"Effects of Redox Status on Immediate Hypericin-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy in Human Glioblastoma T98G Cell Line".

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive types of brain tumor. GBM can modulate glutathione (GSH) levels and regulate cellular redox state, which can explain its high resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a selective, nontoxic, and minimally invasive treatment approved for many types of cancer.

Spherical mesoporous silica designed for the removal of methylene blue from water under strong acidic conditions.

This work proposes a novel technology for environmental remediation based on mesoporous silica spheres, which were successfully synthesized by the solvothermal method using the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a structuring agent. The adsorbent was designed to remove cationic dyes at strong acidic conditions. The surface was modified by a careful thermal treatment aiming at the condensation of silanol to siloxane groups.

Theranostic verteporfin- loaded lipid-polymer liposome for photodynamic applications.

In this study we report a novel theranostic lipid-polymer liposome, obtained from DPPC and the triblock copolymer F127 covalently modified with 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) for photodynamic applications. Due to the presence of F127, small unilamellar vesicle (SUV) liposomes were synthesized by a simple and fast thin-film hydration method without the need for an extrusion process. The vesicles have around 100 nm, low polydispersity and superb solution stability.

A thermoresponsive gel photoreleasing nitric oxide for potential ocular applications.

We report herein the design, preparation, characterization and biological evaluation of a thermoresponsive gel based on binary mixtures of Pluronic® co-polymers F127 and P123, the latter being covalently functionalized with a nitric oxide (NO) photodonor (NOPD). The weight ratio between the two polymeric components is optimized in order to observe gelation of their saline water solution in the range of 32-35 °C, in order to exploit the therapeutic properties of NO for potential ocular applications. Rheological measurements were performed to evaluate the gelation temperature and, hence, to select a co-polymer mixture specifically appropriate for the reference application.

The Role of β-Cyclodextrin in the Textile Industry-Review.

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) is an oligosaccharide composed of seven units of D-(+)-glucopyranose joined by α-1,4 bonds, which is obtained from starch. Its singular trunk conical shape organization, with a well-defined cavity, provides an adequate environment for several types of molecules to be included. Complexation changes the properties of the guest molecules and can increase their stability and bioavailability, protecting against degradation, and reducing their volatility.

Rapid formation of Small Unilamellar Vesicles (SUV) through low-frequency sonication: An innovative approach.

Liposomes are membrane models and excellent Drug Delivery Systems. However, their preparation is expensive, labor intensive, time consuming, and sometimes toxic. Recently, we published an innovative methodology for the production of homogeneous Small Unilamellar Vesicles (SUV) through a simple, fast, relatively low cost, and reproducible process that resulted in very stable vesicles.

"Three-Bullets" Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Combined Photo/Chemotherapy.

This contribution reports the design, preparation, photophysical and photochemical characterization, as well as a preliminary biological evaluation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) covalently integrating a nitric oxide (NO) photodonor (NOPD) and a singlet oxygen (O) photosensitizer (PS) and encapsulating the anticancer doxorubicin (DOX) in a noncovalent fashion. These MSNs bind the NOPD mainly in their inner part and the PS in their outer part in order to judiciously exploit the different diffusion radius of the cytotoxic NO and O. Furthermore this silica nanoconstruct has been devised in such a way to permit the selective excitation of the NOPD and the PS with light sources of different energy in the visible window.

PEG-coated vesicles from Pluronic/lipid mixtures for the carrying of photoactive erythrosine derivatives.

Liposomes are very attractive membrane models and excellent drug delivery systems. Concerning their drug delivery aspects, the mixing liposomes with biocompatible copolymers allows for stability and the incorporation of several drugs. We developed PEG coated vesicles from the mixture of DPPC and F127 Pluronic copolymer to obtain long-circulating nanoparticles (mixed vesicles).

Light-Controlled Simultaneous "On Demand" Release of Cytotoxic Combinations for Bimodal Killing of Cancer Cells.

In this contribution, we report a novel entirely photocontrolled nanoplatform comprising a binary mixture of pluronic copolymers capable of self-assembling into core-shell micelles and co-entrapping two photoactivatable components: a benzoporphyrin photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and coumarin-photocaged chemotherapeutic agent Chlorambucil (CAB). The resulting supramolecular micellar assembly is about 30 nm in diameter with a polydispersity index <0.1, stable for more than 72 h, and exhibits excellent preservation of the photochemical properties of the two photoresponsive components, even though they are confined within the same host nanocarrier.

Formulation of Aluminum Chloride Phthalocyanine in Pluronic(™) P-123 and F-127 Block Copolymer Micelles: Photophysical properties and Photodynamic Inactivation of Microorganisms.

Aluminum Chloride Phthalocyanine (AlPcCl) can be used as a photosensitizer (PS) for Photodynamic Inactivation of Microorganisms (PDI). The AlPcCl showed favorable characteristics for PDI due to high quantum yield of singlet oxygen (ΦΔ ) and photostability. Physicochemical properties and photodynamic inactivation of AlPcCl incorporated in polymeric micelles of tri-block copolymer (P-123 and F-127) against microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were investigated in this work.

Self-aggregation processes of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene in water/ethanol mixtures with high water percentages.

This work describes the behavior of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) in ethanol/water mixtures. The dependence of DPH photophysical properties (absorption and fluorescence emission) on the water percentage in ethanol indicates that DPH undergoes self-aggregation processes in solvent conditions above a critical water content. Evidence such as an additional absorption band, Beer's law deviation, kinetic behavior, and other experimental results obtained from temperature variation and surfactant addition demonstrated the presence of several types of DPH aggregates.