Silk fibroin hydrogels for potential applications in photodynamic therapy

Author(s)

Rojas, Jose Eduardo U. ^[1] ; Gerbelli, Barbara B. ^[1] ; Ribeiro, Anderson O. ^[1] ; Nantes-Cardoso, Iseli L. ^[1] ; Giuntini, Francesca ^[2] ; Alves, Wendel A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, BR-09210580 Santo Andre - Brazil

^[2] Liverpool John Moores Univ, Sch Pharm & Biomol Sci, Liverpool, Merseyside - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Biopolymers; v. 110, n. 2 FEB 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

In this study, we prepared translucid hydrogels with different concentrations of silk fibroin, extracted from raw silk fibers, and used them as a matrix to incorporate the photosensitizer 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-sulphonatophenyl) porphyrin trisodium for application in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The hydrogels obtained were characterized by rheology, spectrophotometry, and scattering techniques to elucidate the factors involved in the formation of the hydrogel, and to characterize the behavior of silk fibroin (SF) after incorporating of the porphyrin to the matrix. The rheology results demonstrated that the SF hydrogels had a shear thinning behavior. In addition, we were able to verify that the structure of the material was able to be recovered over time after shear deformation. The encapsulation of porphyrins in hydrogels leads to the formation of self-assembled peptide nanostructures that prevent porphyrin aggregation, thereby greatly increasing the generation of singlet oxygen. Also, our findings suggest that porphyrin can diffuse out of the hydrogel and permeate the outer skin layers. This evidence suggests that SF hydrogels could be used as porphyrin encapsulation and as a drug carrier for the sustained release of photosensitizers for PDT. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/02317-2 - Interfaces in materials: electronic, magnetic, structural and transport properties
• Grantee: Adalberto Fazzio
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/24018-1 - Polymer-Peptide Conjugates for hydrogel formulation and its usage in detection
• Grantee: Wendel Andrade Alves
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/18527-8 - Phthalocyanines and Naphthalocyanines: synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic macrocyles for photodynamic therapy
• Grantee: Anderson Orzari Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/50972-1 - Francesca Giuntini | Liverpool John Moores University - Inglaterra
• Grantee: Wendel Andrade Alves
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International