Phage‐Templated Synthesis of Targeted Photoactive 1D‐Thiophene Nanoparticles
Thiophene-based nanoparticles (TNPs) are promising therapeutic and imaging agents. Here, using an innovative phage-templated synthesis, a strategy able to bypass the current limitations of TNPs in nanomedicine applications is proposed. The phage capsid is decorated with oligothiophene derivatives, transforming the virus in a 1D-thiophene nanoparticle (1D-TNP). A precise control of the shape/size of the nanoparticles is obtained exploiting the well-defined morphology of a refactored filamentous M13 phage, engineered by phage display to selectively recognize the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). The tropism of the phage is maintained also after the bioconjugation of the thiophene molecules on its capsid. Moreover, the 1D-TNP proved highly fluorescent and photoactive, generating reactive oxygen species through both type I and type II mechanisms. The phototheranostic properties of this platform are investigated on biosystems presenting increasing complexity levels, from in vitro cancer cells in 2D and 3D architectures, to the in vivo tissue-like model organism Hydra vulgaris. The phage-templated 1D-TNP showed photocytotoxicity at picomolar concentrations, and the ability to deeply penetrate 3D spheroids and Hydra tissues. Collectively the results indicate that phage-templated synthesis of organic nanoparticles represents a general strategy, exploitable in many diagnostic and therapeutic fields based on targeted imaging and light mediated cell ablation.
Authors
- Francesca Di Maria (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5557-3816)
- Paolo Emidio Costantini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1597-6404)
- Alberto Danielli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9414-9898)
- Luca Ulfo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4438-2608)
- Michela Nigro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1847-475X)
- Matteo Calvaresi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9583-2146)
- Roberto Saporetti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8558-7191)
- Valentina Di Felice (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4132-1260)
- Claudia Tortiglione (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1447-7611)
- Edoardo Jun Mattioli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2598-497X)
- Matteo Di Giosia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3494-298X)
- Gennaro Sanità (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8943-6980)
- Marika Iencharelli
- Mattia Zangoli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0340-9245)
- Angela Tino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9673-1064)
- Tommaso Rossi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0332-7757)
- Soraia Flammini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2732-3272)
- Emanuela Esposito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2663-6387)
- Maria Montrone
Institutions
- Institute of Applied Science and Intelligent Systems (IT)
- Azienda USL di Bologna (IT)
- Institute of Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (IT)
- University of Bologna (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2024-11-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202405832
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.75
Funders
- European Commission
- Fondazione Umberto Veronesi
- Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro
- Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research