Effects of polyallylamine-coated nanoparticles on the optical and photochemical properties of rose bengal

• Published in: Journal of the Chinese Medical Association 2022-09, Vol.85 (9), p.901-908
• Main Authors: Lin, Kai-Ying, Tsay, Yeou-Guang, Chang, C. Allen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fluorides; Humans; Lanthanoid Series Elements; Nanoparticles; Photochemotherapy - methods; Photosensitizing Agents - chemistry; Photosensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Polyamines; Rose Bengal - chemistry; Rose Bengal - pharmacology; Silicon Dioxide; Singlet Oxygen - metabolism; Sodium
• ISSN: 1726-4901; 1728-7731
• DOI: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000000762

Inasmuch as optical and photochemical properties of a photosensitizer can be modified upon association with the nanoparticle (NP), we wondered whether the effectiveness of phototherapeutic rose bengal (RB) was affected upon tethering to the sodium lanthanide fluoride NP with an outer polyallylamine (PAH) coat. RB molecules were electrostatically bound to the NaYF 4 :Gd 3+ :Nd 3+ NPs with inner silica and outer PAH coats. The products were analyzed for their size, shape and zeta potential using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering instrument. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrometry and fluorescence spectrometry were used to examine the spectral properties. Photodynamic effect in terms of singlet oxygen generation was quantitatively determined using the indicator 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF). Photocytotoxicity mediated by NP-bound RB was tested using A549 cells (Student's t test was used for statistical evaluation). NP-bound RB had the major absorbance peak at 561 nm, in comparison with 549 nm for free RB, accompanied with a significant decrease in absorptivity. The molar extinction coefficient becomes 36 000 M -1 cm -1 , only ~35% of that for free RB. Fluorescence spectral analyses showed a paradoxical decrease in the emission with higher NP concentrations even at very low dilutions. Most importantly, the association of RB with these NPs drastically increased its singlet oxygen production upon irradiation. The interaction of RB with PAH coat could partly account for this enhancement, given our finding that PAH in solution also caused a drastic rise in DPBF reactivity by free RB. These NPs exhibited strong photocytotoxic effects, and their promise in photodynamic therapy was addressed. Our findings provide evidence that the PAH coat plays a key role in enhanced biological activities of RB delivered via NPs, including the increase in singlet oxygen production and photocytotoxic effects.