Synthesis of Multifunctional Nanoparticles for the Combination of Photodynamic Therapy and Immunotherapy
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Updated: Nov 3, 2025
Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers
Published on: October 28, 2015
Mei-Hwa Lee1, James L Thomas2, Jin-An Li3
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Programmed death-ligand 1 protein (PD-L1) has been posited to have a major role in suppressing the immune system during pregnancy, tissue allografts, autoimmune disease and other diseases, such as hepatitis. Photodynamic therapy uses light and a photosensitizer to generate singlet oxygen, which causes cell death (phototoxicity). In this work, photosensitizers (such as merocyanine) were immobilized on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles. One peptide sequence from PD-L1 was used as the template and imprinted onto poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) to generate magnetic composite nanoparticles for the targeting of PD-L1 on tumor cells. These nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering, high-performance liquid chromatography, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis and superconducting quantum interference magnetometry. Natural killer-92 cells were added to these composite nanoparticles, which were then incubated with human hepatoma (HepG2) cells and illuminated with visible light for various periods. The viability and apoptosis pathway of HepG2 were examined using a cell counting kit-8 and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, treatment with composite nanoparticles and irradiation of light was performed using an animal xenograft model.
Insights
This study developed novel magnetic nanoparticles targeting Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) for photodynamic therapy. These nanoparticles effectively induce cancer cell death, showing promise for targeted tumor treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) plays a key role in immune suppression in various conditions, including cancer.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilizes photosensitizers and light to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen for cell death.
- Targeting PD-L1 is a strategy to modulate immune responses and treat diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel magnetic composite nanoparticles for targeted delivery of photosensitizers to PD-L1-expressing tumor cells.
- To investigate the efficacy of these nanoparticles in combination with photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Immobilization of photosensitizers onto magnetic nanoparticles.
- Imprinting of a PD-L1 peptide sequence onto poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) for nanoparticle surface modification.
- Characterization of nanoparticles using DLS, HPLC, BET, and SQUID.
- In vitro assessment of HepG2 cell viability and apoptosis after treatment with nanoparticles and light.
- In vivo evaluation using an animal xenograft model.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis and characterization of PD-L1-targeted magnetic composite nanoparticles.
- Demonstrated phototoxicity and induction of apoptosis in HepG2 cells upon light irradiation.
- Evidence of therapeutic effect in an animal xenograft model.
Conclusions:
- The developed magnetic composite nanoparticles show potential as a targeted drug delivery system for photodynamic cancer therapy.
- Targeting PD-L1 combined with photodynamic therapy offers a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
- Further research is warranted to explore clinical applications.
