Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles Having Long Wavelength Absorbing Chlorins for Highly-Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy with Reduced Dark Toxicity

The long wavelength absorbing photosensitizer (PS) is important in allowing deeper penetration of near-infrared light into tumor tissue for photodynamic therapy (PDT). A suitable drug delivery vehicle is important to attain a sufficient concentration of PS at the tumor site. Presently, we developed graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles containing long wavelength absorbing PS in the form of the chlorin derivative purpurin-18-N-ethylamine (maximum absorption wavelength [λmax] 707 nm). The GO–PS complexes comprised a delivery system in which PS was loaded by covalent and noncovalent bonding on the GO nanosheet. The two GO–PS complexes were fully characterized and compared concerning their synthesis, stability, cell viability, and dark toxicity. The GO–PS complexes produced significantly-enhanced PDT activity based on excellent drug delivery effect of GO compared with PS alone. In addition, the noncovalent GO–PS complex displayed higher photoactivity, corresponding with the pH-induced release of noncovalently-bound PS from the GO complex in the acidic environment of the cells. Furthermore, the noncovalently bound GO‒PS complex had no dark toxicity, as their highly organized structure prevented GO toxicity. We describe an excellent GO complex-based delivery system with significantly enhanced PDT with long wavelength absorbing PS, as well as reduced dark toxicity as a promising cancer treatment.