Photodynamic therapy using self-assembled nanogels comprising chlorin e6-bearing pullulan

J Mater Chem B. 2021 Aug 28;9(32):6357-6363. doi: 10.1039/d1tb00377a. Epub 2021 Jul 20.

Abstract

With minimal invasiveness and spatiotemporal therapeutic effects, photodynamic therapy is one of the most promising candidates for cancer treatment. Here, we developed a facile self-assembled nanogel using photosensitizer-grafted polysaccharides called chlorin e6-bearing pullulan. Chlorin e6 is used as a photosensitizer in cancer therapy. The anti-cancer effect of photodynamic therapy with our nanogel system was 780 times higher than that of the commercially available photosensitizer Photofrin. Finally, we demonstrated that actively growing cancer cell spheroids can be completely suppressed after treatment. Our system could efficiently induce tumor regression in tumor xenograft mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chlorophyllides / chemistry*
  • Chlorophyllides / pharmacology*
  • Glucans / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nanogels*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Spheroids, Cellular
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Chlorophyllides
  • Glucans
  • Nanogels
  • phytochlorin
  • pullulan