biostudies-literatureUnknown65Labroy M<h4>Background</h4>Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) is widely used in bladder cancer management, enabling fluorescence-guided detection of lesions through intravesical administration of photosensitizers such as hexaminolevulinate (Cysview®/Hexvix®). Building on this clinical framework, we explored photodynamic therapy (PDT) using pheophorbide a (pheo), a chlorophyll-based photosensitizer, encapsulated in self-assembled poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO₅₀₀₀-PCL₄₀₀₀) micelles.<h4>Results</h4>In vitro assays were performed on human bladder cancer cell lines, namely the grade 3 invasive T24 and the grade 1 SW780, in both 2D monolayers and 3D spheroid cultures. In 2D, encapsulated pheo showed higher phototoxicity (IC₅₀: 129 nM T24, 156 nM SW780), while free Translational oncology102687https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12903199biostudies-literatureImproving photodynamic therapy efficacy in bladder cancer using polymer micelle-encapsulated pheophorbide a.PMC12903199Fourquaux IGibot LBolduc SBordeleau FChabaud SLabroy MDurand MfalseImproving photodynamic therapy efficacy in bladder cancer using polymer micelle-encapsulated pheophorbide a.<h4>Background</h4>Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) is widely used in bladder cancer management, enabling fluorescence-guided detection of lesions through intravesical administration of photosensitizers such as hexaminolevulinate (Cysview®/Hexvix®). Building on this clinical framework, we explored photodynamic therapy (PDT) using pheophorbide a (pheo), a chlorophyll-based photosensitizer, encapsulated in self-assembled poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO₅₀₀₀-PCL₄₀₀₀) micelles.<h4>Results</h4>In vitro assays were performed on human bladder cancer cell lines, namely the grade 3 invasive T24 and the grade 1 SW780, in both 2D monolayers and 3D spheroid cultures. In 2D, encapsulated pheo showed higher phototoxicity (IC₅₀: 129 nM T24, 156 nM SW780), while free 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Mar2026-07-06T03:14:33.156Z2026-07-06T03:10:47.087ZS-EPMC129031994165080510.1016/j.tranon.2026.102687