Fluorescent Phthalocyanine-Encapsulated Bovine Serum Albumin Nanoparticles: Their Deployment as Therapeutic Agents in the NIR Region
Raluca Borlan,
Daria Stoia,
Luiza Gaina,
Andreea Campu,
Gabriel Marc,
Maria Perde-Schrepler,
Mihaela Silion,
Dana Maniu,
Monica Focsan,
Simion Astilean
Affiliations
Raluca Borlan
Biomolecular Physics Department, Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Daria Stoia
Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microspectroscopy Centre, Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Luiza Gaina
The Research Centre on Fundamental and Applied Heterochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Andreea Campu
Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microspectroscopy Centre, Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Gabriel Marc
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, ‘Iuliu Hațieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babes Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Maria Perde-Schrepler
Department of Radiobiology and Tumor Biology, Oncology Institute Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuta, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Mihaela Silion
Physics of Polymers and Polymeric Materials, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 700487 Iasi, Romania
Dana Maniu
Biomolecular Physics Department, Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Monica Focsan
Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microspectroscopy Centre, Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Simion Astilean
Biomolecular Physics Department, Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
In recent times, researchers have aimed for new strategies to combat cancer by the implementation of nanotechnologies in biomedical applications. This work focuses on developing protein-based nanoparticles loaded with a newly synthesized NIR emitting and absorbing phthalocyanine dye, with photodynamic and photothermal properties. More precisely, we synthesized highly reproducible bovine serum albumin-based nanoparticles (75% particle yield) through a two-step protocol and successfully encapsulated the NIR active photosensitizer agent, achieving a good loading efficiency of 91%. Making use of molecular docking simulations, we confirm that the NIR photosensitizer is well protected within the nanoparticles, docked in site I of the albumin molecule. Encouraging results were obtained for our nanoparticles towards biomedical use, thanks to their negatively charged surface (−13.6 ± 0.5 mV) and hydrodynamic diameter (25.06 ± 0.62 nm), favorable for benefitting from the enhanced permeability and retention effect; moreover, the MTT viability assay upholds the good biocompatibility of our NIR active nanoparticles. Finally, upon irradiation with an NIR 785 nm laser, the dual phototherapeutic effect of our NIR fluorescent nanoparticles was highlighted by their excellent light-to-heat conversion performance (photothermal conversion efficiency 20%) and good photothermal and size stability, supporting their further implementation as fluorescent therapeutic agents in biomedical applications.
