Research PaperUsing porous CaCO3/hyaluronic acid nanocages to accommodate hydrophobic photosensitizer in aqueous media for photodynamic therapy

- Porous CaCO3 nanoparticles with a size about 250 nm and high stability in aqueous solution have been synthesized in one pot for PDT.
- Hydrophobic photosensitizer hypocrellin B (HB) could be encapsulated by the CaCO3 nanoparticles to enhance the solubility and stability.
- The CaCO3 nanoparticles loading with HB can be further modified by targeting molecule hyaluronic acid to improve the stability of nano-carrier.

The solubility and stability of hydrophobic photosensitizer in aqueous solution have a great effect on the efficiency of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in cancer treatment. Herein, porous CaCO3 nanoparticles with a size about 250 nm were prepared as a carrier for the photosensitizer Hypocrellin B (HB) to improve the encapsulation and delivery in aqueous solution. The encapsulation dosage of HB by porous CaCO3 nanoparticles was investigated and proved to be concentration dependent. After modified by cross-linked targeting molecule hyaluronic acid (HA), the hybrid nanoparticles were demonstrated the advantages for HB release by pH -sensitive structure and enhancement of PDT cytotoxicity to cancer cells. The hybrid nanoparticles obtained here are supposed to have a great potential application in the PDT.

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