Multifunctional organic nanomaterials with ultra-high photothermal conversion efficiency for photothermal therapy and inhibition of cancer metastasis

Xiao-Zhen Yang; Lin-Feng Wen; Gan Xu; Hao-Hua Lin; Shuai Wang; Jian-Yong Liu

doi:10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106220

Multifunctional organic nanomaterials with ultra-high photothermal conversion efficiency for photothermal therapy and inhibition of cancer metastasis

Bioorg Chem. 2023 Jan:130:106220. doi: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106220. Epub 2022 Nov 1.

Authors

Xiao-Zhen Yang¹, Lin-Feng Wen¹, Gan Xu¹, Hao-Hua Lin¹, Shuai Wang¹, Jian-Yong Liu²

Affiliations

¹ National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China.
² National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; Key Laboratory of Molecule Synthesis and Function Discovery, Fujian Province University, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China; State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China. Electronic address: lkw82@fzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36347088
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106220

Abstract

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has gained extensive interest in tumor treatments due to its non-invasive and low-toxic nature. However, the currently available photothermal agents (PTAs) mostly show unsatisfactory photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE). Besides, as a local cancer treatment modality, PTT fails to inhibit metastasis of tumors. To address these issues, in this study, two aza-boron-dipyrromethene (aza-BODIPY)-based organic photothermal agents (OPTAs), Fc-aza-BODIPY and TPA-aza-BODIPY, were rationally coined by introducing two strong electron-donating ferrocene (Fc) moieties and two triphenylamine (TPA) rotors, which could boost intramolecular photo-induced electron transfer (PET) and molecular rotation respectively, thereby improving the PCE of aza-BODIPY dyes. After encapsulation of hydrophobic Fc-aza-BODIPY (or TPA-aza-BODIPY) and quercetin with biodegradable PLGA and DSPE-mPEG2000, the resulting nanoparticles (FAQ NPs and TAQ NPs) showed excellent optical properties with PCE of ∼72.0% and ∼79.7% and specific tumor accumulations through enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects. Consequently, these two NPs possessed prominent antitumor effects under 880 nm laser irradiation. Moreover, both FAQ NPs and TAQ NPs loaded with quercetin could inhibit tumor metastasis efficiently. These two multifunctional nanomaterials integrating OPTAs and anti-metastasis agents constructed a cooperative treatment program, which may provide a potential opportunity for future clinical cancer treatment.

Keywords: Metastasis; Multifunctional nanomaterials; Photothermal conversion efficiency; Photothermal therapy; Quercetin; aza-BODIPY.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

HeLa Cells
Humans
Nanoparticles* / chemistry
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Photothermal Therapy
Quercetin

Substances

azaBDPBA compound
Quercetin