1. Novel Polyglutamate-based Indocyanine green nanoparticles for photothermal cancer therapy
Sam P. Tarassoli

2. Clinical need: head and neck cancer
Cancer cost: £9.4 billion to the NHS
37% spent on effective treatment
Need for more direct and targeted therapy
Head and neck cancer prognosis is good (50% 5y sr) with 6th leading incidence rate
Aim
To create a Polyglutamic acid-Indocyanine green polymeric nanoparticle that can improve the delivery of saporin to a head and neck cancer cell
Cell line SCC-9

3. Nanoparticles for drug delivery
Internal stimuli sensitive nanoparticles
Photothermal therapy and photothermal internalising effect
Internal stimulus: Overexpressed tumour enzymes
tumour
agent
polymer cleaved by cathepsins
cathepsin enzymes

5. PGA digestion with cathepsin B
Fainter bands = PGA digestion over time

6. NP characterisation SEM DLS Encapsulation efficiency = 0.85 +/- 0.06%
Zeta potential = /- 1.3 mv (n=3)

7. Absorbance and fluorescence spectra

8. ICG uptake and formulation
LASER: 805nm and 150mW/cm2 for 5 mins (45 J/cm2 total energy)

9. Saporin toxicity studies

10. Rhodamine Dextran tracking microscopy
LASER TREATED

11. Further work SEM for digested nanoparticle
Challenging to create sample where buffer has been completely removed to provide a clear image
Fabrication of nanoparticle that contains
polymer
photosensitizer
chemotherapeutic
Figure out a method to measure photothermal effect of the nanoparticle within the internal environment of the cell
Cytotoxicity depends on ICG sequestration

12. Conclusions
Incorporation of ICG in the PGA-based nanoparticles significantly increased the light-induced cytotoxicity of the agent on SCC-9 cells
Primarily a result of the improved cellular uptake of the NP formulation
Cytotoxicity evaluation and intracellular distribution observations suggested a synergistic effect of NIR-triggered drug release from lysosomes in the presence of ICG-containing nanoparticles

13. Acknowledgements University College London
Division of Surgery and Interventional Science
Dr Nikoleta Nomikou
Dr Josephine Woodhams
Halla Weinhert
Division of Chemistry
UCL Cancer Institute
Ulster University, School of Pharmacy

14. Thank you for listening!

15. Accompanying slides

16. Free ICG and PGA-ICG fluorescence and absorbance profiles

17. NP digestion analysis by membrane size