Pu-18-N-butylimide-NMGA-GNP conjugate is effective against hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new modality in the treatment of cancer. This study thus aims to examine whether the PDT is effective against in vivo hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: In vivo efficacy of PDT on hepatocellular carcinoma was tested in xenografted mice with human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (Huh7) by utilizing a gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugate of new photosensitizer (PS), purpurin-18-N-butylimide-N-methyl-D-glucamine (Pu-18-N-butylimide-NMGA). The conjugate (PS-GNPs) was synthesized from the reaction between Pu-18-N-butylimide-NMGA and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4). Mice were arbitrarily assigned into one of three groups. First group received saline alone, second group received PS-GNPs alone, and the last group received both PS-GNPs and irradiation. PS-GNPs was injected directly into the tumor mass and irradiations were performed 24 hours after injection of PS-GNPs. Results: Tumor volume was significantly smaller in the group which received both PS-GNPs and irradiation compared with other two groups. Western blot and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay revealed that the group which received both PS-GNPs and irradiation showed larger amount of apoptotic protein and DNA fragmentation compared with other two groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that Pu-18-N-butylimide-NMGA-GNP conjugate is an effective agent for PDT in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.