Multi-target responsive nanoprobe with cellular-level accuracy for spatiotemporally selective photodynamic therapy

• Published in: Mikrochimica acta (1966) 2023-11, Vol.190 (11), p.448-448, Article 448
• Main Authors: Fu, Huimin, Lu, Qi, Zhang, Yi, Wan, Pingping, Xu, Huajian, Liao, Cheng, Sun, Yaru, Deng, Yun, Yan, Wangxiang, Mei, Qingsong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Analytical Chemistry; Cancer; Care and treatment; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Hydrogen peroxide; Hypoxia; Immune system; Irradiation; Luminescence; Manganese dioxide; Microengineering; Nanochemistry; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Original Paper; Oxygen production; Pancreatic cancer; Photochemotherapy; Photodynamic therapy; Polystyrene resins; Riboflavin; Side effects; Silica; Tumors; Upconversion
• ISSN: 0026-3672; 1436-5073
• DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-06022-4

Photodynamic therapy is known for its non-invasiveness to significantly reduce undesired side effects on patients. However, the infiltration and invasiveness of tumor growth are still beyond the specificity of traditional light-controlled photodynamic therapy (PDT), which lacks cellular-level accuracy to tumor cells, possibly leading to “off-target” damage to healthy tissues such as the skin or immune cells infiltrated. Here, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were co-encapsulated with manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) by amphiphilic polymers poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate) (PSMA) and further coated with photosensitizer (riboflavin)-loaded mesoporous silica (C@S/V). The C@S/V nanoprobes exhibited shielded upconversion luminescence in normal conditions (pH 7.4, no hydroperoxide (H 2 O 2 )) under 980-nm irradiation and thus minimal reactive oxygen production from riboflavin. However, the excess H 2 O 2 (1 mM) and acidic environment (pH 5.5) could decompose the MnO 2 within the C@S/V, resulting in remarkable enhancement of upconversion luminescence and a favorable hypoxia-relieving condition for PDT, providing a spatiotemporal signal for therapy initiation. The C@S/V nanoprobes were applied to the co-culture of normal cells (HEK293) and pancreatic cancer cells (Panc02) and performed a selective killing on Panc02 under the 980-nm irradiation. By using the “double-safety” strategy, a responsive C@S/V nanoprobe was designed by the selective activation of acidic and H 2 O 2 -rich conditions and 980-nm irradiation for spatiotemporally selective photodynamic therapy with cellular-level accuracy. Graphical Abstract