Next Article in Journal
Preparation and Formation Mechanism of Carbon Nanotubes via Coal Pyrolysis Using Alkaline Potassium Catalysts
Previous Article in Journal
Instability by Extension of an Elastic Nanorod
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Nanomaterials
Volume 15
Issue 22
10.3390/nano15221690
nanomaterials-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Theranostic Verteporfin-Conjugated Upconversion Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment

by
Oleksandr Shapoval
1,*,
Vitalii Patsula
1,
David Větvička
2,
Miroslav Šlouf
1,
Martina Kabešová
2,
Taras Vasylyshyn
1,
Ludmila Maffei Svobodová
2,
Magdalena Konefal
1,3,
Olga Kočková
1,
Jan Pankrác
4,
Petr Matouš
4,
Vít Herynek
4 and
Daniel Horák
1,*
1
Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Heyrovského nám. 2, 162 06 Prague, Czech Republic
2
Institute of Biophysics and Informatics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Salmovská 1, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic
3
NanoBioMedical Centre, Adam Mickiewicz University, Wszechnicy Piastowskiej 3, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
4
Center for Advanced Preclinical Imaging, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Salmovská 3, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(22), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221690 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 29 September 2025 / Revised: 4 November 2025 / Accepted: 6 November 2025 / Published: 7 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Biology and Medicines)
Browse Figure
Versions Notes

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a highly selective, clinically approved, minimally invasive technique that effectively eliminates cancer cells. Its effectiveness is limited by poor light penetration into tissue and the hydrophobic nature of photosensitizers, highlighting the need for new approaches to treatment. Here, a theranostic upconversion nanoplatform, consisting of a NaYF4:Yb,Er,Tm,Fe core and a NaHoF4 shell codoped with Yb, Nd, Gd and Tb ions, was designed to enhance PDT outcomes by integrating multi-wavelength upconversion luminescence, T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PDT. The synthesized core–shell upconversion nanoparticles (CS-UCNPs) were coated with new verteporfin (VP)-conjugated alendronate-terminated poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide-co-2-aminoethyl acrylate) [Ale-P(DMA-AEA)] grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Under 980 nm NIR irradiation, CS-UCNP@Ale-P(DMA-AEA)-PEG-VP nanoparticles generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the efficient energy transfer between CS-UCNPs and VP. In a pilot preclinical study, intratumoral administration of nanoparticle conjugates to mice, followed by exposure to NIR light, induced necrosis of pancreatic tumor and suppressed its growth.
Keywords: nanoparticles; verteporfin; photodynamic therapy; pancreatic cancer; imaging nanoparticles; verteporfin; photodynamic therapy; pancreatic cancer; imaging
Graphical Abstract

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Shapoval, O.; Patsula, V.; Větvička, D.; Šlouf, M.; Kabešová, M.; Vasylyshyn, T.; Svobodová, L.M.; Konefal, M.; Kočková, O.; Pankrác, J.; et al. Theranostic Verteporfin-Conjugated Upconversion Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment. Nanomaterials 2025, 15, 1690. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221690

AMA Style

Shapoval O, Patsula V, Větvička D, Šlouf M, Kabešová M, Vasylyshyn T, Svobodová LM, Konefal M, Kočková O, Pankrác J, et al. Theranostic Verteporfin-Conjugated Upconversion Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment. Nanomaterials. 2025; 15(22):1690. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221690

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shapoval, Oleksandr, Vitalii Patsula, David Větvička, Miroslav Šlouf, Martina Kabešová, Taras Vasylyshyn, Ludmila Maffei Svobodová, Magdalena Konefal, Olga Kočková, Jan Pankrác, and et al. 2025. "Theranostic Verteporfin-Conjugated Upconversion Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment" Nanomaterials 15, no. 22: 1690. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221690

APA Style

Shapoval, O., Patsula, V., Větvička, D., Šlouf, M., Kabešová, M., Vasylyshyn, T., Svobodová, L. M., Konefal, M., Kočková, O., Pankrác, J., Matouš, P., Herynek, V., & Horák, D. (2025). Theranostic Verteporfin-Conjugated Upconversion Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment. Nanomaterials, 15(22), 1690. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221690

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop