An Acceptor-π-Donor Structured Organic Chromophore for NIR Triggered Thermal Ablation of Tumor via DNA Damage-Mediated Apoptosis

Abstract

Di Zhang,1 Jinghong Yang,2 Chuang Liu,1 Sheng Ye,1 Qianbing Zhang,2 Ruiyuan Liu1 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People’s Republic of China; 2Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ruiyuan LiuGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Image Processing, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [email protected] ZhangCancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: It will be challenging to develop high-performance organic chromophores for light-triggered thermal ablation of the tumor. Besides, the mechanisms of organic chromophores for tumor therapy remain unclear. Herein, an acceptor-π-donor (A-π-D) structured organic chromophore based on 2-dicyanomethylenethiazole named PTM was developed for photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors.Methods and Results: Biocompatible PTM nanoparticles (PTM NPs) were fabricated by enclosing PTM with Pluronic F-127. The results of optical and photothermal properties of PTM NPs showed robust near-infrared (NIR) absorption, excellent photostability and high photothermal conversion efficiency (56.9%). The results of flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, apoptosis, CCK-8 assays and animal experiments showed that PTM NPs had a good killing effect on tumors under NIR laser irradiation. Furthermore, mechanistic studies, RNA-seq and biological analysis revealed that PTM NPs can cause tumor cell death via DNA damage-mediated apoptosis.Conclusion: Light-induced thermal ablation effects of PTM NPs in vitro and vivo were surveyed. Collectively, our studies provided a new approach to developing a safe and effective photothermal agent for cancer treatment.Keywords: NIR absorbing chromophore, 2-dicyanomethylenethiazole, photothermal therapy, DNA damage induced apoptosis, RNA-seq, biological analysis

Keywords

• nir absorbing chromophore
• 2-dicyanomethylenethiazole
• photothermal therapy
• dna damage induced apoptosis
• rna-seq
• and biological analysis