Combination of Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy with Oxygen Self-Supply in the Form of Mutual Assistance for Cancer Therapy

• Main Authors: Chen Y, Zhang L, Li F, Sheng J, Xu C, Li D, Yu H, Liu W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Nanomedicine
• Subjects: chemotherapy; photodynamic therapy; dual-responsiveness; oxygen carriers
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/combination-of-chemotherapy-and-photodynamic-therapy-with-oxygen-self--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN

Ying Chen,1– 3 Lei Zhang,1– 3 Fangxuan Li,4 Jindong Sheng,1 Changxiao Xu,1 Dan Li,1 Hu Yu,1 Wenxin Liu1 1Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China; 2Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060; 3National Clinical Research Centre of Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Cancer Prevention, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ying ChenDepartment of Gynecologic Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhuxi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, 300060, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [e-mail]: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely researched by cancer therapists in recent years. This study aims to establish a drug delivery system combining PDT and chemotherapy to show that chemotherapeutic drugs provide oxygen to PDT, while PDT promotes the release of chemotherapeutic drug.Methods: Firstly, poly(ethylene glycol)-lysine(Ce6)-block-poly(L-glutamate)-imidazole (mPEG-lys(Ce6)-PGA-AIM) was synthesized and self-assembled into micelles that exhibited pH- and ROS-responsiveness and buffering capacity. Perfluorohexanoate-modified cisplatin (FCP), as oxygen carriers, was encapsulated into mPEG-lys(Ce6)-PGA-AIM micelles. Then, the properties of micelles and their biological functions in vivo and in vitro were investigated.Results: The micelles exhibited remarkabe stability, pH regulated drug release, good biocompatibility and effective tumor penetration. Cellular uptake demonstrated the efficient endosome/lysosome escape of CFMs, which facilitates the intracellular drug release. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments reflected that CFMs with laser irradiation showed significantly improved therapeutic activity compared with single PDT or chemotherapy.Conclusion: Chemotherapy and PDT were combined in the form of mutual assistance to provide a promising strategy for clinical treatment.Keywords: chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, dual-responsiveness, oxygen carriers