Red‐Emitting Upconverting Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy in Cancer Cells Under Near‐Infrared Excitation

• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201201437
• Publication Date: 2012-12-13T22:16:26Z
• Authors: Gan Tian; Wenlu Ren; Liang Yan; Shan Jian; Zhanjun Gu; Liangjun Zhou; Shan Jin; Wenyan Yin; Shoujian Li; Yuliang Zhao
• Keywords: Nanocarriers

Abstract Upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted considerable attention as potential photosensitizer carriers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in deep tissues. In this work, a new and efficient NIR photosensitizing nanoplatform PDT based on red‐emitting UCNPs is designed. The red emission band matches well with the absorption bands of widely used commercially available photosensitizers (Ps), benefiting fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from to attached thus efficiently activating them generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen. Three commonly photosensitizers, including chlorine e6 (Ce6), zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) methylene blue (MB), are loaded onto alpha‐cyclodextrin‐modified form Ps@UCNPs complexes that produce oxygen kill cancer cells under 980 nm near‐infrared excitation. Moreover, two different kinds drugs co‐loaded these nanoparticles: chemotherapy drug doxorubicin agent Ce6. combinational (DOX)‐induced Ce6‐triggered exhibits higher therapeutic efficacy relative individual means vitro.