Utilizing Dendrimers as Nanocarriers for New Indocyanine Green in Photothermal Therapy of Tumors

OBJECTIVE  To study dendrimers polyamidoamine(PAMAM) utilized as a nanocarrier for the photosensitizer new indocyanine green(IR820) in photothermal therapy for tumors.

METHODS  Nanoparticles loaded with IR820 were prepared using a covalent conjugation method. Characterization was conducted using proton nuclear magnetic resonance. The in vitro photothermal performance of the nanoparticles was evaluated by monitoring the temperature changes of the nanoparticles under laser irradiation. The cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles on MC38 tumor cells was assessed using the CCK8 assay. Further in vivo experiments were conducted to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of nanoparticle in photothermal therapy.

RESULTS  The analysis results demonstrate successful loading of IR820 onto nanoparticles. The nanoparticles exhibit a significant increase in tumor cell temperature under near-infrared(NIR) laser irradiation, demonstrating cytotoxic activity. In the tumor-bearing mice model, nanoparticles significantly inhibited tumor growth and reduced tumor volume under NIR laser irradiation, but there was no significant difference in mice body weight, indicating that nanoparticle had a good anti-tumor effect and in vivo safety.

CONCLUSION  PAMAM loaded with IR820 can serve as a nanocarriers to enhance anti-tumor photothermal therapy.