Photoconversion‐Tunable Fluorophore Vesicles for Wavelength‐Dependent Photoinduced Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Photoconversion tunability of fluorophore dye is of great interest in cancer nanomedicine such as fluorescence imaging, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT). Herein, this paper reports wavelength-dependent photoconversional polymeric vesicles of boron dipyrromethene (Bodipy) fluorophore for either PDT under 660 nm irradiation or PTT under 785 nm irradiation. After being assembled within polymeric vesicles at a high drug loading, Bodipy molecules aggregate in the conformations of both J-type and H-type, thereby causing red-shifted absorption into near-infrared region, ultralow radiative transition, and ideal resistance to photobleaching. Such vesicles further possess enhanced blood circulation, preferable tumor accumulation, as well as superior cell uptake as compared to free Bodipy. In particular, the vesicles mainly generate abundant intracellular singlet oxygen for PDT treatment under 660 nm irradiation, while they primarily produce a potent hyperthermia for PTT with tumor ablation through singlet oxygen-synergized photothermal necrosis under 785 nm irradiation. This approach provides a facile and general strategy to tune photoconversion characteristics of fluorophore dyes for wavelength-dependent photoinduced cancer therapy.

AIE Multinuclear Ir(III) Complexes for Biocompatible Organic Nanoparticles with Highly Enhanced Photodynamic Performance

“…An excellent PS is crucial for the therapeutic efficacy of PDT. At present, most PSs for PDT are based on organic dyes, including boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY), porphyrin, and their derivatives . However, the reported PSs possess several drawbacks: (i) the relatively low molar extinction coefficient results in high dosages and longer irradiation time; (ii) the poor water solubility and stability severely hinder their application in biological conditions; (iii) undesirable aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) of emission in aqueous media reduces ROS generation .…”

T‐Cell‐Mimicking Nanoparticles Can Neutralize HIV Infectivity

“…[31] In addition, additional payloads can be encapsulated into PLGA cores or membrane bilayers and combing the TNP technique with other nanotherapeutic approaches, which together may open additional mechanisms of viral suppression. [40–42] By integrating natural cell membrane materials and synthetic nanomaterials, TNPs represent a promising platform for HIV prevention and treatment.…”

Boron Dipyrromethene Nano‐Photosensitizers for Anticancer Phototherapies

“…However, BODIPY aggregation can be systematically regulated in conformations involving both side‐by‐side (J‐type) and face‐to‐face (H‐type) interactions, producing aggregates with low fluorescence, but high ROS quantum yield and photothermal conversion efficiency. Based on the above concept, He et al developed wavelength‐dependent photoconversion regulation of BODIPY with iodine modification through polymeric vesicles (PEG 45 –PCL 60 –poly(N‐isopropyl‐acrylamide) (PNIPAM) 33 ) for either PDT or PTT ( Figure ) . The vesicles exhibited a 98.0% entrapment efficiency at a 20% drug‐loading level, due to the hydrophobicity of BODIPY.…”

“…a–c) Schematic illustration of photoconversion‐tunable polymeric vesicles with both J‐type and H‐type BODIPY aggregates for either PDT under 660 nm irradiation or PTT under 785 nm irradiation. All panels reproduced with permission . Copyright 2017, Wiley‐VCH.…”