Facile synthesis and in vivo bioimaging applications of porphyrin derivative-encapsulated polymer nanoparticles

Fluorescence (FL) imaging guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) is becoming highly desirable for personalized therapy and precision medicine. In this study, fluorescent polymer nanoparticles TCPP@PEI/PGA were facilely synthesized through electrostatic interaction-mediated self-assembly of porphyrins tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine (TCPP) and polyethylenimine (PEI), and subsequent surface modification with gamma- poly(glutamic acid) (gamma-PGA). TCPP served a dual function as the FL imaging probe and the photosensitizer. The as-prepared TCPP@PEI/PGA nanoparticles showed excellent water-solubility and biocompatibility, while having outstanding capabilities of in vivo bioimaging and O-1(2) generation. FL bioimaging of mice and effective killing of CT 26 cells as well as CT 26 tumor-bearing mice upon laser irradiation were successfully demonstrated when using TCPP@PEI/PGA as theranostic nanoprobes. This study provides a simple but robust method to design and synthesize porphyrin-based polymer nanoparticles for theranostics. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

Fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy using TCPP@PEI/PGA nanoparticles was demonstrated in this study. The nanoparticles showed excellent water-solubility, biocompatibility, in vivo bioimaging capabilities, and effective tumor cell killing upon laser irradiation.