Microfluidic platform for photodynamic therapy cytotoxicity analysis of nanoencapsulated indocyanine-type photosensitizers

The application of nanotechnology is important to improve research and development of alternative anticancer therapies. In order to accelerate research related to cancer diagnosis and to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment, various nanomaterials are being tested. The main objective of this work was basic research focused on examination of the mechanism and effectiveness of the introduction of nanoencapsulated photosensitizers to human carcinoma (A549) and normal cells (MRC-5). Newly encapsulated hydrophobic indocyanine-type photosensitizer (i.e., IR-780) was subjected to in vitro studies to determine its release characteristics on a molecular level. The photosensitizers were delivered to carcinoma and normal cells cultured under model conditions using multiwell plates and with the use of the specially designed hybrid (poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/glass) microfluidic system. The specific geometry of our microsystem allows for the examination of intercellular interactions between cells cultured i...