6.1.1 SLNs for photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy is one of the emerging approaches in the treatment of cancer which comprises application of a photosensitizer followed by laser irradiation of tumor lesions. Temoporfin (TP), a photosensitizer loaded in thermoresponsive SLNs were developed with an objective to improve anticancer activity through site specific drug delivery. The copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-blockpoly(ε-caprolactone) copolymers (PEO45-b-PCL7) were synthesized by the mechanism of catalyst-free ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone which was initiated by poly(ethylene oxide) monomethyl ether(MPEO). These copolymers were acts as a stabilizer in the preparation of thermoresponsive SLN. The stability study report revealed that the developed SLNs had higher stability in human serum within the blood transport to tumor tissue. In vitro phototoxicity study revealed higher phototoxic activity of TP against breast cancer cells due to its faster bioaccumulation in the targeted cancer cells. The in vivo anticancer efficacy of TP-SLN was remarkably higher as compared to the commercial TP formulation [53].
