Synthesis, characterization and application of targeted nanocarrier improving photodynamic therapy for pancreatic cancer
10.11665/j.issn.1000-5048.2025090601
- VernacularTitle:胰腺癌靶向纳米载体的合成、表征及其改善光动力治疗研究
- Author:
Jianan QIAO
1
;
Fengchun TIAN
Author Information
1. 南京中医药大学附属中西医结合医院, 南京210028;江苏省中医药研究院, 中药组分与微生态研究中心, 南京210028;中国药科大学药学院, 南京 211198
- Publication Type:Journal Article 期刊文章
- Keywords:
pancreatic cancer;
targeted nanocarriers;
photodynamic therapy;
synthesis of nanocarriers;
characterization of nanocarriers;
enhance photodynamic therapy efficacy
- From:
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University
2026;57(2):206-214
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
LL-PTP, a pancreatic cancer-targeted nanocarrier, was synthesized via click chemistry, and the insoluble photosensitive drug zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) was physically encapsulated within LL-PTP to fabricate LL-PTP/ZnPc nanoparticles. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of LL-PTP was determined to be 52.97 μg/mL; the LL-PTP/ZnPc nanoparticles, formed by the physical encapsulation of ZnPc, appeared as a blue transparent solution; the ZnPc loading efficiency of these nanoparticles was (20.1 ± 1.4) %, with a hydrated particle size of (89.18 ± 0.21) nm; notably, the nanoparticles exhibited excellent storage stability and serum stability, which fully meet the stability requirements for injectable formulations in clinical applications; furthermore, the release rate of LL-PTP/ZnPc in tumor tissue was significantly higher (6.2-fold) than that in serum, which is significantly beneficial for the therapeutic effect of nanoparticles at the tumor site. To investigate the targeted uptake of LL-PTP/ZnPc, qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and flow cytometry, respectively, with the result that LL-PTP/ZnPc enhanced the uptake of nanoparticles by PANC-1 cells (a pancreatic cancer cell line) through Plectin-1-mediated endocytosis with an efficiency significantly superior to that of LL/ZnPc (non-targeted control nanoparticles) and free ZnPc. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected using the DCFH-DA probe, with the finding that LL-PTP/ZnPc, upon light irradiation, induced a marked increase in intracellular ROS production—an effect that is conducive to achieving enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy against pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, this study successfully developed LL-PTP, a targeted nanocarrier for pancreatic cancer, and achieved efficient loading of ZnPc, which effectively improved the effect of PDT on pancreatic cancer.
