A Bio‐Conjugated Fullerene as a Subcellular‐Targeted and Multifaceted Phototheranostic Agent. (9th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Giosia, Matteo; Soldà, Alice; Seeger, Markus; Cantelli, Andrea; Arnesano, Fabio; Nardella, Maria I.; Mangini, Vincenzo; Valle, Francesco; Montalti, Marco; Zerbetto, Francesco; Rapino, Stefania; Calvaresi, Matteo; Ntziachristos, Vasilis
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 31:Number 20(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-03-09
• Subjects: fullerenes -- lysozymes -- multimodal microscopy -- optoacoustic imaging -- photodynamic therapy -- phototheranostic agents; Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202101527
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

Abstract: Fullerenes are candidates for theranostic applications because of their high photodynamic activity and intrinsic multimodal imaging contrast. However, fullerenes suffer from low solubility in aqueous media, poor biocompatibility, cell toxicity, and a tendency to aggregate. C70 @lysozyme is introduced herein as a novel bioconjugate that is harmless to a cellular environment, yet is also photoactive and has excellent optical and optoacoustic contrast for tracking cellular uptake and intracellular localization. The formation, water‐solubility, photoactivity, and unperturbed structure of C70 @lysozyme are confirmed using UV‐visible and 2D 1 H, 15 N NMR spectroscopy. The excellent imaging contrast of C70 @lysozyme in optoacoustic and third harmonic generation microscopy is exploited to monitor its uptake in HeLa cells and lysosomal trafficking. Last, the photoactivity of C70 @lysozyme and its ability to initiate cell death by means of singlet oxygen ( 1 O2 ) production upon exposure to low levels of white light irradiation is demonstrated. This study introduces C70 @lysozyme and other fullerene‐protein conjugates as potential candidates for theranostic applications. Abstract : C70 @lysozyme bioconjugate is introduced as a potential phototheranostic agent. Optoacoustic and third‐harmonic generation microscopy are used to track its cellular uptake and lysosomal trafficking in HeLa cells. The unperturbed structure and photoactivity of C70 @lysozyme are confirmed, as well as its ability to induce cell death upon low doses of white light irradiation by means of intracellular singlet oxygen generation.