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: Pheophorbide a (Pheo) was purchased from Frontier Scientific (Logan, Utah, USA).

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: Pheophorbide a (Pheo) was purchased from Frontier Scientific (Logan, Utah, USA).

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: Pheophorbide a (Pheo) was purchased from Frontier Scientific (Logan, Utah, USA).

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: Pheophorbide a (Pheo) was purchased from Frontier Scientific (Logan, Utah, USA).

Techniques: Staining, Blocking Assay, Prestoblue Assay, Control

Journal: Advanced Science

Article Title: Terahertz Spectroscopy Sheds Light on Real‐Time Exchange Kinetics Occurring through Plasma Membrane during Photodynamic Therapy Treatment

doi: 10.1002/advs.202300589

Figure Lengend Snippet: Dynamics of plasma membrane permeabilization following free or encapsulated PDT, analyzed by THz‐ATR. A) Summary of illuminated conditions. Mean values (number of replicates is indicated in brackets) are represented. Concentration of Pheophorbide is 1.65 µ m . B) Amplitude parameter Δ for all conditions. C) Amplitude parameter Δ for illuminated condition in presence of Pheo alone and Pheo‐micelles, for different concentrations (in µ m ). D) Delay time T for illuminated condition in presence of Pheo alone and encapsulated Pheo in micelles, for different concentrations (in µ m ). The right‐hand axis gives the relative number of defects per membrane surface Σ/ S . Values at 0.0825 and 0.165 µ m are not accessible for Pheo alone since the amplitude of the signals is close to 0. ■: pheo alone condition; ▼: pheo encapsulated in micelles condition; ▲: empty micelles condition; and ●: control condition.

Article Snippet: Pheophorbide‐a (Pheo) was purchased from Wako (Japan).

Techniques: Concentration Assay

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: The Enhancement of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy of Escherichia Coli by a Functionalized Combination of Photosensitizers: In Vitro Examination of Single Cells by Quantitative Phase Imaging

doi: 10.3390/ijms23116137

Figure Lengend Snippet: The PS localization performed by fluorescence confocal microscopy for E. coli with accumulated ( A ) Ce6 + Pheo, ( B ) Ce6, ( C ) Pheo—the combined fluorescence–DIC images with axial cross sections: X–Z/Y–Z (the yellow lines indicate the cross section through a cell).

Article Snippet: Chlorin e6 (Ce6) [ ], Pheophorbide a (Pheo) [ ] (manufacturer Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Dallas, TX, USA), and their combination were used as photosensitizers (PSs).

Techniques: Fluorescence, Confocal Microscopy

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: The Enhancement of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy of Escherichia Coli by a Functionalized Combination of Photosensitizers: In Vitro Examination of Single Cells by Quantitative Phase Imaging

doi: 10.3390/ijms23116137

Figure Lengend Snippet: The representative 2D-RI maps of E. coli cells incubated without PS ( A ) and incubated with Ce6 + Pheo ( B ), Ce6 ( C ), or Pheo ( D ).

Article Snippet: Chlorin e6 (Ce6) [ ], Pheophorbide a (Pheo) [ ] (manufacturer Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Dallas, TX, USA), and their combination were used as photosensitizers (PSs).

Techniques: Incubation

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: The Enhancement of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy of Escherichia Coli by a Functionalized Combination of Photosensitizers: In Vitro Examination of Single Cells by Quantitative Phase Imaging

doi: 10.3390/ijms23116137

Figure Lengend Snippet: Representative box plots of 3D-RI values of E. coli cells 24 h (black boxes) and 48 h (red boxes) after incubation without PS ( A ) or with Ce6 + Pheo ( B ), Ce6 ( C ), and Pheo ( D ) (hν+: irradiated, hν−: non irradiated).

Article Snippet: Chlorin e6 (Ce6) [ ], Pheophorbide a (Pheo) [ ] (manufacturer Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Dallas, TX, USA), and their combination were used as photosensitizers (PSs).

Techniques: Incubation, Irradiation

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: The Enhancement of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy of Escherichia Coli by a Functionalized Combination of Photosensitizers: In Vitro Examination of Single Cells by Quantitative Phase Imaging

doi: 10.3390/ijms23116137

Figure Lengend Snippet: Digitally stained (based on the RI values) photosensitizer aggregates ( A ) Ce6 + Pheo, ( B ) Ce6, and ( C ) Pheo after 48 h incubation with PS.

Article Snippet: Chlorin e6 (Ce6) [ ], Pheophorbide a (Pheo) [ ] (manufacturer Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Dallas, TX, USA), and their combination were used as photosensitizers (PSs).

Techniques: Staining, Incubation

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: The Enhancement of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy of Escherichia Coli by a Functionalized Combination of Photosensitizers: In Vitro Examination of Single Cells by Quantitative Phase Imaging

doi: 10.3390/ijms23116137

Figure Lengend Snippet: The results of the ANOVA, where each from 2 groups represent the set of average RI of E. coli cells after irradiation/bright-control (hν+) and dark-control (hν−) samples.

Article Snippet: Chlorin e6 (Ce6) [ ], Pheophorbide a (Pheo) [ ] (manufacturer Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Dallas, TX, USA), and their combination were used as photosensitizers (PSs).

Techniques: Irradiation

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: The Enhancement of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy of Escherichia Coli by a Functionalized Combination of Photosensitizers: In Vitro Examination of Single Cells by Quantitative Phase Imaging

doi: 10.3390/ijms23116137

Figure Lengend Snippet: Representative box plots of dry mass density of biofilms of E. coli after incubation ( A ) without PS or with ( B ) Ce6 + Pheo, ( C ) Ce6, ( D ) Pheo, hν+: irradiated, hν−: not irradiated. The black boxes represent the distribution of RI values after 24 h, and the red boxes 48 h after the start of the experiment.

Article Snippet: Chlorin e6 (Ce6) [ ], Pheophorbide a (Pheo) [ ] (manufacturer Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Dallas, TX, USA), and their combination were used as photosensitizers (PSs).

Techniques: Incubation, Irradiation

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Article Title: The Enhancement of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy of Escherichia Coli by a Functionalized Combination of Photosensitizers: In Vitro Examination of Single Cells by Quantitative Phase Imaging

doi: 10.3390/ijms23116137

Figure Lengend Snippet: The averaged dry mass density with standard deviation before and after irradiation for all analyzed photosensitizers.

Article Snippet: Chlorin e6 (Ce6) [ ], Pheophorbide a (Pheo) [ ] (manufacturer Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc., Dallas, TX, USA), and their combination were used as photosensitizers (PSs).

Techniques: Standard Deviation, Irradiation