IR-780 dye can be used as a sonodynamic agent against breast tumor

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is developing as a new modality for cancer therapy through activating certain chemical sensitizers by ultrasound. The aim of this work was to introduce IR-780 iodide, a lipophilic cation heptamethine dye with peak absorption at 780 nm, as SDT agents for breast cancer treatment. The in vitro cellular uptake, cell viability, and the generation levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined by using of 4T1 breast cancer cells incubated with various concentrations of IR-780 followed by US irradiation. Also, the tissue permeability and distribution of IR-780 in the tumor-bearing mice by a whole animal NIR imaging system were examined in order to determine the optimal time for in vivo SDT using IR-780. Moreover, the in vivo efficacy of IR-780 as a sonosensitizer against breast tumor was tested.