Photosensitiser functionalised luminescent upconverting nanoparticles for efficient photodynamic therapy of breast cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a well-established treatment of cancer in which cell toxic reactive oxygen species, including singlet oxygen (O), are produced by a photosensitiser drug following irradiation of a specific wavelength. Visible light is commonly used as the excitation source in PDT, although these wavelengths do have limited tissue penetration. In this research, upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) functionalised with the photosensitiser Rose Bengal (RB) have been designed and synthesised for PDT of breast cancer cells.

Photosensitiser-gold nanoparticle conjugates for photodynamic therapy of cancer.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been extensively studied within biomedicine due to their biocompatibility and low toxicity. In particular, AuNPs have been widely used to deliver photosensitiser agents for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. Here we review the state-of-the-art for the functionalisation of the gold nanoparticle surface with both photosensitisers and targeting ligands for the active targeting of cancer cell surface receptors.

Synthesis and in vitro phototoxicity of multifunctional Zn(II)meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin-coated gold nanoparticles assembled via axial coordination with imidazole ligands.

Hypothesis: Metalloporphyrins are extensively investigated for their ability to form reactive oxygen species and as potent photosensitisers for use in photodynamic therapy. However, their hydrophobicity generally causes solubility issues concerning in vivo delivery due to lack of distribution and low clearance from the body. Immobilising porphyrins on carriers, such as gold nanoparticles (GNP), can overcome some of these drawbacks.

Towards optimisation of surface enhanced photodynamic therapy of breast cancer cells using gold nanoparticle-photosensitiser conjugates.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs; ca. 4 nm) were synthesised and functionalised with a mixed monolayer of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and one of two zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPcs), the difference between the two molecules was the length of the carbon chain that connects the Pc to the gold core. The chain was composed of either three (C3Pc) or eleven (C11Pc) carbon atoms.

Targeted photodynamic therapy of breast cancer cells using lactose-phthalocyanine functionalized gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which have been widely used for the delivery of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer, can be dispersed in aqueous solutions improving the delivery of the hydrophobic photosensitizer into the body. Furthermore, the large surface of AuNPs can be functionalized with a variety of ligands, including proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates, that allow selective targeting to cancer tissue. In this study, gold nanoparticles were functionalized with a mixed monolayer of a zinc phthalocyanine and a lactose derivative.

A competitive enzyme immunoassay for the quantitative detection of cocaine from banknotes and latent fingermarks.

A sensitive and versatile competitive enzyme immunoassay (cEIA) has been developed for the quantitative detection of cocaine in complex forensic samples. Polyclonal anti-cocaine antibody was purified from serum and deposited onto microtiter plates. The concentration of the cocaine antibody adsorbed onto the plates, and the dilution of the cocaine-HRP hapten were both studied to achieve an optimised immunoassay.