Redox-responsive nano-micelles containing trisulfide bonds to enhance photodynamic efficacy of zinc naphthalocyanine

• Published in: Chemical physics letters 2022-09, Vol.803, p.139785, Article 139785
• Main Authors: He, Xian-hui, Zhao, Mao, Tian, Xue-ying, Lu, Yu-jun, Yang, Shun-yu, Peng, Qian-rong, Yang, Min, Jiang, Wen-wen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Nano-micelles; Photodynamic therapy; Redox response; Trisulfide bond; Zinc naphthalocyanine
• ISSN: 0009-2614; 1873-4448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2022.139785

[Display omitted] •A kind of amphiphilic polymers (OCMC-SSS-MC) ontaining trisulfide bonds were synthesized for the first time.•A kind of redox-responsive nano-micellars with trisulfide bond was obtained by self-assembly of OCMC-SSS-MC and zinc naphthalocyanine. The micelles showed unique rods, high drug loading (14%), high stability (90 days without flocculation), high sensitivity to GSH, and excellent biosafety.•The photodynamic activity of micelles was significantly better than that of free zinc naphthalocyanine and traditional disulphide bond redox response micelles under 10 mM GSH.•The micelles had higher phototoxicity in cancer cells than free zinc naphthalocyanine and the micelles containing disulfide bonds. A novel amphiphilic polymer with the trisulfide bond was developed. The nano-micelles could be formed through the self-assembling of this polymer with hydrophobic zinc naphthalocyanine, a NIR-absorbing photosensitizer. The micelles showed unique rods, high drug loading, high stability, high sensitivity to GSH, and excellent biosafety. The singlet oxygen production quantum yield of micelles was obviously higher than that of free photosensitizers and micelles containing disulphide bonds in the simulated tumor environment. The phototoxicity of micelles in cancer cells was significant. The redox response drug-loaded micelle was promising to enhance the photodynamic efficacy of zinc naphthalocyanine in cancer cells.