Organically modified silica nanoparticles with covalently incorporated photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Abstract

We report a novel nanoformulation of a photosensitizer (PS), for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer, where the PS molecules are covalently incorporated into organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles. We found that the covalently incorporated PS molecules retained their spectroscopic and functional properties and could robustly generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen molecules upon photoirradiation. The synthesized nanoparticles are of ultralow size ( approximately 20 nm) and are highly monodispersed and stable in aqueous suspension. The advantage offered by this covalently linked nanofabrication is that the drug is not released during systemic circulation, which is often a problem with physical encapsulation. These nanoparticles are also avidly uptaken by tumor cells in vitro and demonstrate phototoxic action, thereby highlighting their potential in diagnosis and PDT of cancer.

• Authors: Tymish Y Ohulchanskyy, Indrajit Roy, Lalit N Goswami, Yihui Chen, Earl J Bergey, Ravindra K Pandey, Allan R Oseroff, Paras N Prasad
• Journal: Nano letters (Nano Lett) Vol. 7 Issue 9 Pg. 2835-42 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 1530-6984 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17718587 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drug Carriers
• Organic Chemicals
• Photosensitizing Agents
• Silicon Dioxide

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Crystallization (methods)
• Drug Carriers (chemistry)
• Drug Compounding (methods)
• Humans
• Materials Testing
• Molecular Conformation
• Nanoparticles (chemistry, ultrastructure)
• Nanotechnology (methods)
• Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Organic Chemicals (chemistry)
• Particle Size
• Photochemotherapy (methods)
• Photosensitizing Agents (administration & dosage, chemistry)
• Silicon Dioxide (chemistry)