimaging and intracellular drug delivery. These conjugates are a promising scaffold as a theranostic agents and will enable further applications in combination with controlled drug release.

Organic Dye Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Phototheranostics

“…In this respect, a number of cyanine dyes present great promise for the combination of PDT, PTT and optical imaging. Asadian‐Birjand et al developed a crosslinked thermo‐responsive nanogel that conjugates the cyanine dyes of 6S‐ICG, Cy7.5 or IR806, and evaluated the combined photodynamic and photothermal therapies to cancer cells, which could act as administrable and smart theranostic agents both in vitro and in vivo . Luo et al synthesized a mitochondria‐targeted NIR PS based on heptamethine cyanine dyes for synchronous PDT and PTT.…”

An Acceptor–Donor–Acceptor Structured Small Molecule for Effective NIR Triggered Dual Phototherapy of Cancer

“…To date, considerable efforts have been devoted to devise multifunctional sensitizing agents for effective single NIR‐triggered PDT and PTT combination therapy. [ 6–25 ] A number of porphyrins and phthalocyanine derivatives‐based drugs have been utilized in clinical PDT therapy. Not surprisingly, thus, many efforts are being made to develop new dual phototherapy agents based on these materials.…”

“…[ 10–12 ] Some of them have exhibited dual PDT and PTT activities with greatly improved efficacy in cancer treatment. [ 6–25 ] Most of them, however, face some unavoidable problems of poor solubility, inferior photostability, short wavelength absorption, low PCE, and tumor targeting ability. So, it is still highly desirable to develop other kinds of sensitizing agents, achieving efficient, and synergistic PDT and PTT therapy under single NIR irradiation.…”

Polymeric nanocarriers for cancer theranostics

“…Birjand et al . have reported a theranostic nanogel based on thermoresponsive polyglycerol and NIR‐absorbing dye IR806 using radical precipitation reaction . The synthesized nanogel exhibited responsiveness towards both temperatures and NIR light.…”