Upconversion nanoparticles co-generating ROS/RNS for enhanced tumor photodynamic therapy
JeongGyu Cha – Student, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Pharmacy; Woo Tak Lee – Post-doctoral fellow, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Pharmacy; Yu Seok Youn – professor, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Pharmacy
MS student Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea
Introduction: Solid tumors are difficult to treat due to poor drug penetration and hypoxia, which limit current therapies. Here, we designed anti-cancer upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that convert near-infrared (NIR) light into ultraviolet (UV) light. Under UV, Iron phthalocyanine (FePc) on graphene oxide (GO) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), while S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) releases nitric oxide (NO) to produce highly toxic reactive nitrogen species (RNS). This ROS/RNS amplification is expected to enhance oxidative tumor ablation and improve PDT efficacy in solid tumors.
Learning Objectives:
Understand how UCNPs convert NIR light into UV light for deep-tissue photodynamic activation.
Explain the mechanisms of ROS and RNS generation to FePc and SNAP in tumor therapy.
Evaluate how ROS/RNS amplification enhances oxidative tumor ablation and improves PDT in Tumor Microenvironment.
