Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (4): 925-933.doi: 10.1007/s40242-021-1186-3

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A Cyanine-based Liposomal Nanophotosensitizer for Enhanced Cancer Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy

LI Mengqi1, MA He1, SHI Chao1, ZHANG Han1, LONG Saran1,2, SUN Wen1,2, DU Jianjun1,2, FAN Jiangli1,2, PENG Xiaojun1,2   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, P. R. China;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Shenzhen Research Institute, Dalian University of Technology, Shenzhen 518057, P. R, China
  • Received:2021-04-26 Revised:2021-05-31 Online:2021-08-01 Published:2021-07-27
  • Contact: PENG Xiaojun E-mail:pengxj@dlut.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.22090011) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Liaoning United Fund(No.U1908202).

Abstract: Currently, chemotherapy is one of the most important treatment modalities for malignant tumors in the clinic, however, it exhibits some shortcomings, such as poor selectivity, limited efficacy and serious adverse effects. Therefore, synergistic therapy and accurate drug delivery at tumor sites become a promising strategy for achieving tumor eradication. Herein, a smart NIR fluorescence imaging-guided nanoliposome was fabricated by encapsulating a chemotherapeutic drug(doxorubicin, DOX), liposomes(L) and a near-infrared(NIR) photosensitizer(CY) to form L@CY@DOX, which could realize enhanced therapeutic efficacy of chemo-PDT in cancer therapy(PDT=photodynamic therapy). L@CY@DOX can induce mitochondrial apoptosis and produce severe toxicity at the cellular level, and L@CY@DOX can enrich in the tumor site, which significantly induces tumor death. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that L@CY@DOX exhibited great antitumor efficacy compared with each one of these monotherapies, indicating that the combination of chemotherapy and PDT possessed potential development prospects and is anticipated in clinical application.

Key words: Photodynamic therapy, Liposome, Photosensitizer, Cyanine dye, Doxorubicin, Cancer