In Vivo Photodynamic Therapy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cancer by TSPP-Coated Fe₃O₄ Nanoconjugates

In this paper, we present the preparation and characterization of organic dye-coated magnetic particles and its application as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent. We have coated the surface of Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles by meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin dihydrochloride (TSPP), a photosensitive drug used in PDT, which is capable of generating singlet oxygen on the surface of paramagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles when irradiated at 400 nm. While the MRI was performed with in vivo mice experiment along with proper irradiation and therapeutic effect was followed by using in-situ MRI technology. The resulting conjugate is a single particle platform that can simultaneously be used as a PDT therapeutic and MRI contrasting agent.