Publications
22 results found
Montaseri H, Nkune NW, Abrahamse H, 2022, Active targeted photodynamic therapeutic effect of silver-based nanohybrids on melanoma cancer cells, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, Vol: 11, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 2666-4690
Malignant melanoma is aggressive cancer that metastasizes along with the heterogeneity at the molecular and cellular levels, thereby reducing overall therapeutic efficacy. In the present research, the concept of photodynamic therapy (PDT) was investigated on silver-based nanohybrids for the treatment of A375 melanoma cancer cells. Hence, two different nanoparticles (NPs) namely Ag-PEG NPs and core/shell Ag@mSiO2 NPs were fabricated and conjugated to zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (ZnPcS4) photosensitizer (PS). Folic acid (FA) as a targeting moiety was also decorated onto the surface of nanohybrids to selectively target the folate receptors that are overexpressed on the A375 cells. Ultimately, the PDT efficacy of both ZnPcS4/Ag-PEG-FA and ZnPcS4/Ag@mSiO2-FA nanohybrids were compared via ATP viability, flow cytometry, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. The obtained near-spherical shaped nanohybrids had zeta potential of -4.03 ± 0.3 mV for ZnPcS4/Ag-PEG-FA, and -14.4 ± 0.6 mV for the ZnPcS4/Ag@mSiO2-FA. A significant PDT effect was observed for the cells exposed to 674 nm laser irradiation after incubation with ZnPcS4/Ag@mSiO2-FA with ∼92%* ± 1.1 cell death compared to ∼70%* ± 2.9 cell death for ZnPcS4/Ag-PEG-FA nanohybrids owing to the higher generation of ROS for the former nanohybrids. The majority of the cell death was induced via apoptosis rather than necrosis as the nanohybrids successfully localized in mitochondria. The overall finding of this study concluded that an active targeting strategy significantly enhanced the cellular uptake of the nanohybrids compared to passive targeting. Moreover, strong surface plasmon-PS resonance coupling in ZnPcS4/Ag@mSiO2-FA nanohybrids enhanced singlet oxygen generation in comparison to the PS alone or ZnPcS4/Ag-PEG-FA nanohybrids.
Montaseri H, Simelane NWN, Abrahamse H, 2022, Zinc phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate-loaded Ag@mSiO2 nanoparticles for active targeted photodynamic therapy of colorectal cancer, Frontiers in Nanotechnology, Vol: 4, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 2673-3013
Colorectal cancer has high morbidity and mortality rate, with a high level of metastasis and recurrence due to the poor therapeutic effects. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an emerging clinical modality for cancer treatment provides remarkable advantages over existing treatments by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) through light irradiating photosensitizers (PSs) in the presence of oxygen. PDT can induce immunity against recurrence and destruction of metastases. The application of nanoparticles (NPs) in targeted cancer therapy is coming to light to circumvent the limitations associated with low physiological solubility and lack of selectivity of the PS towards tumor sites. In this in vitro study, we proved the added value of NP systems on PS efficacy and a tumor-targeting ligand. Using core/shell Ag@mSiO2 NPs loaded with ZnPcS4 PS and folic acid (FA), stronger cellular localization in the human colorectal cancer cell line (Caco-2) was observed compared to the passive NC and free PS. Additionally, light-induced photodynamic activation of the ZnPcS4/Ag@mSiO2-FA nanoconjugate (NC) elicited a strong cytotoxicity effect mediated by post-PDT. The results also revealed that the active NC was able to decrease the cell viability remarkably to 38.0% ± 4.2 *** compared to the passive NC (67.0% ± 7.4*) under 0.125 µM ZnPcS4 (IC50). More importantly, the actively targeted NC-induced apoptosis where cell cycle analysis elaborated on cell death through the G0 phase, indicating the final NC’s efficacy 20 hr post-PDT treatment.
Montaseri H, Abrahamse H, 2022, Nanotechnologies in Oncology, Photodynamic Therapy Approaches, Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Therapeutic Aspects, Publisher: Springer, ISBN: 978-981-16-1247-3
Nano-oncology, the application of nanomedicine to cancer treatments, has the potential to transform clinical oncology by enhancing the efficacy of various cancer therapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) cancer treatment involves the administration of a photosensitizer (PS) to a patient’s localized tumor. Once the PS is accumulated within a target tumor site, it can be activated with laser irradiation at a particular wavelength and so produce reactive oxygen and cytotoxic species, which in turn destroy cancer cells. However, the administration of PSs alone within PDT cancer treatments has noted many pitfalls, such as limited uptake in tumor cells, phototoxicity, poor tissue distribution, and rapid clearance from the body, hindering the effectiveness of such treatments. Nevertheless, the combination of PSs with nanoparticles enables novel drug delivery systems to be developed, which can effectively target tumor sites with several functional molecules, including tumor-specific ligands, antibodies, and cytotoxic agents. These PS nanoparticle targeting conjugates can improve PS uptake and retention in tumor cells, allowing for significantly improved localized PDT cancer treatment outcomes, with reduced systemic and phototoxicity results. For this reason, nano-oncology is attracting considerable scientific interest, and its combinative application within PDT cancer treatments is rapidly being researched. This review highlights the progress, challenges, and opportunities in PDT cancer nanomedicine, as well as discusses the novel PS nanoengineering approaches that have been investigated in order to develop far more effective PDT nanotherapeutic treatment approaches for cancer patients.
Nkune NW, Simelane NWN, Montaseri H, et al., 2021, Photodynamic therapy-mediated immune responses in three-dimensional tumor models, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol: 22, Pages: 1-24, ISSN: 1422-0067
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising non-invasive phototherapeutic approach for cancer therapy that can eliminate local tumor cells and produce systemic antitumor immune responses. In recent years, significant efforts have been made in developing strategies to further investigate the immune mechanisms triggered by PDT. The majority of in vitro experimental models still rely on the two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures that do not mimic a three-dimensional (3D) cellular environment in the human body, such as cellular heterogeneity, nutrient gradient, growth mechanisms, and the interaction between cells as well as the extracellular matrix (ECM) and therapeutic resistance to anticancer treatments. In addition, in vivo animal studies are highly expensive and time consuming, which may also show physiological discrepancies between animals and humans. In this sense, there is growing interest in the utilization of 3D tumor models, since they precisely mimic different features of solid tumors. This review summarizes the characteristics and techniques for 3D tumor model generation. Furthermore, we provide an overview of innate and adaptive immune responses induced by PDT in several in vitro and in vivo tumor models. Future perspectives are highlighted for further enhancing PDT immune responses as well as ideal experimental models for antitumor immune response studies.
Montaseri H, Kruger CA, Abrahamse H, 2021, Targeted photodynamic therapy using alloyed nanoparticle-conjugated 5-aminolevulinic acid for breast cancer, Pharmaceutics, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-17, ISSN: 1999-4923
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been investigated as an effective, non-invasive, and alternative tumor-ablative therapy that uses photosensitizers (PSs) and safe irradiation light in the presence of oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill malignant cancer cells. However, the off-target activation of the PSs can hinder effective PDT. Therefore, an advanced drug delivery system is required to selectively deliver the PS to the therapeutic region only and reduce off-target side effects in cancer treatment. The integration of laser-initiated PDT with nanotechnology has provided new opportunities in cancer therapy. In this study, plasmonic bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared for the targeted PDT (TPDT) of in vitro cultured MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The NPs were functionalized with PEG through Au–thiol linkage to enhance their biocompatibility and subsequently attached to the PS precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid via electrostatic interactions. In order to enhance specific targeting, anti-HER-2 antibodies (Ab) were decorated onto the surface of the nanoconjugate (NC) to fabricate a 5-ALA/Au–Ag-PEG-Ab NC. In vitro studies showed that the synthesized NC can enter MCF-7 cells and localize in the cytoplasm to metabolize 5-ALA to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). Upon light irradiation, PpIX can efficiently produce ROS for the PDT treatment of MCF-7. Cellular viability studies showed a decrease from 49.8% ± 5.6 ** to 13.8% ± 2.0 *** for free 5-ALA versus the NC, respectively, under equivalent concentrations of the PS (0.5 mM, IC50). These results suggest that the active targeted NC platform has an improved PDT effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
Montaseri H, Abrahamse H, Forbes PBC, 2021, Fluorescence Sensing with Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Capped Quantum Dots, Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Methods and Protocols, Publisher: Humana, ISBN: 978-1-0716-1628-4
Procedures for the design of a fluorescence sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer-capped quantum dots (MIP@QDs) together with the synthesis of quantum dots and MIP@QDS are described. Spherical and monodispersed nanoparticles are suitable for fluorescence sensing of an analyte such as pharmaceuticals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, excellent optical properties, higher quantum yield, and photoluminescence efficiency as well as easy detection of emission spectra are distinctive advantages of quantum dots as fluorescence sensors. Optimization of different variables and analytical applications of the sensor are also presented, which are of value for fluorescence sensing.
Adegoke O, Montaseri H, Nsibande SA, et al., 2021, Organometallic synthesis, structural and optical properties of CdSe quantum dots passivated with ternary AgZnS alloyed shell, Journal of Luminescence, Vol: 235, Pages: 118049-118049, ISSN: 0022-2313
Montaseri H, Kruger CA, Abrahamse H, 2021, Inorganic nanoparticles applied for active targeted photodynamic therapy of breast cancer, Pharmaceutics, Vol: 13, Pages: 1-30, ISSN: 1999-4923
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative modality to conventional cancer treatment, whereby a specific wavelength of light is applied to a targeted tumor, which has either a photosensitizer or photochemotherapeutic agent localized within it. This light activates the photosensitizer in the presence of molecular oxygen to produce phototoxic species, which in turn obliterate cancer cells. The incidence rate of breast cancer (BC) is regularly growing among women, which are currently being treated with methods, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. These conventional treatment methods are invasive and often produce unwanted side effects, whereas PDT is more specific and localized method of cancer treatment. The utilization of nanoparticles in PDT has shown great advantages compared to free photosensitizers in terms of solubility, early degradation, and biodistribution, as well as far more effective intercellular penetration and uptake in targeted cancer cells. This review gives an overview of the use of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), including: gold, magnetic, carbon-based, ceramic, and up-conversion NPs, as well as quantum dots in PDT over the last 10 years (2009 to 2019), with a particular focus on the active targeting strategies for the PDT treatment of BC.
Montaseri H, Kruger CA, Abrahamse H, 2020, Review: Organic nanoparticle based active targeting for photodynamic therapy treatment of breast cancer cells, Oncotarget, Vol: 11, Pages: 2120-2136, ISSN: 1949-2553
Targeted Photodynamic therapy (TPDT) is a non-invasive and site-specific treatment modality, which has been utilized to eradicate cancer tumour cells with photoactivated chemicals or photosensitizers (PSs), in the presence of laser light irradiation and molecular tissue oxygen. Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among women worldwide and is currently treated using conventional methods such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Despite the recent advancements made in PDT, poor water solubility and non-specificity of PSs, often affect the overall effectivity of this unconventional cancer treatment. With respect to conventional PS obstacles, great strides have been made towards the application of targeted nanoparticles in PDT to resolve these limitations. Therefore, this review provides an overview of scientific peer reviewed published studies in relation to functionalized organic nanoparticles (NPs) for effective TPDT treatment of breast cancer over the last 10 years (2009 to 2019). The main aim of this review is to highlight the importance of organic NP active based PDT targeted drug delivery systems, to improve the overall biodistribution of PSs in breast cancer tumour’s.
Montaseri H, Kruger CA, Abrahamse H, 2020, Recent advances in porphyrin-based inorganic nanoparticles for cancer treatment, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Vol: 21, Pages: 1-24, ISSN: 1422-0067
The application of porphyrins and their derivatives have been investigated extensively over the past years for phototherapy cancer treatment. Phototherapeutic Porphyrins have the ability to generate high levels of reactive oxygen with a low dark toxicity and these properties have made them robust photosensitizing agents. In recent years, Porphyrins have been combined with various nanomaterials in order to improve their bio-distribution. These combinations allow for nanoparticles to enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) cancer treatment and adding additional nanotheranostics (photothermal therapy—PTT) as well as enhance photodiagnosis (PDD) to the reaction. This review examines various porphyrin-based inorganic nanoparticles developed for phototherapy nanotheranostic cancer treatment over the last three years (2017 to 2020). Furthermore, current challenges in the development and future perspectives of porphyrin-based nanomedicines for cancer treatment are also highlighted.
Nsibande SA, Montaseri H, Forbes PBC, 2019, Advances in the application of nanomaterial-based sensors for detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic systems, TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Vol: 115, Pages: 52-69, ISSN: 0165-9936
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants which are of health concern. It is therefore not surprising that there has been significant research interest in developing sensitive and cost effective strategies for monitoring these compounds. Here we provide an update on applications of various nanomaterials and nanocomposites in the detection and quantification of PAHs in water. Advances in synthesis and tailoring of functional nanomaterials has allowed for their use in fluorescence spectrophotometry, surface-enhanced Raman spectrometry (SERS), and in electrochemical based sensor systems for different analytical applications. This can be attributed to their extensive tunability. Finally, we discuss future prospects on the role of nanoscience in PAH analysis and highlight the need to move towards the development of portable devices based on these nanomaterials for field analysis. This review thus gives an overview of a number of alternative methods to chromatography based analysis of PAHs.
Adegoke O, Montaseri H, Nsibande SA, et al., 2019, Passivating effect of ternary alloyed AgZnSe shell layer on the structural and luminescent properties of CdS quantum dots, Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, Vol: 90, Pages: 162-170, ISSN: 1369-8001
Montaseri H, Adegoke O, Forbes PBC, 2019, Development of a Thiol-capped Core/Shell Quantum Dot Sensor for Acetaminophen, South African Journal of Chemistry, Vol: 72, Pages: 108-117, ISSN: 0379-4350
Montaseri H, Forbes PBC, 2018, Molecularly imprinted polymer coated quantum dots for fluorescence sensing of acetaminophen, Materials Today Communications, Vol: 17, Pages: 480-492, ISSN: 2352-4928
Montaseri H, Forbes PBC, 2018, A triclosan turn-ON fluorescence sensor based on thiol-capped core/shell quantum dots, Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, Vol: 204, Pages: 370-379, ISSN: 1386-1425
Montaseri H, Forbes PBC, 2018, Analytical techniques for the determination of acetaminophen: A review, TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Vol: 108, Pages: 122-134, ISSN: 0165-9936
Montaseri H, Forbes PBC, 2017, Fluorescence sensor probe for the detection of acetaminophen using L-cysteine CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and molecular imprinted polymer@quantum dots, 2017 IEEE SENSORS, Publisher: IEEE
Adegoke O, Montaseri H, Nsibande SA, et al., 2017, Alloyed quaternary/binary core/shell quantum dot-graphene oxide nanocomposite: Preparation, characterization and application as a fluorescence “switch ON” probe for environmental pollutants, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Vol: 720, Pages: 70-78, ISSN: 0925-8388
Montaseri H, Forbes PBC, 2016, A review of monitoring methods for triclosan and its occurrence in aquatic environments, TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Vol: 85, Pages: 221-231, ISSN: 0165-9936
Yousefinejad S, Honarasa F, Montaseri H, 2015, Linear solvent structure-polymer solubility and solvation energy relationships to study conductive polymer/carbon nanotube composite solutions, RSC Advances, Vol: 5, Pages: 42266-42275
<p>Prediction of the solvation and solvent selectivity of polymer composites in different solvents is an important subject in colloid and polymer chemistry.</p>
Montaseri H, Yousefinejad S, 2014, Design of an optical sensor for the determination of cysteine based on the spectrophotometric method in a triacetylcellulose film: PC-ANN application, Anal. Methods, Vol: 6, Pages: 8482-8487, ISSN: 1759-9660
Montaseri H, Khajehsharifi H, Yousefinejad S, 2014, UV DETERMINATION OF EPINEPHRINE, URIC ACID, AND ACETAMINOPHEN IN PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS AND SOME HUMAN BODY FLUIDS USING MULTIVARIATE CALIBRATION, Química Nova, ISSN: 0100-4042
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