5-aminolevulinic acid-conjugated gold nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy of cancer

Maung Kyaw Khaing Oo, Xiaochuan Yang, Henry Du, Hongjun Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

113 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Effective delivery of photosensitizer to target tumor cells that causes minimal damage to healthy cells is an important requirement in photodynamic therapy of cancer. Aim: We aimed to use biocompatible gold nanoparticles as a vehicle to deliver 5-aminolevulinic (5-ALA) acid for selective and efficient photodynamic therapy. Results: Protoporphyrin IX accumulated preferentially in fibrosarcoma tumor cells treated with 5-ALA-conjugated nanoparticles while yielding significantly higher reactive oxygen species compared with that with 5-ALA. The elevation of reactive oxygen species resulted in 50% more cytotoxicity to tumor cells than that of 5-ALA alone. Selective destruction of tumor cells was also achieved using 5-ALA-conjugated nanoparticles in co-culture with dermal fibroblasts. Conclusions: 5-ALA-conjugated nanoparticles offer a new modality for selective and efficient destruction of tumor cells, with minimal damage to fibroblasts in the 5-ALA-photodynamic therapy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)777-786
Number of pages10
JournalNanomedicine
Volume3
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

Keywords

  • 5-aminolevulinic acid
  • Gold nanoparticles
  • Photodyanamic therapy
  • Protoporphyrin IX
  • Reactive oxygen species

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