Does Oncocalyxone A (oncoA) have intrinsic fluorescence?
Iago Dillion Lima Cavalcanti1, Paulo Euzébio Cabral Filho2, Adriana Fontes2
1Instituto Keizo-Asami (iLIKA), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Brazil; Laboratório de Nanotecnologia, Biotecnologia e Cultura de Células, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (CAV/UFPE), Recife, Brazil.
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
|April 24, 2022
Summary
Oncocalyxone A (oncoA) exhibits blue autofluorescence, making it a potential fluorescent probe. OncoA-loaded nanoparticles were successfully internalized by breast cancer cells, indicating utility in cellular uptake studies.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Oncocalyxone A (oncoA), a quinone from Cordia oncocalyx, possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cytotoxic properties.
- Its structural similarity to the fluorescent drug doxorubicin suggested potential autofluorescence.
- This study investigated oncoA's spectral characteristics for its use as a fluorescent probe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the absorption and emission spectral profiles of oncoA.
- To evaluate oncoA's potential as a fluorescent probe.
- To assess the cellular uptake of oncoA-loaded nanoparticles.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of fucoidan-coated polyisobutylcyanoacrylate (PIBCA) nanoparticles encapsulating oncoA.
- Characterization of oncoA's spectral properties (absorption and emission).
- Uptake study using human metastatic breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231).
Main Results:
- OncoA demonstrated a maximum emission wavelength in the blue region (~430 nm) upon 350 nm excitation.
- Fluorescence microscopy confirmed rapid internalization of oncoA-loaded PIBCA nanoparticles by MDA-MB-231 cells within 15 minutes.
- The spectral profile of oncoA is compatible with standard fluorescence microscopy equipment.
Conclusions:
- Oncocalyxone A-loaded nanoparticles show promise as fluorescent probes.
- These nanoparticles are suitable for tracking cellular uptake in cancer research.
- OncoA's autofluorescence offers a novel tool for biological imaging applications.
