Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Delivery of Ulva rigida extract by bicontinuous cubic lipid nanoplatforms for potential photodynamic therapy against pancreatic cancer

Krautforst, Karolina LU ; Kulbacka, Julita ; Fornasier, Marco LU orcid ; Mocci, Rita ; Dessì, Debora ; Porcheddu, Andrea ; Moccia, Davide ; Pusceddu, Antonio ; Sarais, Giorgia and Murgia, Sergio , et al. (2025) In Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces 253.
Abstract

Ulva rigida is a widely available marine algae representing a valuable biomass from which natural photosensitizers (chlorophylls) can be obtained in an environmentally friendly manner using a green microwave-assisted extraction technique. If properly loaded in biocompatible nanoformulations, such highly hydrophobic chlorophylls with photosensitizing activity may constitute effective drugs useful in photodynamic therapy (PDT) against extremely resistant pancreatic cancer cells. To permit adequate solubilization in water, prevent immune system activation, and improve pharmacokinetic properties, an extract from Ulva rigida biomass was encapsulated in two monoolein-based cubosome formulations differing for the dispersants used for their... (More)

Ulva rigida is a widely available marine algae representing a valuable biomass from which natural photosensitizers (chlorophylls) can be obtained in an environmentally friendly manner using a green microwave-assisted extraction technique. If properly loaded in biocompatible nanoformulations, such highly hydrophobic chlorophylls with photosensitizing activity may constitute effective drugs useful in photodynamic therapy (PDT) against extremely resistant pancreatic cancer cells. To permit adequate solubilization in water, prevent immune system activation, and improve pharmacokinetic properties, an extract from Ulva rigida biomass was encapsulated in two monoolein-based cubosome formulations differing for the dispersants used for their stabilization in water: Pluronic F108 (CUB) or a mixture of sorbitan monooleate and sodium taurocholate (TS-CUB). In both cases, high encapsulation efficiency was achieved. The formulations were investigated from a physicochemical point of view (SAXS, cryo-TEM, DLS, ELS), and the production of reactive oxygen species was evaluated. In addition, an extensive evaluation of biocompatibility and bioactivity was conducted on the human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3. This assessment included an MTT cytotoxicity assay, cellular uptake analysis via flow cytometry, and cytoskeleton imaging both under dark conditions and post-irradiation to evaluate the effects of PDT. Unloaded nanoparticles were characterized by an inner bicontinuous cubic phase (Pn3m). However, after encapsulation of the Ulva rigida extract the presence of a sponge phase (L3) in the TS-CUB formulation was observed. Compared with CUB, TS-CUB loaded with the extract demonstrated enhanced photoactivity, superior biocompatibility, and more potent in vitro anticancer activity against pancreatic cancer through photodynamic therapy (PDT).

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Anticancer activity, BxPC-3 cells, Cubosomes, Lipid liquid crystalline nanocarriers, Marine algae, Microwave-assisted extraction, Natural photosensitizers
in
Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
volume
253
article number
114754
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105004559233
  • pmid:40347666
ISSN
0927-7765
DOI
10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114754
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b8d9de7b-ae57-4de6-9033-68442f211c18
date added to LUP
2025-07-15 11:22:15
date last changed
2025-07-16 03:29:31
@article{b8d9de7b-ae57-4de6-9033-68442f211c18,
  abstract     = {{<p>Ulva rigida is a widely available marine algae representing a valuable biomass from which natural photosensitizers (chlorophylls) can be obtained in an environmentally friendly manner using a green microwave-assisted extraction technique. If properly loaded in biocompatible nanoformulations, such highly hydrophobic chlorophylls with photosensitizing activity may constitute effective drugs useful in photodynamic therapy (PDT) against extremely resistant pancreatic cancer cells. To permit adequate solubilization in water, prevent immune system activation, and improve pharmacokinetic properties, an extract from Ulva rigida biomass was encapsulated in two monoolein-based cubosome formulations differing for the dispersants used for their stabilization in water: Pluronic F108 (CUB) or a mixture of sorbitan monooleate and sodium taurocholate (TS-CUB). In both cases, high encapsulation efficiency was achieved. The formulations were investigated from a physicochemical point of view (SAXS, cryo-TEM, DLS, ELS), and the production of reactive oxygen species was evaluated. In addition, an extensive evaluation of biocompatibility and bioactivity was conducted on the human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC-3. This assessment included an MTT cytotoxicity assay, cellular uptake analysis via flow cytometry, and cytoskeleton imaging both under dark conditions and post-irradiation to evaluate the effects of PDT. Unloaded nanoparticles were characterized by an inner bicontinuous cubic phase (Pn3m). However, after encapsulation of the Ulva rigida extract the presence of a sponge phase (L3) in the TS-CUB formulation was observed. Compared with CUB, TS-CUB loaded with the extract demonstrated enhanced photoactivity, superior biocompatibility, and more potent in vitro anticancer activity against pancreatic cancer through photodynamic therapy (PDT).</p>}},
  author       = {{Krautforst, Karolina and Kulbacka, Julita and Fornasier, Marco and Mocci, Rita and Dessì, Debora and Porcheddu, Andrea and Moccia, Davide and Pusceddu, Antonio and Sarais, Giorgia and Murgia, Sergio and Bazylińska, Urszula}},
  issn         = {{0927-7765}},
  keywords     = {{Anticancer activity; BxPC-3 cells; Cubosomes; Lipid liquid crystalline nanocarriers; Marine algae; Microwave-assisted extraction; Natural photosensitizers}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces}},
  title        = {{Delivery of Ulva rigida extract by bicontinuous cubic lipid nanoplatforms for potential photodynamic therapy against pancreatic cancer}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114754}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.colsurfb.2025.114754}},
  volume       = {{253}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}