Near-Infrared-Triggered Anticancer Drug Release from Upconverting Nanoparticles

Abstract

Targeted drug delivery using functional nanoparticles has provided new strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy while concurrently minimizing toxicity. Photodynamic therapy is an approach that offers control of drug delivery by use of an external photon source to allow active therapeutic release to a target area. Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have potential to operate as integral components of photodynamic therapeutic platforms based on the resonant absorption of near-infrared (NIR) radiation and emission at shorter wavelengths. NIR radiation is minimally absorbed and scattered by biological tissues, and the NIR excitation of UCNPs can generate anti-Stokes emission in the ultraviolet-visible wavelength range at intensities that can be used to trigger cleavage of bonds linking therapeutics at the nanoparticle interface. Herein, we describe an investigation of photocleavage at the surface of UCNPs to release the chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Core-shell UCNPs composed of a β-NaYF4: 4.95% Yb, 0.08% Tm core and a β-NaYF4 shell were coated with o-phosphorylethanolamine ligands and coupled to an o-nitrobenzyl (ONB) derivative of 5-FU. NIR excitation of the UCNPs resulted in photoluminescence (PL) emission bands centered at 365, 455, and 485 nm. The UV-blue PL was in resonance with the absorption band of the ONB-FU derivative resulting in photocleavage and subsequent release of the 5-FU drug from the UCNPs for these in vitro studies. The release of 5-FU was complete in <14 min using a NIR laser source centered at 980 nm that operated at a power of <100 mW. The efficiency of triggered release was as high as 77% of the total ONB-FU conjugate, while the rate of drug release could be tuned with the laser power output. This work provides an important first step in the development of a UCNP platform capable of targeted chemotherapy.

Gold cluster-labeled thermosensitive liposmes enhance triggered drug release in the tumor microenvironment by a photothermal effect

“…4 systems using polymer nanoparticles [21][22][23] but have been insufficiently reported for liposomal systems [24]. To improve the NIR-based photothermal approach, we developed a NIR-sensitive TSL system by binding gold clusters, which absorb light in the NIR region and expose heat energy from the absorbed light, to the liposomal surface.…”

Engineered photo-responsive materials for near-infrared-triggered drug delivery

“…Recently, combined technology of light-sensitive drug carriers and UCNPs has been intensively developed to achieve low-energy NIR-triggered drug delivery, which is suitable for biomedical applications [59][60][61].…”

“…10) [61]. Core-shell UCNPs were composed of a β-A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t NaYF 4 nanocrystal core doped with Yb 3+ and Tm 3+ , and a β-NaYF 4 shell coated with o-phosphorylethanolamine ligands.…”

Synthesis of Micelles Guided Magnetite (Fe3O4) Hollow Spheres and their application for AC Magnetic Field Responsive Drug Release

“…In this way, proper delivery of drugs to selective region and magnetic field stimulated drug release may provide a new and effective pathway for treatment of cancer. Now a days, different stimuli like electric field, heat, pH, light, enzymes, etc 1213141516171819202122. have been used to check the drug release activity of different suitable nano drug delivery systems.…”