Two-photon excited organic nanoparticles for chemo-photodynamic therapy

Abstract

Abstract Drug molecules assembling nanomedicines possess several advantages, including precise molecular structure, various combinations of therapeutic agents and high content of drugs. In this work, paclitaxel dimer and two-photo photosensitizer were devised and synthesized, which could coassemble into nanoparticles (Co-NPs) in aqueous medium through nanoprecipitation method. As-synthesized Co-NPs possess the uniform size of about 80\u202fnm and great stability in physiological condition, and could produce the singlet oxygen upon near-infrared light irradiation. The Co-NPs indicate enhanced cellular uptake and endosomal escape upon irradiation, which result in the synergistic enhancement of cytotoxicity towards cancer cells and growth inhibition of human cervical cancer tumors. We believed this combination therapy based on organic nanoparticles represent a new and important development in the cancer therapy.