Bioinspired Photoresponsive\nAlgosomes as a Nanocarrier\nfor Combating Cancer and Bacterial Infections

The interplay between cancer and bacteria is a complex\nand evolving\narea of study, with certain bacteria implicated in both cancer onset\nand elicitation of chemoresistance. Combining nanoparticle-based photodynamic\ntherapy (PDT) with antibiotics is a powerful strategy to overcome\nbacteria-induced chemoresistance in tumors. This synergistic approach\nenhances targeting and killing of both cancer cells and bacteria with\na prompting immune response. In this study, we have synthesized uniform\nspherical shaped, self-assembled chlorophyll-rich, fluorescent, and\nphotosensitive nanocarriers (named algosomes), derived from cyanobacterium, <i>Spirulina platensis</i>. These algosomes specifically target\ncancer cells due to an abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)\nwhich are taken up more by the cancer cells to maintain cell membrane\nphospholipids to support their rapid growth and survival and exhibit\ntumor suppression via PDT due to integrated chlorophyll. Additionally,\nthey serve as an excellent drug delivery system for antibiotics, enhancing\nthe antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Comprehensive\nbiocompatibility evaluations on L929 cell lines, hemocompatibility\ntests, and <i>in ovo</i> biocompatibility studies in zebrafish\nembryos validated the safety of algosomes for potential clinical applications. <i>In vitro</i> findings demonstrated that algosomes in response\nto near-infrared (NIR) light kill cancer cells by inducing oxidative\nstress and mitochondrial damage, which leads to apoptosis in skin\nand colon cancer. Photoresponsive algosomes also impede cell migration\nfollowing treatment, a crucial factor in preventing metastasis. Furthermore,\nthe antibacterial and antihemolytic effect of antibiotic-loaded algosomes\nagainst multidrug resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> was quantified. This nanocarrier addresses\nthe complex interplay of bacterial infections and cancer within a\nsingle nanoplatform, offering a promising solution to combat these\ndual challenges. Continued research and clinical development of this\ncombination therapy hold promise for more effective and comprehensive\ncancer treatments.