Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi 17546, Korea.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 26;22(1):177. doi: 10.3390/ijms22010177.
Macrophage-derived foam cells play critical roles in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Activated macrophages and foam cells are important biomarkers for targeted imaging and inflammatory disease therapy. Macrophages also express the dectin-1 receptor, which specifically recognizes β-glucan (Glu). Here, we prepared photoactivatable nanoagents (termed Glu/Ce6 nanocomplexes) by encapsulating hydrophobic chlorin e6 (Ce6) within the triple-helix structure of Glu in aqueous condition. Glu/Ce6 nanocomplexes generate singlet oxygen upon laser irradiation. The Glu/Ce6 nanocomplexes were internalized into foam cells and delivered Ce6 molecules into the cytoplasm of foam cells. Upon laser irradiation, they induced significant membrane damage and apoptosis of foam cells. These results suggest that Glu/Ce6 nanocomplexes can be a photoactivatable material for treating atherogenic foam cells.
巨噬细胞衍生的泡沫细胞在动脉粥样硬化的发生和发展中起关键作用。活化的巨噬细胞和泡沫细胞是靶向成像和炎症性疾病治疗的重要生物标志物。巨噬细胞还表达 dectin-1 受体，该受体特异性识别β-葡聚糖（Glu）。在这里，我们通过在水相条件下将疏水性叶绿素 e6（Ce6）封装在 Glu 的三螺旋结构内，制备了光活化纳米剂（称为 Glu/Ce6 纳米复合物）。Glu/Ce6 纳米复合物在激光照射下产生单线态氧。Glu/Ce6 纳米复合物被泡沫细胞内化，并将 Ce6 分子递送到泡沫细胞的细胞质中。激光照射后，它们诱导泡沫细胞发生显著的膜损伤和凋亡。这些结果表明，Glu/Ce6 纳米复合物可以作为一种光活化材料用于治疗动脉粥样硬化泡沫细胞。
