Description:
Reference #: 01045
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for a novel triple responsive drug delivery system in photodynamic cancer therapy.
Invention Description:
The subject invention is a triple responsive drug delivery nanogel (TRN) that selectively targets tumor tissue and self-expands to release its payload when triggered by changes of pH, redox potential, and temperature. Photosensitizer loaded nanoparticles showed enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy.
Potential Applications:
Anti-cancer drug delivery; photosensitizer delivery; photodynamic therapy; image-guided therapy
Advantages and Benefits:
1. Facilitates easy control of intracellular drug release
2. Specifically targets tumor cells to minimize side effects
3. Enhances photodynamic therapy efficacy
Background:
Although much effort has been devoted to the development of PDT for head and neck cancers, it still has not been widely accepted due to the potential of skin toxicity upon exposure to light, low efficiency as a result of low solubility, and aggregation of the photosensitizer. A carrier system that can fully take advantage of the benefits of PDT while minimizing its side effects is urgently needed.
Testing and Development:
In vitro, the TRN size increased with decreasing pH and increasing redox potential or temperature. Confocal microscopy revealed the TRN was taken up by the cancer cells and transferred to endosomes/lysosomes, causing them to self-expand and degrade in an acidic environment. This resulted in the breakage of lysosomal membranes that allowed the free drug to be released from lysosomes and transported to mitochondria. After irradiation, the TRN was more effective in killing cells compared to its non-targeted counterpart (100% vs. 35% after 5 h of PDT). Furthermore, in vivo experimenting showed that the TRN could specifically target tumor tissues.