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Gene & Protein in Disease Cyanine and cancer therapy

A B These species exhibit cytotoxicity with a short half-life and
low diffusion, ultimately leading to tumor cell apoptosis,
autophagy, and necrosis [227] .
In a study by Zhang et al., folate (FA) and Cy7-
modified chitosan (CF7) were chemically synthesized and
developed into self-assembled nanoparticles (CF7Ns) for
tumor-specific imaging and PDT. Experimental results
demonstrated that CF7Ns induced apoptosis in HeLa cells
on NIF light irradiation, thereby improving the therapeutic
Figure 7. (A-B) Different small molecule cyanine compounds. These [228]
compounds can induce cancer cell apoptosis through PTT and PDT efficacy . CF7Ns show significant promise as tumor-
combined therapy, thus exerting anti-tumor activity. targeting agents [228] .
Rizvi et al. designed Cy5.5-coupled self-assembled
caspase cascade reaction, leading to apoptosis of melanoma peptide nanoparticles (f-SAPNs), denoted as Cy5.5-
cells. In addition, IR-817 induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest c RGD-KLAK . Their study revealed that Cy5.5-c could
[
]
by targeting E2F/Cyclin/CDK signaling pathway without produce ROS, disrupt mitochondrial membranes, activate
causing apparent toxicity and side effects. Therefore, this caspase-3 enzymes, and induce apoptosis in cancer cells [229] .
mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic drug, IR-817, holds PTT and photodynamic therapy primarily utilize
promise for early diagnosis, real-time monitoring, and NIR and nanoparticles, serving as photosensitive and
drug treatment of tumors [224] .
photothermal agents. In PTT, gold nanoparticles produce
5.2. Polymer nanoparticles heat upon activation by specific wavelengths of light,
effectively killing cancer cells. Similarly, PDT involves the
5.2.1. Chemotherapy activity
production of ROS by gold nanoparticles to induce cancer
Encapsulating chemotherapy drugs in nanoparticles can cell death.
reduce toxicity by enabling targeted delivery and controlled Han et al. developed Mito-Cy-Tfs, a mitochondrial-
release [225] .
targeted fluorescence probe comprising three components:
In a study by Zhang et al., a novel tumor-targeting (i) NIF heptamethine cyanine as a fluorescence signal
nanomedicine named AS1411-T-5-FU was developed to converter; (ii) trifluoromethyl sulfonamide as a fluorescence
enhance the therapeutic effectiveness against breast cancer. regulator; and (iii) lipophilic triphenylphosphonium
This nanomedicine incorporates Cy5, a fluorescent probe cation as a mitochondrial guide. This cyanine derivative
utilized for labeling DNA tetrahedrons, which improves demonstrates apoptotic characteristics, such as alteration
their photostability without compromising their essential in the BAX/Bcl-2 ratio and the expression of Cyto C,
function. AS1411-T-5-FU offers many advantages, such cleaved-caspase-3, and cleaved-PARP [230] .
as structural stability, biocompatibility, significant toxicity Heptamethyl cyanine dye (HMCD) exhibits excellent
to cancer cells, and the ability to selectively target cancer tumor specificity and selectivity, capable of inducing
cells. The mechanism of action of AS1411-T-5-FU involves
inducing mitochondrial apoptosis, highlighting its apoptosis through mitochondrial damage, making it a
[231]
potential as a promising novel anti-cancer drug with potent promising candidate for treating brain tumors . HMCD
efficacy and selective toxicity on breast cancer cells [226] . dyes are used for imaging due to their optimal NIF emission
and excellent photophysical properties. Furthermore, they
5.2.2. Photothermal activity hold potential as effective drug carriers for brain tumor
treatment (Figure 8).
Nanoparticle-based phototherapies, such as PTT and PDT,
represent promising approaches for tumor eradication. HA-PEG-CyI (HPC) is novel therapeutic nano-carriers
These therapies not only directly target undetectable developed by Chi et al. Under 808 nm laser irradiation, HPC
tumors and metastatic cancers but also hold the potential can produce ROS and elevate the temperature, triggering
for treating other conditions, such as melanoma, and apoptosis and necrosis at the tumor site. HPC-induced cell
overcoming drug resistance. In addition, they can activate death may initiate a range of acute inflammatory reactions,
systemic immune responses by modulating the tumor resulting in systemic immune induction and secondary
microenvironment [227] . death of tumor cells, further reducing tumor recurrence [232] .
Photodynamic therapy exerts its anti-tumor effect by Yu et al. developed nano-ethanol loaded with IR-808
generating ROS and free radicals through interactions (IR-808-ES) as a novel nanoparticle-based photosensitizer
with the plasma nano-platform of the local electric field. for transdermal PDT/PTT of hypertrophic scars (HS).

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2023) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/gpd.2486