Journal: International Journal of Nanomedicine

Article Title: Evaluation of Self-Illuminating Nanoconjugates Against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

doi: 10.2147/IJN.S545161

Figure Lengend Snippet: The photosensitizer verteporfin has an optimal cytosolic distribution in vitro. ( a ) L3.6pl and ( b ) MiaPaCa-2 cell cytosolic distribution of the photosensitizer. Images acquired by CLM after adding a dose of 2 µM and after a 2-hour incubation (Scale bar: 25 µm, white). Cell nuclei were visualized with Hoechst 33342 (blue signal) and the fluorescent photosensitizer cytosolic distribution is observed in green.

Article Snippet: Spectral analysis confirmed a strong overlap between RLuc8 emission and QDots excitation , enabling effective energy absorption and transfer to activate verteporfin (QDot excitation/emission in Figure S2c ).

Techniques: In Vitro, Incubation

Journal: International Journal of Nanomedicine

Article Title: Evaluation of Self-Illuminating Nanoconjugates Against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

doi: 10.2147/IJN.S545161

Figure Lengend Snippet: BL-PDT induces cell death in PDAC cells. ( a ) The excitation spectra of the photosensitizer matches the emission spectra of the QDots. Study of verteporfin cytotoxicity in ( b ) L3.pl6 and ( c ) Mia PaCa-2 cells after 4h of incubation at increasing concentrations (0–16 µM) of verteporfin. ( d ) SI-NCs cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT in L3.6pl cells after 4h of incubation, with an IC 50 calculated of 4.24 pmol. Statistical analyses: ANOVA with a Dunnett’s test. Cell viability analysis following BL-PDT in ( e ) L3.6pl and ( f ) MiaPaCa-2 cells. Doses: Verteporfin (4 µM); SI-NCs (1 pmol); CTZ (20 µg/mL). Bars representing: 1–8 controls and 9 BL-PDT treatment. All data are expressed in terms of dose response and/or concentration/viability. Data are presented as means ± s.d. (at least n = 3 per group). Statistical analyses p-values: ns (non-significant) ** (p < 0.01), *** (p < 0.001) and **** (p < 0.0001).

Article Snippet: Spectral analysis confirmed a strong overlap between RLuc8 emission and QDots excitation , enabling effective energy absorption and transfer to activate verteporfin (QDot excitation/emission in Figure S2c ).

Techniques: Incubation, Concentration Assay

Journal: International Journal of Nanomedicine

Article Title: Evaluation of Self-Illuminating Nanoconjugates Against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

doi: 10.2147/IJN.S545161

Figure Lengend Snippet: PDT treatment efficiently induces necrosis and apoptosis in Panc354PDX orthotopic tumors. ( a ) By IVIS analysis, SI-NCs (50 pmol i.p.) bioluminescence was observed at the tumor site (pancreas) 15 minutes after CTZ (5 nmol i.v.) injection. Images are shown for control (negative-control), sham (vehicle-control) and BL-PTD (positive-control) mice (n=5 mice per group). For the control group, PBS was injected. The therapy BL-PDT group consisted of mice treated with the complete BL-PDT treatment [verteporfin (PS) + SI-NCs + substrate (CTZ)]. The sham group consisted of mice treated with the photosensitizer and the SI-NCs without the substrate addition (no BL-PDT treatment). The black arrow indicates the site of injection, and the red circle marks the location of the tumor. ( b ) Mean ± s.d. of tumor (left) and peritoneal metastasis (right) weights in control, sham and BL-PTD groups, observing a tendency for reduction in the BL-PDT group. ( c ) Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained histological sections of tumors (3 µm) from the three experimental groups (control, sham and BL-PDT) from ( a ). ( d ) H&E-stained sections for each mouse were prepared, digitalized and used to evaluate the percentage of necrosis in the tumors. Data are presented as means ± s.d. of the % necrotic area/total tumor area. ( e ) Additional serial sections were used for IHC analysis of the number of PCNA-positive cells. Data are presented as means ± s.d. of the area of PCNA+ cells in representative sections from the control, sham and BL-PDT groups. ( f ) Apoptotic events in tumors were analyzed using the TUNEL assay, where images were captured by fluorescence microscopy. Nuclei were stained with Hoechst 33342 (blue), and TUNEL staining is shown in green (Zoom: 25X). ( g ) Positive green-fluorescent events for TUNEL were quantified in the control, sham and BL-PDT groups. Data are presented as means ± s.d. (at least n = 3 per group). Statistical analyses p-value meaning: ns (non-significant) * (p < 0.05), ** (p < 0.01).

Article Snippet: Spectral analysis confirmed a strong overlap between RLuc8 emission and QDots excitation , enabling effective energy absorption and transfer to activate verteporfin (QDot excitation/emission in Figure S2c ).

Techniques: Injection, Control, Negative Control, Positive Control, Staining, TUNEL Assay, Fluorescence, Microscopy