Small upconversion-ruthenium nanohybrids for cancer theranostics
Photoresponsive drug delivery systems have great potential for improved cancer therapy. However, most of the currently available drug-delivery nanosystems are relatively large and require light excitation with low tissue penetration. Here, we designed a near infrared responsive drug delivery system by loading [Ru(terpyridine)(dipyridophenazine)(H<sub>2</sub>O)]<sup>2+</sup> (Ru(tpy)DPPZ) in azobenzene-modified mesoporous silica coated NaGdF<sub>4</sub>:Nd<sub>0.01</sub>/Yb<sub>0.2</sub>/Tm<sub>0.01</sub> upconversion nanoparticles (azo-mSiO<sub>2</sub>-UCNPs). Upon 808 nm excitation, the generated ultraviolet and blue upconversion luminescence induced a reversible <i>cis</i>-<i>trans</i> isomerization of azobenzene for on-demand release of Ru(tpy)DPPZ. Imaging of both the UCNPs and Ru(tpy)DPPZ revealed targeted drug delivery to the nucleus of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, inducing DNA damage and concomitant cell destruction. Considering that cell nuclei are the core of cellular transcription and the main site of action for multiple chemotherapeutic drugs, our NIR-excitable and small (10 nm diameter) nanohybrids can potentially become highly versatile tools for targeted cancer theranostics.
Authors
- Nour Fayad
- Anne Nsubuga
- Federico Pini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6963-7742)
- Marta Maria Natile (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5591-2670)
- Niko Hildebrandt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8767-9623)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Padua (IT)
- Normandie Université (FR)
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy (IT)
- Laboratoire COBRA (FR)
- Université de Rouen Normandie (FR)
- Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Rouen Normandie (FR)
- McMaster University (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nanoscale
- Published
- 2024-12-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d4nr04210g
- Citations
- 8
- Primary Topic
- Luminescence Properties of Advanced Materials
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.94
Funders
- Indian National Science Academy
- European Commission
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche
- Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Government of Canada
- Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca
- Università degli Studi di Padova
- Labex
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- Université de Rouen
- Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Rouen
- Normandie Université
- Région Normandie
- Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
- European Regional Development Fund