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Published on: February 9, 2021
Structure-Inherent Tumor-Targeted IR-783 for Near-Infrared Fluorescence-Guided Photothermal Therapy
Yoonbin Park1,2, Min Ho Park3, Hoon Hyun1,2
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Hwasun 58128, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
IR-783, a commercially available near-infrared (NIR) heptamethine cyanine dye, has been used for selective tumor imaging in breast, prostate, cervical, and brain cancers in vitro and in vivo. Although the molecular mechanism behind the structure-inherent tumor targeting of IR-783 has not been well-demonstrated, IR-783 has unique properties such as a good water solubility and low cytotoxicity compared with other commercial heptamethine cyanine dyes. The goal of this study is to evaluate the phototherapeutic efficacy of IR-783 as a tumor-targeted photothermal agent in human colorectal cancer xenografts. The results demonstrate that IR-783 shows both the subcellular localization in HT-29 cancer cells and preferential accumulation in HT-29 xenografted tumors 24 h after its intravenous administration. Furthermore, the IR-783 dye reveals the superior capability to convert NIR light into heat energy under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation in vitro and in vivo, thereby inducing cancer cell death. Taken together, these findings suggest that water-soluble anionic IR-783 can be used as a bifunctional phototherapeutic agent for the targeted imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT) of colorectal cancer. Therefore, this work provides a simple and effective approach to develop biocompatible, hydrophilic, and tumor-targetable PTT agents for targeted cancer phototherapy.
Insights
IR-783, a near-infrared dye, effectively targets and accumulates in colorectal tumors. It converts light to heat, inducing cancer cell death, showing promise for photothermal therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Materials Science
Background:
- IR-783 is a near-infrared (NIR) heptamethine cyanine dye used for tumor imaging.
- It exhibits good water solubility and low cytotoxicity.
- The tumor-targeting mechanism of IR-783 requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate IR-783 as a tumor-targeted photothermal agent for colorectal cancer.
- To assess its efficacy in human colorectal cancer xenografts.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous administration of IR-783 in HT-29 colorectal cancer xenografts.
- Evaluation of subcellular localization and tumor accumulation.
- Assessment of NIR light-to-heat conversion and cancer cell death induction in vitro and in vivo.
Main Results:
- IR-783 demonstrated subcellular localization in HT-29 cancer cells.
- Preferential accumulation of IR-783 in HT-29 xenografted tumors was observed 24 hours post-administration.
- IR-783 efficiently converted NIR light into heat, inducing cancer cell death.
Conclusions:
- Water-soluble anionic IR-783 functions as a bifunctional agent for targeted imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT) of colorectal cancer.
- IR-783 offers a promising approach for developing biocompatible, hydrophilic, and tumor-targetable PTT agents.
- This study highlights a simple and effective strategy for targeted cancer phototherapy using IR-783.
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