Near infrared (NIR) aza-BODIPY dyes that are widely used for cancer imaging usually suffered from their hydrophobicity. To overcome this problem, the nitro-substituted aza-BODIPY was encapsulated with a biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) and a Kolliphor P188 surfactant by emulsification-solvent evaporation method. The aza-BODIPY nanoparticles were obtained with spherical morphology as seen in Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) possessing an average size of 201 nm (average polydispersity index (PDI) = 0.185) confirmed by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) technique. Transmission Electron Micrographs (TEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) elemental mapping indicated that the dye was homogeneously distributed in the polymeric shells. These aza-BODIPY nanoparticles were then applied for fluorescence imaging in brain tumor cells (U251). The cytotoxicity studies confirmed the biocompatibility of these nanoparticle in 2D and 3D cell cultures at the concentrations up to 100 µg/mL. Gratifyingly, the nanoparticles were localized inside U-251 cells within 3 h incubation time as observed in Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) images. They also exhibited bright fluorescence from U-251 cells inside 3D Ca-alginate scaffolds after 24 h incubation suggesting a great potential to be used as optical imaging agent <i>in vivo</i>.

Nanoencapsulation of near infrared boron-based dye: the strategy to enhance water solubility and biocompatibility

2019 Spring National Meeting

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