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Sensitivity of A-549 human lung cancer cells to nanoporous zinc oxide conjugated with Photofrin

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Abstract

In the present study, we demonstrated the use of nanoporous zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) in photodynamic therapy. The ZnO NPs structure possesses a high surface to volume ratio due to its porosity and ZnO NPs can be used as an efficient photosensitizer carrier system. We were able to grow ZnO NPs on the tip of borosilicate glass capillaries (0.5 μm diameter) and conjugated this with Photofrin for efficient intracellular drug delivery. The ZnO NPs on the capillary tip could be excited intracellularly with 240 nm UV light, and the resultant 625 nm red light emitted in the presence of Photofrin activated a chemical reaction that produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). The procedure was tested in A-549 cells and led to cell death within a few minutes. The morphological changes in necrosed cells were examined by microscopy. The viability of control and treated A-549 cells with the optimum dose of UV/visible light was assessed using the MTT assay, and ROS were detected using a fluorescence microscopy procedure.

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Acknowledgment

M. Fakhar-e-Alam is grateful for financial support from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad, Pakistan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Science and Technology, Campus Norrköping, Linköping University, SE-60174, Norrköping, Sweden

    Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam, Syed Muhammad Usman Ali, Zafar Hussain Ibupoto, Khun Kimleang & Magnus Willander

  2. Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad, 45650, Pakistan

    Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam

  3. Department of Electronic Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Syed Muhammad Usman Ali

  4. Laser Diagnosis of Cancer, Physics and Astronomy Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    M. Atif

  5. Nano Biochip Research Group, Institute of Nano Electronic Engineering (INEE), University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), 01000, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia

    Muhammad Kashif, Foo Kai Loong & Uda Hashim

  6. National Institute of Laser and Optronics, Nilore, Islamabad, 45650, Pakistan

    M. Atif

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  1. Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam
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Correspondence to Syed Muhammad Usman Ali.

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Fakhar-e-Alam, M., Ali, S.M.U., Ibupoto, Z.H. et al. Sensitivity of A-549 human lung cancer cells to nanoporous zinc oxide conjugated with Photofrin. Lasers Med Sci 27, 607–614 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-011-0989-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-011-0989-8

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