Mitochondria‐Targeted Small‐Molecule Fluorophores for Dual Modal Cancer Phototherapy. (22nd March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Shenglin; Tan, Xu; Fang, Shengtao; Wang, Yu; Liu, Tao; Wang, Xin; Yuan, Yi; Sun, Huiqin; Qi, Qingrong; Shi, Chunmeng
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 26:Number 17(2016)
• Page Start: 2826
• Page End: 2835
• Publication Date: 2016-03-22
• Subjects: cancer targeting -- cyanine dyes -- photodynamic therapy -- photothermal therapy -- theranostics; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201600159
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract : Mitochondria are recognized as the ideal target for cancer treatment because they play a central role in oxidative metabolism and apoptosis. In this work, a mitochondria‐targeted near‐infrared (NIR) photosensitizer (PS) for synchronous cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) is synthesized. This multifunctional small‐molecule PS is developed from a variety of synthesized heptamethine cyanine dyes, which are modified with various N ‐alkyl side chains on the lipophilic cationic heptamethine core. It is demonstrated to preferentially accumulate in cancer cells by organic‐anion transporting polypeptide mediated active transport and retain in mitochondria by its lipophilic cationic property. As mitochondria are susceptible to hyperthermia and excessive reactive oxygen species, this new PS integrating PTT and PDT treatment exhibits highly efficient phototherapy in multiple cancer cells and animal xenograft models. Furthermore, this targeted PS with NIR imaging property also enables tumors and their margins clearly visualized, providing the potential for precisely imaging‐guided phototherapy and treatment monitoring. This is the first report that a small‐molecule PS integrates both cancer PTT and PDT treatment by targeting mitochondria, significantly increasing the photosensitization. This work may also present a practicable strategy to develop small‐molecule‐based cancer theranostic agents for simultaneous cancer targeting, imaging, and therapy. Abstract : A heptamethine cyanine dye preferentially accumulates in cancer cells by organic‐anion‐transporting‐polypeptide‐mediated active transport and penetrates into mitochondria by its lipophilic cationic property. This multifunctional small‐molecule photosensitizer (PS) is developed for synchronous cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) by targeting cancer‐cell mitochondria.