Nanoparticles of cationic amphiphilic cyclodextrins entangling anionic porphyrins as carrier-sensitizer system in photodynamic cancer therapy

The photodynamic activity of a carrier-sensitizer system consisting of heterotopic colloidal nanoparticles (diameter 100–1000 nm) of a cationic amphiphilic cyclodextrin, heptakis(2-ω-amino-O-oligo(ethylene oxide)-6-hexylthio)-β-CD (SC6CDNH2) encapsulating the anionic 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-21H,23H-porphyrin (TPPS) is investigated by an interdisciplinary approach involving the combination of time-resolved absorption and emission techniques with in vitro studies on cultured tumor cells. In a range of TPPS:SC6CDNH2 molar ratios between 1:10 and 1:50 these nanoparticles preserve the photodynamic properties of the entrapped photoactive agent. In fact, the triplet state of TPPS is efficiently populated, very long-lived and, as a consequence, able to produce singlet oxygen (the essential species for the photodynamic action) with quantum yield comparable to the free TPPS. Photodynamic efficacy of the carrier/sensitizer system is proven by in vitro studies on tumor Hela cells treated with TPPS:SC6CDNH2 at different molar ratio, showing significant cells death upon illumination with visible light.