Targeted Nanoparticle Carriers Loaded with ICG for Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a clinically approved, minimally invasive treatment that can exert selective cytotoxic activity against malignant cells. When the photosensitizer is exposed to light of a specific wavelength, its electrons absorb the energy of light and transition to the excited state. When it returns to the ground state, it releases energy. The released energy is absorbed by oxygen to form singlet oxygen and free radicals, also known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS produce cytotoxicity. Indocyanine green is a drug that has been reported to be useful as a photodynamic therapy, but it has the problem of easy decomposition in combination with hemoglobin, therefore, this paper uses PFOB as a carrier to transport drugs while coupling the drug to hyaluronic acid, to achieve specific recognition of the CD-44 molecular receptor on the surface of tumor cells. The drug is expected to achieve better killing effect on tumor cells with little toxicity to other cells, and it is expected to be a favorable candidate for photodynamic therapy.