Engineering of Multifunctional Nano‐Micelles for Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Therapy Under the Guidance of Multimodal Imaging

Abstract

The integration of diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities on a single theranostic nano‐system holds great promise to enhance the accuracy of diagnosis and improve the efficacy of therapy. Herein, a multifunctional polymeric nano‐micelle system that contains a photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) is successfully fabricated, at the same time serving as a chelating agent for Gd3+, together with a near‐infrared (NIR) dye, IR825. With a r1 relativity 7 times higher than that of the commercial agent Magnevist, strong fluorescence offered by Ce6, and high NIR absorbance attributed to IR825, these theranostic micelles can be utilized as a contrast agent for triple modal magnetic resonance (MR), fluorescence, and photoacoustic imaging of tumors in a mouse model. The combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy is then carried out, achieving a synergistic anti‐tumor effect both in vitro and in vivo. Different from single photo treatment modalities which only affect the superficial region of the tumor under mild doses, the combination therapy at the same dose using this agent is able to induce significant damage to both superficial and deep parts of the tumor. Therefore, this work presents a polymer based theranostic platform with great potential in multimodal imaging and combination therapy of cancer.

Near-Infrared Dye-Conjugated Amphiphilic Hyaluronic Acid Derivatives as a Dual Contrast Agent for In Vivo Optical and Photoacoustic Tumor Imaging

“…During the preparation of this manuscript, the application of polymeric micelles including cyanine dyes to PA imaging was reported. 40 Here we report on amphiphilic Janus-type HA derivatives bearing both hydrophobic ICG dye moieties and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) moieties, and we demonstrate the application of the selfassemblies in optical tumor imaging as well as in PA tumor tomography in vivo.…”

In vivo targeted magnetic resonance imaging and visualized photodynamic therapy in deep-tissue cancers using folic acid-functionalized superparamagnetic-upconversion nanocomposites

“…Many nanomaterials, such as carbon nanodots, gold nanorods, graphene and upconversion luminescence (UCL) nanomaterials, were all investigated as carriers of PS, by which 30 the PDT performance was improved, and the imaging performance was also achieved [1][2][3][4]. Moreover, magnetic nanomaterials were also used to load PS for simultaneous MRI and PDT [5][6][7][8]. In previous reports, multifunctional nanoprobes of MRI/PDT were generally organic PS-loaded 35 superparamagnetic/paramagnetic nanomaterials for T 1 -or T 2 -weighted MRI and visible-triggered organic PDT [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12], and inorganic PS-loaded superparamagnetic nanomaterials for MRI and visible/ultraviolet (UV)-triggered inorganic PDT [13,14].…”

Dual-Modality Positron Emission Tomography/Optical Image-Guided Photodynamic Cancer Therapy with Chlorin e6-Containing Nanomicelles

“…31, 32 Organic nanostructures have been utilized in cancer therapy due to their excellent biocompatibility and drug-loading capacity, however, most of them lack of imaging functions. 33–35 A few organic photosensitizer nanoparticles, such as porphysome nanovesicles, 36, 37 polymer-Ce 6&IR825 nanocomplex, 38 and Abraxance-Ce 6 nanomicelles 39 have recently been proposed as theranostic agents for PDT or combined cancer therapy. Most of these nanostructures display high accumulation in liver and spleen despite active targeting, which is attributed in part to their relatively large size (~100 nm) that results in the nonspecific clearance by the reticuloendothelial system (RES).…”

“…Most of these nanostructures display high accumulation in liver and spleen despite active targeting, which is attributed in part to their relatively large size (~100 nm) that results in the nonspecific clearance by the reticuloendothelial system (RES). 38–40 Thus, it is of great importance to design an ideal nanoplatform displaying a smaller size and enhanced surface coating to avoid the RES. In addition, the nanoplatform must display excellent biocompatibility to prevent an immune response after injection and ensure potential clinical translation.…”