Molecules (Sep 2023)

PEGA-BA@Ce6@PFCE Micelles as Oxygen Nanoshuttles for Tumor Hypoxia Relief and Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

  • Junan Zhang,
  • Xiaoyun Jiang,
  • Wenyue Luo,
  • Yongjie Mo,
  • Chunyan Dai,
  • Linhua Zhu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28186697
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 18
p. 6697

Abstract

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Tumor hypoxia, which is mainly caused by the inefficient microvascular systems induced by rapid tumor growth, is a common characteristic of most solid tumors and has been found to hinder treatment outcomes for many types of cancer therapeutics. In this study, an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate-block-n-butyl acrylate (PEGA-BA), was prepared via the ATRP method and self-assembled into core-shell micelles as nano radiosensitizers. These micelles encapsulated a photosensitizer, Chlorin e6 (Ce6), and demonstrated well-defined morphology, a uniform size distribution, and high oxygen loading capacity. Cell experiments showed that PEGA-BA@Ce6@PFCE micelles could effectively enter cells. Further in vitro anticancer studies demonstrated that the PEGA-BA@Ce6@PFCE micelles significantly suppressed the tumor cell survival rate when exposed to a laser.

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