Open AccessIontophoresis Improved Growth Reduction of Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Topical Photodynamic Therapy
Author(s) -
Camila Nunes Lemos,
J. C. Souza,
Patrícia Sper Simão,
Renata Fonseca Vianna Lopez
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0145922
Subject(s) - iontophoresis , photodynamic therapy , photosensitizer , in vivo , medicine , pathology , confocal microscopy , penetration (warfare) , chemistry , biology , photochemistry , radiology , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry , operations research , engineering
This study examined the potential of iontophoresis in topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) of human invasive squamous cells carcinomas (SCC). SCC was induced in nude BALB/c mice by subcutaneous injection of A431 cells. Tumor penetration and distribution of the photosensitizer tetrasulfonated zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPcS 4 ) was investigated after 10 and 30 min of in vivo iontophoresis of a gel containing ZnPcS 4 . PDT was performed immediately after iontophoresis using laser at 660 nm with a dose of irradiation of 100 J/cm 2 and irradiance of 48 mW/cm 2 while tumor growth was measured for 30 days. Iontophoresis increased ZnPcS 4 penetration into tumors by 6-fold after 30 min when compared with passive delivery. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that ZnPcS 4 was homogeneous distributed within deep regions of the tumor after iontophoresis. Irradiation of the tumors immediately after iontophoresis showed reduction in tumor size by more than 2-fold when compared to non-treated tumors. Iontophoretic-PDT treated tumors presented large areas of necrosis. The study concluded that iontophoretic delivery of photosensitizers could be a valuable strategy for topical PDT of invasive SCC.