The Potential of Photodynamic Therapy Using Solid Lipid Nanoparticles with Aluminum Phthalocyanine Chloride as a Nanocarrier for Modulating Immunogenic Cell Death in Murine Melanoma In Vitro
Marina M. Simões,
Karen L. R. Paiva,
Isadora Florêncio de Souza,
Victor Carlos Mello,
Ingrid Gracielle Martins da Silva,
Paulo Eduardo Narcizo Souza,
Luis Alexandre Muehlmann,
Sônia Nair Báo
Affiliations
Marina M. Simões
Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Karen L. R. Paiva
Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Isadora Florêncio de Souza
Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Victor Carlos Mello
Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Ingrid Gracielle Martins da Silva
Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Paulo Eduardo Narcizo Souza
Optical Spectroscopy Laboratory, Institute of Physics, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Luis Alexandre Muehlmann
Laboratory of Nanoscience and Immunology, Faculty of Ceilandia, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Sônia Nair Báo
Laboratory of Microscopy and Microanalysis, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill target cells. In cancer treatments, PDT can potentially induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), which is characterized by a well-controlled exposure of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that activate dendritic cells (DCs) and consequently modulate the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. However, PDT still has limitations, such as the activity of photosensitizers in aqueous media and poor bioavailability. Therefore, a new photosensitizer system, SLN-AlPc, has been developed to improve the therapeutic efficacy of PDT. In vitro experiments showed that the light-excited nanocarrier increased ROS production in murine melanoma B16-F10 cells and modulated the profile of DCs. PDT induced cell death accompanied by the exposure of DAMPs and the formation of autophagosomes. In addition, the DCs exposed to PDT-treated B16-F10 cells exhibited morphological changes, increased expression of MHCII, CD86, CD80, and production of IL-12 and IFN-γ, suggesting immune activation towards an antitumor profile. These results indicate that the SLNs-AlPc protocol has the potential to improve PDT efficacy by inducing ICD and activating DCs.
