In Vitro Study of Cell Proliferation Inhibition Using Ultrasound Combined with Photodynamic Therapy with Microbubbles Containing Quantum Dots / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To explore the apoptosis mechanism of human ovarian cancer cells SKOV3 processed with ultrasound (US) combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT), with self-contained lactic acid/glycolic acid (PLGA) microbubbles (MBQDs/PLGA) containing quantum dots (QDs) as a photosensitizer. Materials and Methods MBQDs/PLGA was prepared with double emulsion method, and MTT was used to compare the cytotoxic activity difference between QDs and MBQDs/PLGA, to determine the proper treatment condition. SKOV3 cells were treated under selective conditions, cell damage manifestation was observed with HE staining, and double staining flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. Results When cells were treated with PDT with energy density of 180.0 J/cm2 and US with sound intensity of 0.5 W/cm2 (1.0 MHz, 10 s), cell deformation could be observed under a microscope in both US-PDT-MBQDs/PLGA group and PDT-MBQDs/PLGA group, and cell connections were absent between cells;transmission electron microscope showed dense chromatin gathered along the nuclear membrane, with the formation of apoptotic bodies also be displayed. Maximum apoptosis rate was (22.17±0.38)% Conclusion MBQDs/PLGA-mediated PDT contains proliferation inhibition effect for SKOV3 cells, which can be synergied with low-power ultrasonic irradiation due to sonoporation effect.