Chlorin e6-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Targeted by Angiopep-2: Advancing Photodynamic Therapy in Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor known for its resistance to standard treatments. Despite surgery being a primary option, it often leads to incomplete removal and high recurrence rates. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds promise as an adjunctive treatment, but safety concerns and the need for high-power lasers have limited its widespread use. This research addresses these challenges by introducing a novel PDT approach, using chlorin e6 (Ce6) enclosed in nanostructured lipid carriers (Ang-Ce6-NLCs) and targeted to GBM with the angiopep-2 peptide. Remarkably, a single 5-min irradiation session with LEDs at 660 nm and low power density (10 mW cm−2) proves effective against GBM, while reducing safety risks associated with high-power lasers. Encapsulation improves Ce6 stability and performance in physiological environments, while angiopep-2 targeting enhances delivery to GBM cells, maximizing treatment efficacy and minimizing off-target effects. The findings demonstrate that Ang-Ce6-NLCs-mediated PDT brings about a significant reduction in GBM cell viability, increases oxidative stress, reduces tumor migration, and enhances apoptosis. Overall, such treatment holds potential as a safe and efficient intraoperative removal of GBM infiltrating cells that cannot be reached by surgery, using low-power LED light to minimize harm to surrounding healthy tissue while maximizing tumor treatment.