Photo-oxidative action in MCF-7 cancer cells induced by hydrophobic cyanines loaded in biodegradable microemulsion-templated nanocapsules

Abstract

Abstract. Searching for photodynamic therapy-effective nanocarriers which enable a photosensitizer to be selectively delivered to tumor cells with enhanced bioavailability and diminished dark cytotoxicity is of current interest. We have employed a polymer-based nanoparticle approach to encapsulate the cyanine-type photosensitizer IR-780 in poly(n-butyl cyanoacrylate) (PBCA) nanocapsules. The latter were fabricated by interfacial polymerization in oil-in-water (o/w) microemulsions formed by dicephalic and gemini saccharide-derived surfactants. Nanocarriers were characterized by SEM, AFM and DLS. The efficiency of PBCA nanocapsules as a potential system of photosensitizer delivery to human breast cancer cells was established by dark and photocytotoxicity as the function of the cellular mitochondria. The photodynamic effect of cyanine IR-780 was determined by investigation of oxidative stress markers. The nanocapsules were the main focus of our studies to examine their cellular uptake and dark and photocytotoxicity as the function of the cellular mitochondria as well as oxidative stress markers (i.e., lipid peroxidation and protein damage) in MCF-7/WT cancer cells. The effects of encapsulated IR-780 were compared with those of native photosensitizer. The penetration of the nanocapsules into cancer cells was visualized by CLSM and their uptake was estimated by FACS analysis. Cyanine IR-780 delivered in PBCA nanocapsules to MCF-7/ WT cells retains its sensitivity upon photoirradiation and it is regularly distributed in the cell cytoplasm. The intensity of the photosensitizer-generated oxidative stress depends on IR-780 release from the effective uptake of polymeric nanocapsules and seems to remain dependent upon the surfactant structure in o/w microemulsion-based templates applied to nanocapsule fabrication.

Near infrared fluorescent imaging of brain tumor with IR780 dye incorporated phospholipid nanoparticles

“…IR780′s low cytotoxicity makes it of potential clinical use; however, it is also hydrophobic and insoluble in pharmaceutically acceptable solvents, thus an appropriate formulation is required for clinical use [15, 16]. Several formulations of IR780-encapsulated nanoparticles have been investigated, such as the heparin-folic acid conjugate [17], biodegradable human serum albumin nanoparticles [15], transferrin nanoparticles [16], poly(n-butyl cyanoacrylate) nanocapsules [18], poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)-based diblock copolymer micelles [19], rhenium-188 labeled methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) copolymeric micelles [20], pH-responsive polymeric prodrug micelles [21], phospholipid mimicking homopolymeric micelles [22], bubble-generating folate-targeted liposomes [23], and amsacrine analog-loaded solid lipid nanoparticle [24]. However, most of these carriers were designed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purpose, rarely for fulfilling the unique requirement of NIRF imaging or tumor detection.…”

Biocompatible oil core nanocapsules as potential co-carriers of paclitaxel and fluorescent markers: preparation, characterization, and bioimaging

“…Additionally, due to the high loading capacity of interiors, nanocapsules could allow simultaneous multicargo encapsulation, i.e., a hydrophobic drug (not showing fluorescence) and a fluorescent marker (organic dye or quantum dot), creating multifunctional nanocarriers dedicated for theranostic applications [ 11 , 12 ]. Furthermore, nanocapsules can be found in specific drug delivery system, as they can penetrate the cell membrane and increase its permeability for many potent drugs which are otherwise difficult to deliver to the target tissues [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Self-assembled IR780-loaded transferrin nanoparticles as an imaging, targeting and PDT/PTT agent for cancer therapy

“…IR-780 is a lipophilic cationic heptamethine dye with higher fluorescence intensity than ICG 19 20 21 . Currently, IR780 iodide has been reported to have the ability of producing singlet oxygen under irradiating at wavelength of 808 nm, which can be used for PDT 22 . Meanwhile, IR780 can be also used as a PTT agent because of generation of heat upon laser irradiation 20 .…”