Self-Assembly of a Pure Photosensitizer as a Versatile Theragnostic Nanoplatform for Imaging-Guided Antitumor Photothermal Therapy

Abstract

Imaging-guided diagnosis and phototherapy has been emerging as promising theragnostic strategies for detection and treatment of cancer. 1,1'-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindotricarbocyanine iodide (DiR) has been widely investigated for in vivo imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT). However, the tumor-homing ability and PTT efficiency of DiR is greatly limited by its extremely low water solubility and nonspecific distribution in off-target tissues. Herein, a facile nanoassembly of pure DiR is reported as a theragnostic nanocarrier platform for imaging-guided antitumor phototherapy. Self-assembly of DiR has almost no effect on its in vitro photothermal efficacy when compared with DiR solution. Interestingly, the PEGylated nanoassemblies of DiR showed distinct advantages over DiR solution and non-PEGylated nanoassemblies in terms of systemic circulation and tumor-homing capability in vivo. As a result, PEGylated DiR nanoassemblies demonstrate potent photothermal tumor therapy in BALB/c mice bearing 4T1 xenograft tumors. Such a pure photosensitizer-based nanoassembly holds great potential as a versatile platform for efficient imaging-guided cancer therapy.

Investigating the crucial roles of aliphatic tails in disulfide bond-linked docetaxel prodrug nanoassemblies

“…In recent years, self-assembled carrier material-free NDDS have been developed as promising nanoplatforms to improve drug delivery efficiency [19] . Certain drugs or prodrugs were found to self-assemble into uniform nanoassemblies without the help of any amphipathic materials, thus significantly simplifying the fabrication process and improving drug loading efficiency [20] . Particularly, prodrug strategy has been proven to improve the physicochemical properties and to mitigate toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents [21] .…”

Pure drug nano-assemblies: A facile carrier-free nanoplatform for efficient cancer therapy

“…Recently, pure drug nano-assemblies (PDNAs), fabricated by the self-assembly or co-assembly of pure drug molecules, have attracted considerable attention. Drug molecules without any chemical modification could spontaneously form uniform nanoparticles (NPs), usually by the one-step nanoprecipitation method 22 , 23 . This is different from the traditional nanocrystal preparations, obtained by pearl milling, high pressure homogenization, etc.…”

Photosensitizer-driven nanoassemblies of homodimeric prodrug for self-enhancing activation and synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy

“…Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved non-invasive treatment modality with high therapeutic selectivity and low systemic toxicity 28 - 30 . During PDT, tumor cells are killed by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by photosensitizers (PSs) under laser irradiation 28 - 30 . Notably, PSs with highly conjugated aromatic structures usually show strong intermolecular interactions 31 - 33 .…”