(23d) Targeting and Killing Melanoma Cancer Using Photoactivated Nanoparticles

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses photoactivated nanoparticles that are functionalized to target cancer cells and applies light to excite the nanoparticles which subsequently release reactive oxygen species (ROS) that set off a process resulting in cell-suicide of the cancer cells only. This study tested the polymer Poly[2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl[4,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl]] (PCPDTBT) for use as the photoactivated nanoparticle while also examining the Endothelin 3 ligand (ET3) for use as the functionalizing agent for targeting melanoma. This study was inconclusive. Although PCPDTBT was likely an effective photosensitizer for PDT, the results suggested that the functionalized nanoparticles did not target A375 melanoma cancer cells, likely due to the aggregation of the nanoparticles which exceeded the largest size that can be transported into cells at sizes of 100 nm and larger.