Summary
Published in European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics (2019), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Alves, Cátia G., et al. Hyaluronic acid functionalized nanoparticles loaded with IR780 and DOX for cancer chemo-photothermal therapy
Hyaluronic acid functionalized nanoparticles loaded with IR780 and DOX for cancer chemo-photothermal therapy
Research Overview
The near-infrared dye IR780 has strong potential for cancer phototherapy and imaging, but poor water solubility and acute cytotoxicity block its direct use.
This study used a novel hyaluronic acid-based amphiphilic polymer, for the first time, to prepare polymeric nanoparticles encapsulating IR780 for breast cancer therapy. Nanoparticles co-encapsulating IR780 with doxorubicin were also produced to enhance therapeutic effectiveness, combining phototherapy with chemotherapy in a hyaluronic-acid-targeted carrier.
Key Discoveries
- Hyaluronic acid-based amphiphilic polymer used for the first time to encapsulate IR780
- Encapsulation addressed IR780's poor water solubility and acute cytotoxicity
- Co-encapsulation with doxorubicin combined phototherapy and chemotherapy in one nanoparticle
