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. 2016 Mar 18;6:23393. doi: 10.1038/srep23393

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of cancer boosted photodynamic therapy (PDT) based on ICG loaded artificial red cells (I-ARCs).

Figure 1

(a) Hb/ICG complex: Hemoglobin (Hb) and indocyanine green (ICG) bound together through electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions for Hb/ICG complex. One Hb molecule reversibly bound 4 oxygen molecules, supplying abundant oxygen for PDT treatment. (b) ICG-loaded artificial red cell (I-ARC): The PLGA core in ICG loaded I-ARCs encapsulated photosensitizer (ICG) and oxygen supplier (Hb), and the lecithin and DSPE-PEG covered the core to form a lipid membrane for bioinspired I-ARCs. (c) Boosted PDT: Oxygen supply promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in NIR laser triggered PDT, and ROS spontaneously converted ferrous-Hb (FeII) into cytotoxic ferryl-Hb (FeIV), promoting the lifetime of oxidative destruction for boosted PDT. The synergistic effects of ROS and ferryl-Hb caused irreversible oxidative damage of cancer by breaking its hypoxia microenvironment with I-ARCs.