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Selective Photothermal Therapy Using Antioxidant Nanoparticles Encapsulating Novel Near-Infrared-Absorbing
Ryota Sawamura1, Hiromi Kurokawa2,3, Atsushi Taninaka4,5
1Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 6-6-07 Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Miyagi, Japan.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 11, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed nanoparticles loaded with a platinum complex for photothermal therapy (PTT). These nanoparticles effectively kill cancer cells using near-infrared light, offering a targeted cancer treatment with minimal side effects.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Photothermal therapy (PTT) offers a promising cancer treatment with minimal side effects.
- Agents converting near-infrared (NIR) light to heat are key to PTT.
- A previously reported platinum(II) complex, PtL2, demonstrated NIR-absorbing and cancer-killing properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop PtL2-loaded nanoparticles (PtL2@RNPs) for enhanced tumor delivery via the enhanced permeability and retention effect.
- To create a nanoparticle system for targeted photothermal cancer therapy.
- To evaluate the efficacy and specificity of PtL2@RNPs in cancer cell killing.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized PtL2@RNPs using an amphiphilic block copolymer for reactive oxygen species scavenging.
- Characterized PtL2@RNPs for particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and loading capacity.
- Assessed photothermal conversion efficiency, cellular uptake, and cancer cell killing efficacy under NIR irradiation.
Main Results:
- PtL2@RNPs showed particle sizes of 20-30 nm, >90% encapsulation efficiency, and up to 12% loading capacity.
- Achieved nearly 100% photothermal conversion efficiency under NIR irradiation.
- Demonstrated approximately double the uptake in cancer cells versus normal cells, leading to cancer-specific killing with minimal damage to normal cells at low power (0.15 W).
Conclusions:
- PtL2@RNPs are effective carriers for photothermal therapy, demonstrating efficient heat generation and cancer cell-specific killing.
- The developed nanoparticles show potential for targeted cancer treatment modalities.
- These findings contribute to the advancement of PTT and cancer therapy research.
