Selective photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer cells is more efficient and much safer. Most selective PDTs are realized by antigene-biomarker or peptide-biomarker interactions. Here, we modified dextran with hydrophobic cholesterol as a photosensitizer carrier to selectively target cancer cells, including colon cancer cells, and fulfilled selective PDT. The photosensitizer was designed with regular Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) units, including triphenylamine and 2-(3-cyano-4,5,5-trimethylfuran-2-ylidene)propanedinitrile. The AIE units can help to decrease the quenching effect in the aggregate state. The efficiency of the photosensitizer is further improved via the heavy atom effect after bromination modification. We found that the obtained photosensitizer nanoparticles could selectively target and ablate cancer cells after encapsulation into the dextran-cholesterol carrier. This study indicates that the polysaccharide-based carrier may have potential for cancer-targeting therapy beyond expectations.
Keywords: PDT; dextran; heavy atom.