Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy

Activated anti-oxidation reactions in cells partially diminish the anticancer effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), significantly hindering efforts to increase the efficacy of PDT. The expression of transcription factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), an important redox-regulated transcription factor, c...

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Main Authors: Ningyu Li, Fan Dong, Lisha Sun, Yuping Qian, Ludan Zhang, Guiyan Wang, Lintian Yuan, Hong Liu, Yong Jiang, Yuguang Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. 2025-07-01
Series:Fundamental Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325824001274
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author Ningyu Li
Fan Dong
Lisha Sun
Yuping Qian
Ludan Zhang
Guiyan Wang
Lintian Yuan
Hong Liu
Yong Jiang
Yuguang Wang
author_facet Ningyu Li
Fan Dong
Lisha Sun
Yuping Qian
Ludan Zhang
Guiyan Wang
Lintian Yuan
Hong Liu
Yong Jiang
Yuguang Wang
author_sort Ningyu Li
collection DOAJ
description Activated anti-oxidation reactions in cells partially diminish the anticancer effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), significantly hindering efforts to increase the efficacy of PDT. The expression of transcription factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), an important redox-regulated transcription factor, can be downregulated by Nrf2 siRNA, leading to greatly enhanced PDT effects. However, the efficient co-delivery of photosensitizers and siRNAs remains a key problem because these agents are complex to synthesize, exhibit poor biocompatibility and load drugs with a low efficiency. Herein, we designed a carrier–free and extremely simple strategy to co-deliver a photosensitizer and Nrf2 siRNA to cancer cells. In this nanoplatform, an indocyanine green photosensitizer, siRNA and FeⅡ were self-assembled to form a spherical hybrid structure with a uniform size, high loading ratio and adjustable component ratio. The platform can effectively transfer photosensitizers and siRNAs into cells and effectively inhibit tumour growth in vivo. Overall, the self-assembly approach shows great potential for clinical application and provides a simple method to achieve photodynamic therapy and enhanced photothermal therapy.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2667-3258
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
record_format Article
series Fundamental Research
spelling doaj-art-91f43add50564cbea35c70fef8bf07ca2025-08-20T03:09:07ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Fundamental Research2667-32582025-07-01541698170910.1016/j.fmre.2024.03.014Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapyNingyu Li0Fan Dong1Lisha Sun2Yuping Qian3Ludan Zhang4Guiyan Wang5Lintian Yuan6Hong Liu7Yong Jiang8Yuguang Wang9Department of General Dentistry, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, ChinaCenter of Digital Dentistry, Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center of Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology & Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology & NHC Research Center of Engineering and Technology for Computerized Dentistry, Beijing 100081, ChinaCentral Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing 100081, ChinaDepartment of General Dentistry II, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing 100081, ChinaDepartment of General Dentistry II, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing 100081, ChinaDepartment of General Dentistry II, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing 100081, ChinaDepartment of General Dentistry II, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing 100081, ChinaDepartment of General Dentistry, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; Corresponding authors.Department of General Dentistry II, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing 100081, China; Corresponding authors.Department of General Dentistry II, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing 100081, China; Corresponding authors.Activated anti-oxidation reactions in cells partially diminish the anticancer effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT), significantly hindering efforts to increase the efficacy of PDT. The expression of transcription factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), an important redox-regulated transcription factor, can be downregulated by Nrf2 siRNA, leading to greatly enhanced PDT effects. However, the efficient co-delivery of photosensitizers and siRNAs remains a key problem because these agents are complex to synthesize, exhibit poor biocompatibility and load drugs with a low efficiency. Herein, we designed a carrier–free and extremely simple strategy to co-deliver a photosensitizer and Nrf2 siRNA to cancer cells. In this nanoplatform, an indocyanine green photosensitizer, siRNA and FeⅡ were self-assembled to form a spherical hybrid structure with a uniform size, high loading ratio and adjustable component ratio. The platform can effectively transfer photosensitizers and siRNAs into cells and effectively inhibit tumour growth in vivo. Overall, the self-assembly approach shows great potential for clinical application and provides a simple method to achieve photodynamic therapy and enhanced photothermal therapy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325824001274Photodynamic therapyPhotothermal therapyNrf2-siRNAIndocyanine greensiRNA delivery
spellingShingle Ningyu Li
Fan Dong
Lisha Sun
Yuping Qian
Ludan Zhang
Guiyan Wang
Lintian Yuan
Hong Liu
Yong Jiang
Yuguang Wang
Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy
Fundamental Research
Photodynamic therapy
Photothermal therapy
Nrf2-siRNA
Indocyanine green
siRNA delivery
title Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy
title_full Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy
title_fullStr Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy
title_full_unstemmed Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy
title_short Carrier-free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy
title_sort carrier free delivery of nucleic acid and photosensitizer nanoparticles for enhanced photodynamic and gene antitumour therapy
topic Photodynamic therapy
Photothermal therapy
Nrf2-siRNA
Indocyanine green
siRNA delivery
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325824001274
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