Anthraquinone encapsulation into polymeric nanocapsules as a new drug from biotechnological origin designed for photodynamic therapy

Camila F Amantino; Álvaro de Baptista-Neto; Alberto C Badino; Marigilson P Siqueira-Moura; Antonio C Tedesco; Fernando L Primo

doi:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.101815

Anthraquinone encapsulation into polymeric nanocapsules as a new drug from biotechnological origin designed for photodynamic therapy

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2020 Sep:31:101815. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.101815. Epub 2020 May 12.

Authors

Camila F Amantino¹, Álvaro de Baptista-Neto¹, Alberto C Badino², Marigilson P Siqueira-Moura³, Antonio C Tedesco⁴, Fernando L Primo⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Engineering of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, 14800-903, São Paulo, Brazil.
² Graduate Program of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, 13565-905, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Sao Francisco Valley - UNIVASF, Petrolina, 56304-917, Pernambuco, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Chemistry, Center of Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering - Photobiology and Photomedicine Research Group, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, 14010-100, São Paulo, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Engineering of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Araraquara, 14800-903, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: fernando.primo@unesp.br.

PMID: 32407889
DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.101815

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy has been applied for the treatment of many diseases, especially skin diseases. However, poor aqueous solubility and toxicity of some photosensitizer drugs are the main disadvantages for their direct clinical applications. Thus, biotechnology and nanotechnology are important tools in the development of new ways of obtaining photoactive compounds that are biocompatible. We investigated the potential of a new nanostructured photosensitizer, an anthraquinone derivative produced by biotechnological process; then we associated nanotechnology to obtain a nanostructured anthraquinone active molecule. For this, it was prepared a classical nanocapsule formulations containing poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) coating for encapsulation of anthraquinone derivative. These formulations were characterized by their physicochemical, morphological, photophysical properties, and stability. We performed in vitro biocompatibility and photodynamic activity assays of free and nanostructured anthraquinone. Nanocapsule formulations containing anthraquinone derivative showed a nanometric profile with particle size around 250 nm, negative zeta potential around -30 mV, and partially monodisperse. Besides that, characteristic spherical morphology of nanocapsules and homogeneous particle surface were observed by AFM analyses. The in vitro biocompatibility assay showed absence of cytotoxicity for all tested RD/NC concentrations and also for unloaded/NC in NIH3T3 cells. In vitro photoactivation assay using NIH3T3 cells showed that nanocapsules promoted greater drug uptake by NIH3T3 cells, around of 87%, of cell death compared to free drug showed around 48% of cell death. The anthraquinone derivative showed potential for use in PDT. Besides the association with nanocapsules improved cell uptake of photosensitizer resulting in increased cell death compared to free anthraquinone.

Keywords: Anthraquinone; Biotechnological photosensitizers; PLGA-nanocapsule; Photodynamic therapy; Polymeric nanomaterials.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anthraquinones / pharmacology
Biotechnology
Mice
NIH 3T3 Cells
Nanocapsules*
Particle Size
Photochemotherapy* / methods
Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology

Substances

Anthraquinones
Nanocapsules
Photosensitizing Agents