Cancer Specific Fluorescence Imaging Using Folate-Alginate Nanoparticles
발표자
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초록
내용
In cancer nanomedicine, numerous studies have been conducted on the surface modification and transport capacity of nanoparticles (NPs); however, biological barriers, such as enzymatic degradation or non-specific delivery during circulation, remain to be cleared. Herein, we developed pH-sensitive NPs that degrade in an acidic environment and release 5-aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) to the target site. NPs were prepared by conjugating alginate with folic acid, followed by encapsulation of 5ALA through a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion method. AF NPs were specifically internalized by cancer cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis. After alginate was deprotonated in the lysosomes and released 5ALA, which was converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) through mitochondrial heme synthesis. Our study outcomes demonstrated that AF NPs were not degraded, and fluorescent precursors were specifically and accurately delivered to cancer cells to generate fluorescence.