Ursodeoxycholic acid-conjugated chitosan for photodynamic treatment of HuCC-T1 human cholangiocarcinoma cells

•We synthesized novel chitosan conjugates (ChitoUDCA) composed of chitosan and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).•We fabricated nanophotosensitizer for application in photodynamic therapy of HuCC-T1 cholangiocarcinoma cells.•We showed that Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles have spherical shapes with diameter less than 400 nm.•Nanophotosensitizer enhanced uptake of Ce6 into tumor cells, phototoxicity, and ROS generation compared to Ce6 itself.

Chitosan was hydrophobically modified with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to fabricate nano-photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of HuCC-T1 cholangiocarcinoma cells. Synthesis of UDCA-conjugated chitosan (ChitoUDCA) was confirmed using 1H NMR spectra. Chlorin E6 (Ce6) was used as a photosensitizer and incorporated into ChitoUDCA nanoparticles through formation of ion complexes. Morphology of Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles was observed using TEM and their shapes were spherical with sizes around 200–400 nm. The PDT potential of Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles were studied with HuCC-T1 human cholangiocarcinoma cells. The results showed that ChitoUDCA nanoparticles enhances of Ce6 uptake into tumor cells, phototoxicity, and ROS generation compared to Ce6 itself. Furthermore, Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles showed quenching in aqueous solution and sensing at tumor cells. We suggest that Ce6-incorporated ChitoUDCA nanoparticles are promising candidates for PDT of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (148 K)Download as PowerPoint slide