Preparation of ALA‐loaded PLGA nanoparticles and its application in PDT treatment

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDCoaxial electrospray is an emerging technology to produce multilayer micro‐ and nano‐particles (NPs) with well controlled shape and size. ALA‐PDT is a fascinating technology used in the treatment for skin and other cancers. In this work, ALA‐loaded poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) (PLGA‐ALA) NPs with high drug loading efficiency were produced via coaxial electrospray and used for the PDT treatment in HSC‐3 cells.RESULTSResults showed that 200–1000 nm PLGA‐ALA NPs with 60–75% ALA loading efficiency were successfully produced. ALA and PLGA were well integrated and no extra chemical reaction occurred during the electrospray. PLGA‐ALA NPs displayed a delayed release of ALA in PBS solution up to 7 days. A massive accumulation of PpIX in HSC‐3 cells happened after the incubation of PLGA‐ALA NPs. With light irradiation, these PLGA‐ALA NPs showed a remarkable cytotoxicity against HSC‐3 cells, leading to 40–70% cell death depending on the incubation dose.CONCLUSIONSCoaxial electrospraying is a facile method to prepare PLGA‐ALA NPs with high drug loading content and efficiency, and PLGA‐ALA NPs turned out to be an effective vehicle for delivering ALA to tumor cells. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry