Photosensitizer-mediated mitochondria-targeting nanosized drug carriers: Subcellular targeting, therapeutic, and imaging potentials

Publication date: 30 March 2017 Source:International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 520, Issues 1–2 Author(s): Yeon Su Choi, Kiyoon Kwon, Kwonhyeok Yoon, Kang Moo Huh, Han Chang Kang Mitochondria-targeting drug carriers have considerable potential because of the presence of many molecular drug targets in the mitochondria and their pivotal roles in cellular viability, metabolism, maintenance, and death. To compare the mitochondria-targeting abilities of triphenylphosphonium (TPP) and pheophorbide a (PhA) in nanoparticles (NPs), this study prepared mitochondria-targeting NPs using mixtures of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-(SS-PhA)2 [mPEG-(SS-PhA)2 or PPA] and TPP-b-poly(ε-caprolactone)-b-TPP [TPP-b-PCL-b-TPP or TPCL], which were designated PPAn-TPCL4-n (0≤n≤4) NPs. With increasing TPCL content, the formed PPAn-TPCL4-n NPs decreased in size from 33nm to 18nm and increased in terms of positive zeta-potentials from −12mV to 33mV. Although the increased TPCL content caused some dark toxicity of the PPAn-TPCL4-n NPs due to the intrinsic positive character of TPCL, the NPs showed strong light-induced killing effects in tumor cells. In addition, the mitochondrial distribution of the PPAn-TPCL4-n NPs was analyzed and imaged by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, respectively. Thus, the PhA-containing NPs specifically targeted the mitochondria, and light stimulation caused PhA-mediated therapeutic effects and imaging functions. Expanding the capabilities of these n...
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research