A Near-Infrared Emitting Aggregation-Induced Emission Photosensitizer with Endoplasmic Reticulum Targeting Ability...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photodynamic Therapy

Background:

• Conventional photosensitizers face limitations like aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ), poor targeting, and inefficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
• Organelle-specific photosensitizers are crucial for targeted ROS generation in photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a naphthalimide-based aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizer for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) targeting and enhanced PDT.
• To engineer nanoparticles (TPAPV-NIM-TSA@F127) with improved properties for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a naphthalimide-based AIE photosensitizer (TPAPV-NIM-TSA) and encapsulated it in Pluronic F127.
• Utilized density functional theory (DFT) for molecular architecture analysis.
• Performed confocal microscopy, colocalization studies, and in vivo evaluations in tumor-bearing mice.

Main Results:

• TPAPV-NIM-TSA@F127 nanoparticles exhibited aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence, avoiding ACQ.
• Selective ER targeting and ROS generation led to effective photodynamic ablation of breast cancer cells.
• In vivo studies showed significant tumor growth inhibition and eradication with minimal systemic toxicity.

Conclusions:

• TPAPV-NIM-TSA@F127 is a multifunctional ER-targeted AIE photosensitizer with integrated imaging and therapeutic capabilities.
• This platform shows promise for next-generation organelle-targeted phototherapeutic materials.
• The developed photosensitizer offers efficient in vivo photodynamic tumor ablation under white light irradiation.