Elise Bouffard

Two‐Photon Excitation of Porphyrin‐Functionalized Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy

Porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) act as a sensitizer for the 2-photon excitation of a pendant porphyrin using NIR laser light, for imaging and photodynamic therapy. Mannose-functionalized pSiNPs can be vectorized to MCF-7 human breast cancer cells through a mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis mechanism to provide a 3-fold enhancement of the 2-photon PDT effect.

Ruthenium(II) complex-photosensitized multifunctionalized porous silicon nanoparticles for two-photon near-infrared light responsive imaging and photodynamic cancer therapy

Multifunctionalized porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs), containing the novel Ru(ii) complex-photosensitizer, the polyethylene glycol moiety, and mannose molecules as cancer targeting ligands, are constructed and showcased for application in near infrared (NIR) light-responsive photodynamic therapy (PDT) and imaging of cancer. Exposure to NIR light leads to two-photon excitation of the Ru(ii)-complex which allows efficient simultaneous cancer-imaging and targeted PDT therapy with the functionalized biodegradable pSiNP nanocarriers.

Mannose-6-Phosphate Receptor: A Target for Theranostics of Prostate Cancer†

The development of personalized and non-invasive cancer therapies based on new targets combined with nanodevices is a major challenge in nanomedicine. In this work, the over-expression of a membrane lectin, the cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (M6PR), was specifically demonstrated in prostate cancer cell lines and tissues. To efficiently target this lectin a mannose-6-phosphate analogue was synthesized in six steps and grafted onto the surface of functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). These MSNs were used for in vitro and ex vivo photodynamic therapy to treat prostate cancer cell lines and primary cell cultures prepared from patient biopsies. The results demonstrated the efficiency of M6PR targeting for prostate cancer theranostic.

Mesoporous silicon nanoparticles for targeted two-photon theranostics of prostate cancer

A novel non-toxic porous silicon nanoparticle grafted with a mannose-6-phosphate analogue and applicable in 2-photon imaging and photodynamic therapy was specifically designed for targeting prostate cancer cells.

Targeting Multiplicity: The Key Factor for Anti-Cancer Nanoparticles

In this mini-review, we focus on different strategies to bring nanotools specifically to cancer cells. We discuss about a better targeting of tumor, combining the characteristics of tumor environment, the increase in nanoparticles life time, the biomarkers overexpressed on cancer cells and different physical methods for non invasive therapies. Here we detail the necessity of a synergy between passive and active targeting for an actual specificity of cancer cells.

Why Anticancer Nanomedicine Needs Sugars

Nowadays, nanomedicine brings new opportunities for diagnosis and treatment through innovative combinations of materials structured at the nanoscale, biomolecules and physicochemical processes. If the intrinsic properties of nanomaterials appear of major importance in this new discipline, the functionalization of these nanotools with biomolecules improves both their biocompatibility and efficacy. This is the case of carbohydrate derivatives, natural or synthetic, which are increasingly being used in nanostructures for medical purposes. As in current medicine, sugars are used to mimic their physiological roles. Indeed, carbohydrates enhance the solubility and reduce the clearance of drugs. They are used to mask immunogenic components of nano-objects and escape the body defenses and finally facilitate the delivery to the target tissue. All these properties explain the growing importance of sugars in nanomedicine.