Silicon phthalocyanine-modified poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) biocomposites with selective antitumor and...

Polymeric composite films offer promising platforms for localized cancer therapy due to their potential for controlled release and selective cytotoxicity. In this study, four silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc) derivatives bearing alkylthio or alkoxy side chains were incorporated into poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA/PEG) composite films. Structural variation of silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc) derivatives enabled the development of PLA/PEG-based films with distinct biological responses. All formulations maintained high cytocompatibility toward HUVEC cells, preserving cell viability above 80%. In contrast, oxygen- and sulfur-substituted derivatives (SiPc-1 and SiPc-4) exhibited a dose-dependent reduction in U87 glioblastoma cell viability, reaching up to approximately 60% inhibition at higher concentrations. Consistent with these findings, crystal violet staining supported a selective anti-proliferative effect, demonstrating reduced adherent cell density in U87 cells while maintaining minimal impact on HUVEC cells. Migration assays further revealed that SiPc-modified films, particularly SiPc-4, reduced U87 cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas this effect remained limited in HUVEC cells. Fluorescence-based drug release and cellular uptake analyses indicated that the films enabled controlled release of SiPc derivatives and facilitated their effective intracellular accumulation. Collectively, these findings suggest that SiPc-functionalized PLA/PEG films exhibit selective antitumor activity while maintaining compatibility with normal endothelial cells, highlighting their potential as tunable platforms for localized cancer therapy. These results demonstrate that the chemical design of SiPc enables fine-tuning of the structure-property-function relationships in PLA/PEG films, providing a versatile platform for antibacterial and selective antitumor biomaterials suitable for glioblastoma-related therapeutic applications.