Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer

Song-Jin Pak; Chang-Jun Kim; Kwang-Il To; Nam-Hyok Ooh; Mun-Hyok Ri; Chol-Ho Ri; Nam-Yong Kim

doi:doi:10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11

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Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer

Song-Jin Pak, Chang-Jun Kim, Kwang-Il To^*

, Nam-Hyok Ooh, Mun-Hyok Ri, Chol-Ho Ri, Nam-Yong Kim

Published in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Volume 10, Issue 2)

Received: 7 April 2025 Accepted: 29 April 2025 Published: 12 June 2025

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Abstract

Folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (FPP NPs), as the novel radiosensitizer, for tumor-targeted radiosensitized treatment (RST) were synthesized and characterized. Diamino poly (ethylene glycol) was covalently conjugated with folic acid and porfimer (also known as photofrin) in its terminal ends and self-assembled in aqueous solution to form FPP NPs. FPP NPs were characterized by FTIR spectrometer, zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy. FT-IR spectra of folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) suggested that folic acid and porfimer were successfully covalently bound to poly (ethylene glycol) by amide bonds between carboxyl group and amino group. The average size and zeta potential of these nanoparticles were about 75nm and -13.5mV, respectively. And FPP NPs exhibited morphological features close to spherical shape by transmission electron microscopy observation. The loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency of porfimer in FPP NPs were 8.52% and 45.67%, respectively. The experiments on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell viability showed that the nanoparticles could successfully suppress the growth of cancer cells by producing ROS with γ-ray irradiation. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that FPP NPs exhibited the excellent tumor inhibition effect even at a half dose of free porfimer. These results suggested that FPP NPs would have potential for RST of the cancer.

Published in	Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11
Page(s)	20-28
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Porfimer, Folic Acid, Nanoparticles, Radiosensitizer

References

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APA Style

Pak, S., Kim, C., To, K., Ooh, N., Ri, M., et al. (2025). Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 10(2), 20-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11

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ACS Style

Pak, S.; Kim, C.; To, K.; Ooh, N.; Ri, M., et al. Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2025, 10(2), 20-28. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11

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AMA Style

Pak S, Kim C, To K, Ooh N, Ri M, et al. Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer. Biochem Mol Biol. 2025;10(2):20-28. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11

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@article{10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11,
  author = {Song-Jin Pak and Chang-Jun Kim and Kwang-Il To and Nam-Hyok Ooh and Mun-Hyok Ri and Chol-Ho Ri and Nam-Yong Kim},
  title = {Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer
},
  journal = {Biochemistry and Molecular Biology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {20-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bmb.20251002.11},
  abstract = {Folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (FPP NPs), as the novel radiosensitizer, for tumor-targeted radiosensitized treatment (RST) were synthesized and characterized. Diamino poly (ethylene glycol) was covalently conjugated with folic acid and porfimer (also known as photofrin) in its terminal ends and self-assembled in aqueous solution to form FPP NPs. FPP NPs were characterized by FTIR spectrometer, zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy. FT-IR spectra of folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) suggested that folic acid and porfimer were successfully covalently bound to poly (ethylene glycol) by amide bonds between carboxyl group and amino group. The average size and zeta potential of these nanoparticles were about 75nm and -13.5mV, respectively. And FPP NPs exhibited morphological features close to spherical shape by transmission electron microscopy observation. The loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency of porfimer in FPP NPs were 8.52% and 45.67%, respectively. The experiments on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell viability showed that the nanoparticles could successfully suppress the growth of cancer cells by producing ROS with γ-ray irradiation. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that FPP NPs exhibited the excellent tumor inhibition effect even at a half dose of free porfimer. These results suggested that FPP NPs would have potential for RST of the cancer.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer

AU  - Song-Jin Pak
AU  - Chang-Jun Kim
AU  - Kwang-Il To
AU  - Nam-Hyok Ooh
AU  - Mun-Hyok Ri
AU  - Chol-Ho Ri
AU  - Nam-Yong Kim
Y1  - 2025/06/12
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11
T2  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JO  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SP  - 20
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5048
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11
AB  - Folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (FPP NPs), as the novel radiosensitizer, for tumor-targeted radiosensitized treatment (RST) were synthesized and characterized. Diamino poly (ethylene glycol) was covalently conjugated with folic acid and porfimer (also known as photofrin) in its terminal ends and self-assembled in aqueous solution to form FPP NPs. FPP NPs were characterized by FTIR spectrometer, zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy. FT-IR spectra of folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) suggested that folic acid and porfimer were successfully covalently bound to poly (ethylene glycol) by amide bonds between carboxyl group and amino group. The average size and zeta potential of these nanoparticles were about 75nm and -13.5mV, respectively. And FPP NPs exhibited morphological features close to spherical shape by transmission electron microscopy observation. The loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency of porfimer in FPP NPs were 8.52% and 45.67%, respectively. The experiments on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell viability showed that the nanoparticles could successfully suppress the growth of cancer cells by producing ROS with γ-ray irradiation. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that FPP NPs exhibited the excellent tumor inhibition effect even at a half dose of free porfimer. These results suggested that FPP NPs would have potential for RST of the cancer.

VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Song-Jin Pak

Department of Nanomaterial, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Pyongyang, DPR Korea
Chang-Jun Kim

Department of Nanomaterial, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Pyongyang, DPR Korea
Kwang-Il To

Department of Nanomaterial, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Pyongyang, DPR Korea

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8481-5288
Nam-Hyok Ooh

Department of Nanomaterial, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Pyongyang, DPR Korea
Mun-Hyok Ri

Department of Nanomaterial, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Pyongyang, DPR Korea
Chol-Ho Ri

Department of Nanomaterial, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Pyongyang, DPR Korea
Nam-Yong Kim

Department of Nanomaterial, Institute of Chemistry and Biology, University of Sciences, Academy of Sciences, Pyongyang, DPR Korea

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Pak, S., Kim, C., To, K., Ooh, N., Ri, M., et al. (2025). Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 10(2), 20-28. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11

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ACS Style

Pak, S.; Kim, C.; To, K.; Ooh, N.; Ri, M., et al. Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer. Biochem. Mol. Biol. 2025, 10(2), 20-28. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11

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AMA Style

Pak S, Kim C, To K, Ooh N, Ri M, et al. Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer. Biochem Mol Biol. 2025;10(2):20-28. doi: 10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11,
  author = {Song-Jin Pak and Chang-Jun Kim and Kwang-Il To and Nam-Hyok Ooh and Mun-Hyok Ri and Chol-Ho Ri and Nam-Yong Kim},
  title = {Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer
},
  journal = {Biochemistry and Molecular Biology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {20-28},
  doi = {10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.bmb.20251002.11},
  abstract = {Folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (FPP NPs), as the novel radiosensitizer, for tumor-targeted radiosensitized treatment (RST) were synthesized and characterized. Diamino poly (ethylene glycol) was covalently conjugated with folic acid and porfimer (also known as photofrin) in its terminal ends and self-assembled in aqueous solution to form FPP NPs. FPP NPs were characterized by FTIR spectrometer, zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy. FT-IR spectra of folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) suggested that folic acid and porfimer were successfully covalently bound to poly (ethylene glycol) by amide bonds between carboxyl group and amino group. The average size and zeta potential of these nanoparticles were about 75nm and -13.5mV, respectively. And FPP NPs exhibited morphological features close to spherical shape by transmission electron microscopy observation. The loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency of porfimer in FPP NPs were 8.52% and 45.67%, respectively. The experiments on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell viability showed that the nanoparticles could successfully suppress the growth of cancer cells by producing ROS with γ-ray irradiation. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that FPP NPs exhibited the excellent tumor inhibition effect even at a half dose of free porfimer. These results suggested that FPP NPs would have potential for RST of the cancer.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Tumor-Targeted Folic Acid-Modified Porfimer Conjugated Poly (Ethylene Glycol) Nanoparticles for Radiosensitized Treatment of Cancer

AU  - Song-Jin Pak
AU  - Chang-Jun Kim
AU  - Kwang-Il To
AU  - Nam-Hyok Ooh
AU  - Mun-Hyok Ri
AU  - Chol-Ho Ri
AU  - Nam-Yong Kim
Y1  - 2025/06/12
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11
T2  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JF  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
JO  - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
SP  - 20
EP  - 28
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5048
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.bmb.20251002.11
AB  - Folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (FPP NPs), as the novel radiosensitizer, for tumor-targeted radiosensitized treatment (RST) were synthesized and characterized. Diamino poly (ethylene glycol) was covalently conjugated with folic acid and porfimer (also known as photofrin) in its terminal ends and self-assembled in aqueous solution to form FPP NPs. FPP NPs were characterized by FTIR spectrometer, zetasizer and transmission electron microscopy. FT-IR spectra of folic acid-modified porfimer conjugated poly (ethylene glycol) suggested that folic acid and porfimer were successfully covalently bound to poly (ethylene glycol) by amide bonds between carboxyl group and amino group. The average size and zeta potential of these nanoparticles were about 75nm and -13.5mV, respectively. And FPP NPs exhibited morphological features close to spherical shape by transmission electron microscopy observation. The loading efficiency and encapsulation efficiency of porfimer in FPP NPs were 8.52% and 45.67%, respectively. The experiments on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cell viability showed that the nanoparticles could successfully suppress the growth of cancer cells by producing ROS with γ-ray irradiation. Furthermore, in vivo studies showed that FPP NPs exhibited the excellent tumor inhibition effect even at a half dose of free porfimer. These results suggested that FPP NPs would have potential for RST of the cancer.

VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download