Chlorin e6‐embedded starch nanogels for improved photodynamic tumor ablation

Abstract

In this study, we report on a polysaccharide‐based nanogel composed of starch conjugated with a photosensitizing chlorin e6 (Ce6) and hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG). The proposed design of the nanogel takes advantage of its hydrogel network and high oxygen‐carrying capacity originated by the water‐swollen and water‐holding characteristics of starch. This resulted in a decrease in the auto‐quenching effect and an increase in the photoactivity of Ce6 molecules inserted into starch. In addition, PEG decoration was introduced to enhance the colloidal stability of the nanogels. Our experimental results revealed that the nanogel structure of starch liked to Ce6 and PEG produced a significant level of singlet oxygen and elicited noticeable A549 tumor cell death under light irradiation, thereby suggesting their potential use in photodynamic tumor therapy.

Starch‐based nanoparticles: Stimuli responsiveness, toxicity, and interactions with food components

“…Wang, Chen, Yang, Yang, and Liu (2014) dissolved spiropyrane‐modified pullulan maize starch (SpP) in DMSO and prepared SpP nanogels with the average diameter of 81 nm through dialysis. Lim, Park, Lee, and Lee (2018) reported a starch nanogel composed of starch conjugated with photosensitizing chlorin e6 (Ce6) and a hydrophilic polymer PEG. The PEG was used to construct a hydrophilic shell to improve the colloidal stability of the nanogel.…”

Hydrogels: soft matters in photomedicine

“…Formulation resulted in enhanced ROS generation and efficient cytotoxicity upon light irradiation. 367 Moreover, potential of Ce 6 incorporated hydrogels, was used to develop a platform for therapy of articular joints. 368 Injectable N-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl diphenylalanine (Fmoc-FF)/poly-L-lysine (PLL) hydrogels with Ce 6 offer a significant potential for superficial tumor therapy.…”

Facile fabrication of hyaluronated starch nanogels for efficient docetaxel delivery

“…1–4 Among these biopolymers, polysaccharides, which are naturally occurring polymers, have contributed to considerable advances in the field of biomedicine owing to their outstanding attributes such as bioadhesion, non-toxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. 5–10 Importantly, another advantage of these polysaccharides is that they can be utilized in the production of various biomedical compounds by the use of their reactive groups (e.g. hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl groups).…”

“…11,12 In particular, the application of modified polysaccharides to colloidal drug carriers is very attractive in terms of improving chemotherapy and tumor diagnostic efficiency. 9–12 This approach not only exploits the physicochemical properties of each polysaccharide but also effectively helps ensure accurate delivery of the loaded drug to the tumor site based on the biological properties of the polysaccharides. 13–17…”

“…The soft nanogel cores are advantageous for storing antitumor drugs. 10,24 HA exposed to the nanogel surface can bind CD44 receptors of tumor cells. When degraded by the hyaluronidase-1 (Hyal-1) enzyme present in the cells, 20–23 the rate of drug release of these nanogels is increased (Figure 1(b)).…”