Flexible Formation of Nanoparticles: Selectively Self-Assembling with Glycoclusters to Form Nano-Photosensitizers for Multipurpose Bioimaging and Photodynamic Therapy
The smart construction of nano-photosensitizers (PSs) is significant for multipurpose applications, such as bioimaging, efficient photodynamic anti-tumor or anti-bacterial studies. This work reports a flexible self-assembling strategy for the construction of nano-PSs, in which PSs spontaneously form...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/6/1274 |
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| Summary: | The smart construction of nano-photosensitizers (PSs) is significant for multipurpose applications, such as bioimaging, efficient photodynamic anti-tumor or anti-bacterial studies. This work reports a flexible self-assembling strategy for the construction of nano-PSs, in which PSs spontaneously form amorphous aggregates for killing bacteria, or self-assemble with tetraphenylethene (TPE) based glycoclusters (<b>TPE-Glc<sub>4</sub></b>) to construct glyco-dots for cell imaging and photodynamic anti-tumor studies. Tricyanofuran (TCF) and TPE units were bridged with furan or thiophene moiety to construct two PSs (<b>1</b> and <b>2</b>) with NIR fluorescence in monomers, and a performance of the aggregation-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (AIG-ROS) in an aggregated state. Compared to the large amorphous aggregates (<b>2-a</b>), TPE-based glycoclusters encapsulated with PS form glyco-dots (<b>2-Glc</b>) that exhibit a smaller and more homogeneous hydrated size of approximately 40 nm, as well as enhanced water-solubility and biocompatibility. TPE-glycoclusters facilitate the cellular uptake of <b>2</b> into HepG2 cells, therefore enhancing the NIR fluorescence imaging signal and photodynamic therapy. Meanwhile, <b>2-a</b> exhibits satisfied phototoxicity against <i>Escherichia coli</i>. This work highlights the flexible self-assembly of nano-PSs for multifunctional bioapplications. |
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| ISSN: | 1420-3049 |