Liposomes-based co-delivery of pheophorbide a and gold nanoparticles for thermo-photodynamic therapy purpose on lung cancer spheroids
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Co-delivery of drugs in nanotechnology is a novel area of cancer therapy. In this study, we designed and synthesized a new nanocomplex (Lipo@AuNPs@PPBa) as photosensitizer (PS) from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and pheophorbide a (PPBa) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) application in A549 lung cancer spheroids . The thin-film hydration method used for synthesis of Lipo@AuNPs@PPBa. UV–vis spectroscopy, TEM , SEM, DLS and FTIR were performed to characterise the NPs. ATP, LDH , MTT, the live-dead assay, and flow cytometry were used to assess the therapeutic effect of NPs on A549 spheroids with and without a 660 nm laser. TEM data showed the size of Lipo@AuNPs@PPBa was 87.8 nm and EDS confirmed that AuNPs and PPBa were loaded onto liposomes. Furthermore, the data illustarted that low concentrations of AuNPs (<50 μg/mL) and PPBa (<6 μM) did not show significant effect on A549 spheroids but 60 μg/mL of Lipo@AuNPs@PPBa reduced cell viability to 52.25 % in single treatment and 33.2 % in combination with 660 nm laser. Also, Lipo@AuNPs@PPBa complex presented PTT on A549 spheroids in vitro and increased temperature around 7–8 °C in cell culture media. Moreover, Lipo@AuNPs@PPBa caused cell cycle arrest at G2/M, apoptotic cell death via activite of pro-apoptotic proteins including BAX and caspase-9 (CASP9) in A549 lung cancer spheroids. In conclusion, Lipo@AuNPs@PPBa showed potential to be a PS in PDT of lung cancer. Furthermore, AuNPs demonstrated to enhance the efficacy of synergistic effect on PPBa mediated PDT and PTT.
Source: Results in Chemistry
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,870
Funders: National Research Foundation, South African Medical Research Council, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India, University of Johannesburg, National Treasury, University Research Committee, Emory University, CSIR National Laser Centre, Nebraska Library Commission
Awards: G1628730606, G7162462209, G7412171157
OpenAlex ID: W4409122367