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22 pages, 8044 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Direct and Abscopal Antitumor Responses Elicited by AlPcNE-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy in a Murine Melanoma Model

by José Athayde Vasconcelos Morais, Pedro H. A. Barros, Marcelo de Macedo Brigido, Clara Luna Marina, Anamelia Bocca, André de Lima e Silva Mariano, Paulo E. N. de Souza, Karen L. R. Paiva, Marina Mesquita Simões, Sonia Nair Bao, Luana C. Camargo, João P. Figueiró Longo, Amanda Alencar Cabral Morais, Ricardo B. de Azevedo, Marcio J. P. Fonseca and Luis A. Muehlmann

Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(9), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16091177 - 6 Sep 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1580

Abstract

Melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, presents a major clinical challenge due to its tendency to metastasize and recalcitrance to traditional therapies. Despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the outlook for advanced melanoma remains bleak, reinforcing the urgent need for more effective treatments. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a promising alternative, leading to targeted tumor destruction with minimal harm to surrounding tissues. In this study, the direct and abscopal antitumor effects of PDT in a bilateral murine melanoma model were evaluated. Although only one of the two tumors was treated, effects were observed in both. Our findings revealed significant changes in systemic inflammation and alterations in CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell populations in treated groups, as evidenced by blood analyses and flow cytometry. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) further unveiled shifts in gene expression profiles in both treated and untreated tumors. This research sheds light on the novel antitumor and abscopal effects of nanoemulsion of aluminum chloride phthalocyanine (AlPcNE)-mediated PDT in melanoma, highlighting the potential of different PDT protocols to modulate immune responses and to achieve more effective and targeted cancer treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipid Nanostructures as Drug Carriers for Cancer Therapy)

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20 pages, 16526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Potential of Photodynamic Therapy Using Solid Lipid Nanoparticles with Aluminum Phthalocyanine Chloride as a Nanocarrier for Modulating Immunogenic Cell Death in Murine Melanoma In Vitro

by Marina M. Simões, Karen L. R. Paiva, Isadora Florêncio de Souza, Victor Carlos Mello, Ingrid Gracielle Martins da Silva, Paulo Eduardo Narcizo Souza, Luis Alexandre Muehlmann and Sônia Nair Báo

Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(7), 941; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16070941 - 14 Jul 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4995

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill target cells. In cancer treatments, PDT can potentially induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), which is characterized by a well-controlled exposure of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that activate dendritic cells (DCs) and consequently modulate the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. However, PDT still has limitations, such as the activity of photosensitizers in aqueous media and poor bioavailability. Therefore, a new photosensitizer system, SLN-AlPc, has been developed to improve the therapeutic efficacy of PDT. In vitro experiments showed that the light-excited nanocarrier increased ROS production in murine melanoma B16-F10 cells and modulated the profile of DCs. PDT induced cell death accompanied by the exposure of DAMPs and the formation of autophagosomes. In addition, the DCs exposed to PDT-treated B16-F10 cells exhibited morphological changes, increased expression of MHCII, CD86, CD80, and production of IL-12 and IFN-γ, suggesting immune activation towards an antitumor profile. These results indicate that the SLNs-AlPc protocol has the potential to improve PDT efficacy by inducing ICD and activating DCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology)

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16 pages, 3569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Photodynamic Treatment Modality for A375 Melanoma Cell Line Using a Sulphonated Aluminum Phthalocyanine Chloride-Photosensitizer-Gold Nanoparticle Conjugate

by Bridgette Mkhobongo, Rahul Chandran and Heidi Abrahamse

Pharmaceutics 2022, 14(11), 2474; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14112474 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2715

Abstract

Metastatic melanoma cancer stem cells are subpopulations that have been identified and linked to tumor progression, immunoevasive behavior, drug resistance, and metastasis, leading to a poor prognosis. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an approach to eradicate cancer through a photochemical process which directly generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study investigated the impact of PDT using an aluminum phthalocyanine gold nanoparticle (AlPcS₄Cl-AuNP) conjugate for targeting melanoma stem cells. The isolated stem cells were irradiated at 673.2 nm with a radiant exposure of 5 J/cm². Post-irradiation signs of cell death were determined using microscopy and biochemical assays. A possible enhanced effect of ROS in inducing cell death could be seen when AlPcS₄Cl was conjugated to AuNPs. Nanoparticles as carriers promote the efficient cellular uptake of photosensitizers, enhancing organelle accumulation and the targeted therapy of cancerous cells. A biochemical assay revealed significant post-irradiation signs of cell death. The measurement of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content revealed a decrease in cell proliferation. The study suggested an approach directed at expanding the knowledge on PDT to improve cancer treatment. Understanding the cell death mechanism through which ROS influence cancer stem cells (CSCs) is, therefore, useful for improving PDT efficiency and preventing tumor recurrence and metastasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Anticancer Strategies, 3rd Edition)

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10 pages, 1938 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ternary Planar Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells Based on the Ternary Active Layers: α-6T/AlPcCl/C₆₀

by Hajar Ftouhi, Hind Lamkaouane, Mustapha Diani, Guy Louarn, Ludovic Arzel, Jean-Christian Bernède, Mohammed Addou and Linda Cattin

Solar 2022, 2(3), 375-384; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar2030022 - 8 Sep 2022

Viewed by 11335

Abstract

Ternary planar heterojunction organic solar cells (PHJ-OPVs) were fabricated using three organic small molecules, alpha-sexithiophene (α-6T), aluminum phthalocyanine chloride (AlPcCl) and fullerene (C₆₀). These molecules can be easily sublimated under a vacuum; they have complementary optical absorption spectra and their energy band structure alignment is favorable for electronic charge transfers. Moreover, α-6T and AlPcCl have almost the same HOMO, which is desirable to avoid any decrease in open circuit voltage. The AlPcCl intercalated layer bridges the energy levels of the electron donor, α-6T, and the electron acceptor, C₆₀, which facilitates charge transport through the energy cascade effect. Moreover, the charge carrier mobility measurements of AlPcCl, using the space charge limited current method, demonstrated that it iss ambipolar. All these properties combine to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PHJ-OPVs by moving from binary structures (α-6T/C₆₀, α-6T/AlPcCl and AlPcCl/C₆₀) to ternary ones (α-6T/AlPcCl/C₆₀). We show, in this study, that both interfaces of the ternary PHJ-OPVs are efficient for carrier separation. After optimization of the different layer thickness, we show that, by comparing the optimum efficiencies of the binary PHJ-OPVs, the realization of ternary PHJ-OPVs, based on the active layers α-6T/AlPcCl/C₆₀, using the following optimized method, allows us to achieve a PCE of 4.33%. Full article

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15 pages, 1862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Cisplatin and Phthalocyanine for Combination Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy in vitro

by Juan L. Vivero-Escoto and Maram Elnagheeb

Nanomaterials 2015, 5(4), 2302-2316; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano5042302 - 16 Dec 2015

Cited by 61 | Viewed by 8735

Abstract

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been synthesized and loaded with both aluminum chloride phthalocyanine (AlClPc) and cisplatin as combinatorial therapeutics for treating cancer. The structural and photophysical properties of the MSN materials were characterized by different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Intracellular uptake and cytotoxicity were evaluated in human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assays, respectively. The CLSM experiments showed that the MSN materials can be readily internalized in HeLa cells. The cytotoxic experiments demonstrated that, after light exposure, the combination of both AlClPc and cisplatin compounds in the same MSN platform potentiate the toxic effect against HeLa cells in comparison to the control AlClPc-MSN and cisplatin-MSN materials. These results show the potential of using MSN platforms as nanocarriers for combination photodynamic and chemotherapies to treat cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanoparticles in Theranostics)

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15 pages, 585 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photoelectrode Characteristics of Partially Hydrolyzed Aluminum Phthalocyanine Chloride/Fullerene C₆₀ Composite Nanoparticles Working in a Water Phase

by Shuai Zhang, Toshiyuki Abe, Tomokazu Iyoda and Keiji Nagai

Molecules 2012, 17(9), 10801-10815; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules170910801 - 10 Sep 2012

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6501

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical measurements were used to study the photoelectrode characteristics of composite nanoparticles composed of fullerene C₆₀ and partially hydrolyzed aluminum phthalocyanine chloride (AlPc). In cyclic voltammetry measurements, the electrodes coated with the composite nanoparticles were found to have photoanodic [electron donor: 2-mercaptoethanol (ME)] and photocathodic (electron acceptor: O₂) characteristics similar to those of the vapor-deposited p/n junction electrode. Their photoanodic features were further investigated with respect to the transient photocurrent response to light irradiation and the dependence on ME concentration (under potentiostatic conditions), from which it was noted that there was a decrease in the initial spiky photocathodic current and saturation of the steady-state photoanodic current at a higher ME concentration. Thus, the reaction kinetics was probably dominated by charge transport process. Moreover, external and internal quantum efficiency spectrum measurements indicated that the composite nanoparticles responded to the full spectrum of visible light ( < 880 nm) for both the photoanodic and photocathodic current. The present research will assist comprehension of photocatalytic behavior of the composite nanoparticles. Full article

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