Photodynamic Therapy Activity of New Porphyrin-Xylan-Coated Silica Nanoparticles in Human Colorectal Cancer.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using porphyrins has been approved for treatment of several solid tumors due to the generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, low physiological solubility and lack of selectivity towards tumor sites are the main limitations of their clinical use. Nanoparticles are able to spontaneously accumulate in solid tumors through an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect due to leaky vasculature, poor lymphatic drainage, and increased vessel permeability. Herein, we proved the added value of nanoparticle vectorization on anticancer efficacy and tumor-targeting by 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (TPPOH). Using 80 nm silica nanoparticles (SNPs) coated with xylan-TPPOH conjugate (TPPOH-X), we first showed very significant phototoxic effects of TPPOH-X SNPs mediated by post-PDT ROS generation and stronger cell uptake in human colorectal cancer cell lines compared to free TPPOH. Additionally, we demonstrated apoptotic cell death induced by TPPOH-X SNPs-PDT and the interest of autophagy inhibition to increase anticancer efficacy. Finally, we highlighted in vivo, without toxicity, elevated anticancer efficacy of TPPOH-X SNPs through improvement of tumor-targeting compared to a free TPPOH protocol. Our work demonstrated for the first time the strong anticancer efficacy of TPPOH in vitro and in vivo and the merit of SNPs vectorization.

Porphyrin-xylan-coated silica nanoparticles for anticancer photodynamic therapy.

Porphyrins are widely used in anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, low physiological solubility and lack of selectivity towards cancer cells are the main limitations of their clinical use. Nanoparticles are being intensively explored as photosensitizer carriers for PDT to overcome these limitations. The aims of this work are to synthesize core-shell hybrid nanoparticles formed by a silica core and xylan carrying a 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin (TPPOH) shell, and evaluate their anticancer activity. To afford drug-controlled incorporation and enhance blood circulation, TPPOH was covalently linked to xylan. Different xylans with degrees of substitution in TPPOH ranging from 0.034 to 1.11, were obtained and characterized. Then, the xylan-TPPOH conjugate (PX) was used to coat the silica nanoparticles (PX SNPs). The obtained nano-objects were characterized and their therapeutic potential for photodynamic therapy evaluated against colorectal cancer cell lines. in vitro analysis showed that PX SNPs were 40-fold and 10-fold more effective against HCT116 cells and HT-29 cells respectively compared to free TPPOH.