Chlorin e6 keratin nanoparticles for photodynamic anticancer therapy

Abstract

This work describes the preparation of keratin and chlorin e6-conjugated keratin nanoparticles, KNPs and KNPs@Ce6 respectively, by comparing self-assembling and desolvation methodologies. Nanoparticles were characterized in terms of yield, size, morphology, Ce6 loading ratio and ability to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon irradiation with white light. Overall, both methods provided nanoparticles of comparable dimensions, morphology and Ce6 loading ratio. KNPs@Ce6 obtained by a self-assembling procedure were able to produce ROS in a concentration and irradiation-time dependent manner, while displaying compelling evidence of their photostability. In vitro internalization and photo-to..