Ursodeoxycholic acid-conjugated chitosan for photodynamic treatment of HuCC-T1 human cholangiocarcinoma cells

Chitosan was hydrophobically modified with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to fabricate nano-photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of HuCC-T1 cholangiocarcinoma cells. Synthesis of UDCA-conjugated chitosan (ChitoUDCA) was confirmed using H-1 NMR spectra. Chlorin E6 (Ce6) was used as a photosensitizer and incorporated into ChitoUDCA nanoparticles through formation of ion complexes. Morphology of Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles was observed using TEM and their shapes were spherical with sizes around 200-400 nm. The PDT potential of Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles were studied with HuCC-T1 human cholangiocarcinoma cells. The results showed that ChitoUDCA nanoparticles enhances of Ce6 uptake into tumor cells, phototoxicity, and ROS generation compared to Ce6 itself. Furthermore, Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles showed quenching in aqueous solution and sensing at tumor cells. We suggest that Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles are promising candidates for PDT of cholangiocarcinoma cells. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.