Phthalocyanines and graphene quantum dots nano-systems as dual anti-cancer sensitizers for photo-sonodynamic combinatorial therapy

This work reports on the preparation of cationic thiazole phthalocyanines (Pcs) conjugates with nitrogen doped (NGQDs) and nitrogen/sulfur co-doped (NSGQDs) graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The photo-sonodynamic combinatorial therapy (PSDT) activities of the conjugates were determined in vitro using cancer cells lines. The conjugates demonstrated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under the treatment technique. The singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals were generated by the Pc-GQDs upon exposure to light ad low frequency ultrasound in PSDT. Additionally, cancer eradication was observed in vitro for the PSDT treatment using the Pc-GQDs conjugates. The ROS generation and cell eradication studies showed that the NGQDs conjugates performed better compared to the NSGQDs conjugates. The PSDT treatments were compared to the photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) monotreatments. For the combination therapies, both the ROS generation and the cancer eradication efficiencies were increased compared to the PDT and SDT monotreatments.

Automated summary

This study presents the preparation of cationic thiazole phthalocyanines (Pcs) conjugates with nitrogen doped (NGQDs) and nitrogen/sulfur co-doped (NSGQDs) graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The photo-sonodynamic combinatorial therapy (PSDT) activities of the conjugates were tested in vitro with cancer cell lines. The conjugates exhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the treatment technique. The Pc-GQDs generated singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals when exposed to light and low frequency ultrasound in PSDT. Cancer eradication was observed in vitro for the PSDT treatment using the Pc-GQDs conjugates. The NGQDs conjugates performed better in terms of ROS generation and cell eradication compared to the NSGQDs conjugates. The PSDT treatments showed increased ROS generation and cancer eradication efficiencies compared to PDT and SDT monotreatments.