Enhancing the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy through a Porphyrin/POSS Alternating Copolymer

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2018 Dec 10;57(50):16354-16358. doi: 10.1002/anie.201808811. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Abstract

Aggregation-induced quenching (AIQ) of photosensitizers greatly reduces the quantum yield of singlet oxygen generation and mitigates the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT). We have prepared an alternating copolymer starting from 4-vinylbenzyl-terminated tetraphenylporphyrin (VBTPP) and maleimide isobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (MIPOSS), via alternating reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Porphyrin and POSS are installed on the amphiphilic block copolymers backbone in an alternating fashion and POSS completely inhibits the aggregation of porphyrin units via stacking. The amphiphilic block copolymer can self-assemble into nanoparticles and its application in PDT treatment was tested. These porphyrin-containing polymeric nanoparticles display high photochemical yield and phototoxicity in vitro and in vivo, providing a novel strategy to enhance the PDT efficacy.

Keywords: POSS; block copolymer; photodynamic therapy; porphyrin; self-assembly.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Organosilicon Compounds / chemistry*
  • Organosilicon Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Polymerization
  • Porphyrins / chemistry*
  • Porphyrins / therapeutic use*
  • Singlet Oxygen / chemistry

Substances

  • Organosilicon Compounds
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Porphyrins
  • tetraphenylporphyrin
  • Singlet Oxygen