Chlorin e6 loaded lactoferrin nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Photodynamic Therapy

Background:

• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) faces limitations due to hydrophobic photosensitizer (PS) aggregation and poor biodistribution.
• Developing effective PS delivery systems is crucial for expanding PDT applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a chemically unmodified photosensitizer delivery system using protein nanoparticles.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lactoferrin-based nanoparticles (LeN) loaded with Chlorine e6 (Ce6) for PDT.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of LeN using a water-in-oil emulsion method with Lactoferrin and Ce6.
• Analysis of spectral and physical properties, reactive oxygen species production, and pH-dependent release.
• Assessment of cellular uptake, intracellular concentration, and phototoxicity in cancer cell lines (SK-OV-3, MDA-MD 231).

Main Results:

• LeN demonstrated enhanced reactive oxygen species production compared to free Ce6.
• LeN exhibited pH-specific Ce6 release, advantageous for tumor microenvironments.
• Significantly higher cellular uptake and intracellular Ce6 concentration were observed with LeN.
• LeN required substantially less Ce6 to achieve comparable phototoxicity, with a >4-fold reduction in IC50 values.
• LeN showed no toxicity at concentrations ten times higher than those used in PDT.

Conclusions:

• Lactoferrin-based nanoparticles (LeN) offer a promising, chemically unmodified system for delivering Chlorine e6 (Ce6) in photodynamic therapy.
• LeN improve photosensitizer delivery, enhance efficacy, and demonstrate a favorable safety profile, indicating strong potential for clinical PDT applications.