Dendrimer-Photosensitizer Conjugation Service

By conjugating with dendrimers, the photosensitizer can not only improve the transfection efficiency, but also expand its application in photodynamic therapy. As a leading global biotechnology company, CD BioSciences offers the most comprehensive and effective solutions for dendrimer modification workflows. Our experienced scientists are dedicated to helping our customers solve all problems encountered during dendrimer modification to advance their research project.

Introduction Into Photosensitizers

Photosensitizers, also known as photoinitiators or photocuring agents, are a class of compounds that can absorb energy at certain wavelengths in the ultraviolet region (250-420 nm) or visible region (400-800 nm) to produce free radicals, cations, etc., thereby triggering the polymerization of monomers for cross-linking and curing. When photosensitizers are activated by light, they can generate reactive oxygen radicals that damage cell structures (mainly broken endosomes and lysosomal membranes) from microorganisms or diseased mammals causing cell death. In gene therapy, drug targeting has the advantage of lowering the drug dose and significantly reducing damage to normal tissues. The current photosensitizers used in gene therapy are mainly porphyrin-based photosensitizers. Targeting porphyrins to tumors can greatly increase the specific delivery of the drug. However, the efficacy is reduced by the low solubility of porphyrins and the consequent aggregation that makes it self-quenching in the triple-excited state.

Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a photochemical process that produces local tissue necrosis and is rapidly evolving as a non-surgical and minimally invasive surgical treatment for cancer as well as some skin and eye diseases. The main advantage of PDT over chemotherapy is its ability to be administered locally. The mechanism of action of PDT is the activation of photosensitizing drugs in the target tissue by light of a specific wavelength matching the absorption peak of the photosensitizer in the presence of molecular oxygen. Therefore, PDT requires photosensitizers, light and oxygen to generate reactive oxygen radicals that oxidize biological macromolecules and cause cell death in surrounding tissues.

Mechanism of the photodynamic reaction. (Kwiatkowski S, et al., 2018)

Photosensitizer-Modified Dendrimers

Structures of porphyrins-modified dendrimers. (Tambe, et al., 2017)

It was shown that by attaching porphyrins to nanoparticles, not only the insolubility problem can be overcome, but also the biodistribution of porphyrins can be fundamentally altered to further favor tumors. As a nanomaterial, dendrimers have many functional end groups with homogeneous dimensions for reproducible pharmacokinetics and are considered as promising candidates for biomedical applications. In recent years, dendrimers have found many applications in biomedicine, such as drug delivery, disease diagnosis, and tissue engineering. In PDT, dendrimers can be modified by porphyrins through three strategies, including, porphyrins entrapped in the voids of a dendrimer, porphyrins entrapped in the voids of a dendrimer and used as a scaffold to generate a dendrimer. Thus, when dendrimers are coupled with photosensitive compounds such as porphyrins, the conjugates not only show higher transfection efficiency under laser irradiation but are also able to monitor the localization of gene carriers in cells due to their fluorescent properties for photodynamic therapy.

Our Services

CD BioSciences is a biotechnology company specializing in dendrimer modification and product development. With sophisticated equipment, advanced technology and experienced staff, CD BioSciences can assist customers worldwide with dendrimer-photosensitizer conjugation to facilitate its use in photoimmunotherapy. With years of experience in dendrimer research, CD BioSciences guarantees you dendrimer-photosensitizer conjugation service with the fastest turnaround time.

Service Process

Want to Learn More?

As a leading biotechnology company, CD BioSciences is committed to providing high quality customized services to customers worldwide. With a proven and well-established technology platform, CD BioSciences is confident that we can meet our customers' needs for dendrimer modification services and products. We will provide you with the highest quality service with fast turnaround time. If you are interested in our services or have any other needs, please feel free to contact us and we look forward to working with you on attractive projects.

References

1. Kwiatkowski S, et al., Photodynamic therapy - mechanisms, photosensitizers and combinations. Biomed Pharmacother.2018, 106: 1098-1107.
2. Tambe V, et al., Surface Engineered Dendrimers in siRNA Delivery and Gene Silencing. Curr Pharm Des. 2017, 23: 2952-2975.