摘要
Aggregation-induced emission luminogens(AIEgens)exhibit efficient cytotoxic reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation capability and unique light-up features in the aggregated state,which have been well explored in image-guided photodynamic therapy(PDT).However,the limited penetration depth of light in tissue severely hinders AIEgens as a candidate for primary or adjunctive therapy for clinical applications.Coincidentally,microwaves(MWs)show a distinct advantage for deeper penetration depth in tissues than light.Herein,for the first time,we report AIEgen-mediated microwave dynamic therapy(MWDT)for cancer treatment.We found that two AIEgens(TPEPy-I and TPEPy-PF6)served as a new type of microwave(MW)sensitizers to produce ROS,including singlet oxygen(1O2),resulting in efficient destructions of cancer cells.The results of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)and live/dead assays reveal that the two AIEgens when activated by MW irradiation can effectively kill cancer cells with average IC-50 values of 2.73 and 3.22μM,respectively.Overall,the ability of the two AIEgens to be activated by MW not only overcomes the limitations of conventional PDT,but also helps to improve existing MW ablation therapy by reducing the MW dose required to achieve the same therapeutic outcome,thus reducing the occurrence of side-effects of MW radiation.
基金
We would like to acknowledge the supports from Guangxi Jialouyuan Medical Inc.,Solgro,and the distinguished award from UT Arlington,the Pencis award,as well as the supports from the China Scholarship Council(201906155012)
the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22071065,21772045)
the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2018B030311008)
and the Technology Program of Guangzhou(201904010414)
e would also like to acknowledge Dr.Kytai Nguyen for helping with DLS measurements and Alexios Papadimitratos for ESR measurements.LL would like to acknowledge support by the Welch Foundation grant number AT-1877-20180324 and the UT Dallas-NRUF Collaborative Biomedical Research Award(CoBRA).
