Journal: Translational Oncology

Article Title: Improving photodynamic therapy efficacy in bladder cancer using polymer micelle-encapsulated pheophorbide a

doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102687

Figure Lengend Snippet: SW780 bladder cancer cells produce floating microbladder-like vesicles (luminal cavities characteristic of urothelial differentiation) in monolayer culture. A. Phase-contrast microscopy of T24 and SW780 bladder cancer cells. B. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showing cell surface morphology. Red arrows indicate floating cyst-like vesicles (microbladder-like, luminal cavities characteristic of urothelial differentiation) produced by the SW780 cell line. Images are representative of the overall cell population.

Article Snippet: Human BC cell lines T24 (ATCC® HTB-4TM, derived from a grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of an 81-year-old woman) and SW780 (ATCC® CRL-2169TM, grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma from an 80-year-old woman) were purchased in 2022 from ATCC and cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagles Medium containing GlutaMAX supplemented with 10 % of heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U.mL -1 of penicillin, and 100 μg.mL -1 of streptomycin at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere at 5 % CO 2 (Panasonic, MCO-170AiCUVH).

Techniques: Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, Produced

Journal: Translational Oncology

Article Title: Improving photodynamic therapy efficacy in bladder cancer using polymer micelle-encapsulated pheophorbide a

doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102687

Figure Lengend Snippet: Encapsulation of pheophorbide a enhances PDT efficacy in 3D tumor spheroids. A. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showing the surface morphology of T24 and SW780 spheroids. B. General appearance of bladder tumor spheroids before treatment. Red arrows indicate detached cyst-like vesicles, i.e. “microbladders” (luminal cavities characteristic of urothelial differentiation); dotted circles highlight internal cyst-like structures embedded within the spheroids. C. Counterstained semi-thin transverse sections (500 nm) of spheroids revealing internal cyst-like structures (dotted circles). D. Two-photon microscopy imaging of pheophorbide a (Pheo) (1 µM) penetration in T24 spheroids after 30 min incubation at 37 °C either in its free or encapsulated formulation. Poly (ethylene oxide)-block-poly (ε-caprolactone) (PEO 5000 -PCL 4000 ) empty micelles; Pheophorbide encapsulated in PEO-PCL micelles (Pheo-PEOPCL). Cyan: nuclei (Hoechst); red: pheophorbide fluorescence. E. Spheroid viability assessed by intracellular ATP quantification at 3- and 6-days post-PDT ([Pheo] = 3 µM). Results include data from 1 to 6 independent experiments (N), with a cumulative number of biological replicates (n) ranging from 6 to 39.

Article Snippet: Human BC cell lines T24 (ATCC® HTB-4TM, derived from a grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of an 81-year-old woman) and SW780 (ATCC® CRL-2169TM, grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma from an 80-year-old woman) were purchased in 2022 from ATCC and cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagles Medium containing GlutaMAX supplemented with 10 % of heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U.mL -1 of penicillin, and 100 μg.mL -1 of streptomycin at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere at 5 % CO 2 (Panasonic, MCO-170AiCUVH).

Techniques: Encapsulation, Electron Microscopy, Microscopy, Imaging, Incubation, Formulation, Blocking Assay, Fluorescence

Journal: Translational Oncology

Article Title: Improving photodynamic therapy efficacy in bladder cancer using polymer micelle-encapsulated pheophorbide a

doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102687

Figure Lengend Snippet: Encapsulation of pheophorbide a in PEO-PCL micelles enhances PDT-induced cytotoxicity in 2D high-grade (T24) and low-grade (SW780) bladder cancer cell cultures. A. Cells were treated with empty poly (ethylene oxide)-block-poly (ε-caprolactone) PEO-PCL micelles (PEOPCL) at polymer concentrations equivalent to those used in pheo-loaded micelles, based on the 1:30 drug-to-polymer weight ratio. B. Cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of free pheophorbide a (Pheo) (nM). C. Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of Pheo encapsulated in PEO-PCL micelles (pheo–PEOPCL) (nM). D. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) determination for the Pheo–PEOPCL condition. Cell confluence was monitored by videomicroscopy for 72 h post-PDT ( N > 1; n = 6).

Article Snippet: Human BC cell lines T24 (ATCC® HTB-4TM, derived from a grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of an 81-year-old woman) and SW780 (ATCC® CRL-2169TM, grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma from an 80-year-old woman) were purchased in 2022 from ATCC and cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagles Medium containing GlutaMAX supplemented with 10 % of heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U.mL -1 of penicillin, and 100 μg.mL -1 of streptomycin at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere at 5 % CO 2 (Panasonic, MCO-170AiCUVH).

Techniques: Encapsulation, Blocking Assay, Polymer, Concentration Assay

Journal: Translational Oncology

Article Title: Improving photodynamic therapy efficacy in bladder cancer using polymer micelle-encapsulated pheophorbide a

doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102687

Figure Lengend Snippet: Reduced wound closure in bladder cancer cell monolayers following photodynamic treatment with encapsulated pheophorbide a . A. Kinetics of wound closure over 24 h post-PDT in T24 (grade 3) and SW780 (grade 1) monolayers, monitored by videomicroscopy. Cells were treated with increasing concentrations of pheophorbide a encapsulated in poly (ethylene oxide)-block-poly (ε-caprolactone) PEO-PCL micelles (Pheo-PEO-PCL) (nM). B. Quantification of wound closure ( %) at 24 h post-PDT across the different Pheo-PEO-PCL concentrations. Relative wound density ( %) reflects the proportion of the scratch area repopulated by migrating cells. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test versus control (0 nM).

Article Snippet: Human BC cell lines T24 (ATCC® HTB-4TM, derived from a grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of an 81-year-old woman) and SW780 (ATCC® CRL-2169TM, grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma from an 80-year-old woman) were purchased in 2022 from ATCC and cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagles Medium containing GlutaMAX supplemented with 10 % of heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U.mL -1 of penicillin, and 100 μg.mL -1 of streptomycin at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere at 5 % CO 2 (Panasonic, MCO-170AiCUVH).

Techniques: Blocking Assay, Control

Journal: Translational Oncology

Article Title: Improving photodynamic therapy efficacy in bladder cancer using polymer micelle-encapsulated pheophorbide a

doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102687

Figure Lengend Snippet: Proof of concept of photodynamic therapy efficacy in a complex 3D engineered bladder tumor model. A. Histological cross-sections of the vesical reconstructed tissues stained with Masson’s trichrome, 72 hours after PDT with 3 µM of either free pheophorbide a (Pheo) or pheophorbide a encapsulated in poly (ethylene oxide)-block-poly (ε-caprolactone) PEO-PCL micelles (Pheo–PEO-PCL). Cells appear in red, and stromal collagens in blue. Tumor cells are outlined with black dotted lines. Representative images are shown. B. Tissue viability assessed using the PrestoBlue assay at 48- and 72-hours post-PDT on engineered bladder substitutes implanted with T24 or SW780 spheroids. Results are expressed as a percentage of the untreated control at each timepoint ± SEM.

Article Snippet: Human BC cell lines T24 (ATCC® HTB-4TM, derived from a grade 3 transitional cell carcinoma of an 81-year-old woman) and SW780 (ATCC® CRL-2169TM, grade 1 transitional cell carcinoma from an 80-year-old woman) were purchased in 2022 from ATCC and cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagles Medium containing GlutaMAX supplemented with 10 % of heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 100 U.mL -1 of penicillin, and 100 μg.mL -1 of streptomycin at 37 °C in a humidified atmosphere at 5 % CO 2 (Panasonic, MCO-170AiCUVH).

Techniques: Staining, Blocking Assay, Prestoblue Assay, Control