Encapsulation of Hydrophobic Phthalocyanine with Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Lipid Composite Microspheres for Thermo-Responsive Release and Photodynamic Therapy.

ABSTRACT: Phthalocyanine (Pc) is a type of promising sensitizer molecules for photodynamic therapy (PDT), but its hydrophobicity substantially prevents its applications. In this study, we efficiently encapsulate Pc into poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) microgel particles, without or with lipid decoration (i.e., Pc@pNIPAM or Pc@pNIPAM/lipid), to improve its water solubility and prevent aggregation in aqueous medium. The incorporation of lipid molecules significantly enhances the Pc loading efficiency of pNIPAM. These Pc@pNIPAM and Pc@pNIPAM/lipid composite microspheres show thermo-triggered release of Pc and/or lipid due to the phase transition of pNIPAM. Furthermore, in the in vitro experiments, these composite particles work as drug carriers for the hydrophobic Pc to be int

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5453233 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature