Targeted delivery of photosensitizers to uterine cervical cancer using iron oxide nanoparticles as a vehicle for effective photodynamic therapy

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K20187
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Obstetrics and gynecology
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: amano tsukuru 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (20613467)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 機能性ナノ粒子 / 光線力学療法 / 婦人科悪性腫瘍

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this work, a nanoparticle consisting of an Fe3O4 core, a polyglycerol brunching, and an octalysine functionality (SPION-PG-Lys8) has been synthesized and used to deliver a photosensitizer, chlorin e6 (Ce6), into cancer cells for photodynamic therapy (PDT) against cancer cells. In vitro experiment,SPION-PG-Lys8 is efficiently taken up by cancer cells, and showed low cytotoxicity. SPION-PG-Lys8/Ce6 is more easily taken up by the cells than free Ce6, and surprisingly, the internalized SPION-PG-Lys8/Ce6 is found to be enriched in the mitochondria. SPION-PG-Lys8/Ce6 exhibits almost no cytotoxicity under dark conditions, but strong photocytotoxicity due to the light-triggered production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) destroying the mitochondria. Our results highlight the great potential of SPION-PG-Lys8 as an efficient carrier of Ce6 for photodynamic cancer therapy.

Free Research Field

婦人科腫瘍学