Organofunctionalized Nb2O5 Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy against A549 Cancer Cells

Niobium pentoxide shows an interesting reactivity that allows the control of different aspects of its morphology and chemistry. In this study, Nb2O5 nanoparticles were modified with protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and tris(ethynylphenyl) pyrene derivative (PyPh3) by using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as linkage group and used as photosensitizers against lung cancer. The antitumor photoactivity against the A549 tumor cell line as a model of in vitro study showed half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ca. 15 μmol L-1 for both materials and the absence of dark activity, indicating the viability of dye-modified Nb2O5 as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent.