Apoferritin protein cages: a novel drug nanocarrier for photodynamic therapy

摘要

A methylene blue-encapsulated apoferritin complex shows cyto-toxic effects on MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells when irradiated at the appropriate wavelength.rnPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising mode of treatment for both oncological (e.g., tumors and dysplasias) and nonon-cological (e.g., age-related macular degeneration, localized infection, and nonmalignant skin conditions) applications. The PDT therapy involves the use of photochemical reactions mediated through the interaction of photosensitizing agents (or so-called photosensitizers), light, and oxygen. Optimal therapy requires the PDT drug molecule to be protected from degradation and reach its target cell and preferably its intracel-lular location. Efforts are currently underway to produce new generations of PDT drugs and novel nanocarriers (with size ranging from 1 to 100 nm) for their targeted delivery. The family of nanocarriers can be broadly categorized as polymer, lipid, surfactant and nanomaterial-based systems.