Peptide-conjugated nanoparticles for targeted photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular disease. Depending on the type and the location of the tumor, several cancer treatments are implemented. Among these, the three most conventional therapies are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, there are other therapeutic approaches such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT relies on the combined action of light, a photoactivable molecule called photosensitizer (PS) and molecular oxygen. Most of the PSs used for clinical applications are not cancer-cell specific. One of the solutions to overcome this problem is the use of nanoparticles (NPs) to induce a passive targeting. It is also possible to graft a vector onto the NPs to specifically target membrane receptors overexpressed in the tumor cells or neovessels surrounding the tumor. In this review, we focus on the NPs loaded with PSs and coupled to peptides for targeted PDT. We described nanosystems that targeted Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), αvβ3 integrins, nucleolin membrane receptor, epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, protein-glutamine-gamma-glutamyltransferase (TGM2), p32, transferrin, PD-1, and mitochondrial membrane. The use of a cell absorbing-peptide is also described.

Added Value of Scintillating Element in Cerenkov-Induced Photodynamic Therapy

“…Of interest, the nanoparticle could be modified by functional moieties to increase the recognition of cell targets with antibodies or peptides, which recognize tumour cell membrane receptors. Such nanoparticle design has largely been described elsewhere [ 7 ]. In addition, nanoparticles accumulate in the solid tumour site by the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) [ 8 , 9 ].…”

The Photosensitizer Temoporfin (mTHPC) – Chemical, Pre‐clinical and Clinical Developments in the Last Decade†‡

“…Peptides have been used for a long time as targeting units for photosensitizers (353). However, the combination of peptides and polymers has also been exploited as drug transporters for temoporfin.…”

A Photosensitized Singlet Oxygen (1O2) Toolbox for Bio-Organic Applications: Tailoring 1O2 Generation for DNA and Protein Labelling, Targeting and Biosensing

“…With these conjugates, they aim to obtain a more targeted therapy towards head and neck squamous cell carcinomas [ 269 ]. Next to these more conventional type of structures, nanoparticles and liposomes were also modified with growth factor targeting peptides, to enable a more targeted and controlled release of the PS [ 270 , 271 , 272 ].…”