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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Photodynamic Therapy with Blended Conducting Polymer/Fullerene Nanoparticle Photosensitizers
Published on: October 28, 2015
In Situ Self-Assembled Nanoparticles for Cascade-Instructed Photodynamic Therapy and Real-Time Treatment Feedback
Taoli Sun1, Wenbin Liu1, Minghui Yu1
1Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Abstract:
Although the cancer treatment efficacy has significantly improved, delayed and isolated evaluation methods are difficult to prevent excessive or insufficient treatment. Therefore, the single molecule for simultaneous therapy and feedback has become a promising tool. Herein, we develop an in situ self-assembled probe (HPO-CYFF-TPP) for cascade-instructed therapy and feedback imaging. Under the dephosphorylation of alkaline phosphatase, HPO-CYFF-TPP converts to HO-CYFF-TPP and self-assembles into nanoparticles (NPs) with quenched fluorescent (FL) and opened photoacoustic (PA) signal. After laser irradiation, NPs can produce abundant singlet oxygen for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumor cells, which leading to the increase of intracellular viscosity. At high viscosity, NPs opens FL and further enhances PA signal. HPO-CY-TPP without self-assembly group is a control probe. HPO-CYFF-TPP or HPO-CY-TPP exhibits effective PDT against tumor cells and high tumor inhibition in tumor-bearing mice, while HPO-CYFF-TPP is more effective than HPO-CY-TPP due to the formation of NPs in situ. Importantly, HPO-CYFF-TPP or HPO-CY-TPP can monitor the viscosity during PDT on tumor cells and tumor-bearing mice for treatment feedback, while HPO-CYFF-TPP is more accurate than HPO-CY-TPP with higher FL/PA sensitivity. We envision that this self-assembled probe will be a powerful tool for tumor therapy and real-time treatment feedback imaging in the future.
Insights
A novel self-assembling probe enables simultaneous cancer treatment and real-time feedback imaging. This innovative approach improves photodynamic therapy (PDT) effectiveness and provides accurate monitoring for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Current cancer treatments face challenges with delayed evaluation, leading to suboptimal therapeutic doses.
- Simultaneous therapy and feedback mechanisms are crucial for precise cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an in situ self-assembled probe for cascade-instructed therapy and feedback imaging in cancer treatment.
- To evaluate the probe's efficacy in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and its ability to monitor treatment response through viscosity changes.
Main Methods:
- Development of a self-assembling probe (HPO-CYFF-TPP) that responds to alkaline phosphatase and laser irradiation.
- Utilizing the probe for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and monitoring changes in fluorescence (FL) and photoacoustic (PA) signals correlated with intracellular viscosity.
- In vitro and in vivo studies using tumor cells and tumor-bearing mice to assess therapeutic efficacy and feedback imaging capabilities.
Main Results:
- The self-assembled probe (HPO-CYFF-TPP) demonstrated effective PDT against tumor cells and significant tumor inhibition in mice.
- In situ nanoparticle formation enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to a control probe (HPO-CY-TPP).
- The probe successfully monitored intracellular viscosity changes during PDT, providing real-time feedback with high FL/PA sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- The developed self-assembled probe offers a promising strategy for simultaneous cancer therapy and real-time treatment feedback imaging.
- This approach allows for more accurate monitoring of treatment response, potentially optimizing cancer therapy.
- The probe's ability to self-assemble and provide dual-mode feedback enhances its potential for clinical translation in oncology.
