Work

ICG-ALA Complex for Improved Phototherapy of Cancer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) based photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved therapeutic method for cancer treatment. Indocyanine green (ICG) is on the other hand an FDA-approved fluorescent dye that has been used in medical imaging in the near-infrared (NIR), and recognized as an agent to induce photothermal therapy (PTT). However, the hydrophilicity of ALA and rapid degradation of ICG in aqueous or physiological media as well as their instability limit their application. Besides, the combination of PDT and PTT is a promising alternative to single therapy. Herein, electrostatic binding of ALA to ICG is proposed to bypass such handicaps and provide enhanced therapeutic outcomes with simultaneous PDT and PTT combination. ICG-ALA exhibited excellent biocompatibility and when treatment coupled with 640/808 nm 5 min co-irradiation caused significantly stronger phototoxicity at very low concentrations. ICG-ALA demonstrates visualization of cancer cells in both NIR (ICG) and visible (PpIX) regions allowing imaging-guided phototherapy.

Source: Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy

DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2025.105000

Authors: Mahshid Hashemkhani, Havva Funda Yagci Acar, Alphan Sennaroğlu

Institutions: Université Paris Cité, Koç University

Language: English

Topic: Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,610