Aza-BODIPY nanomicelles as versatile agents for the <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> singlet oxygen-triggered apoptosis of human breast cancer cells

Abstract

DSPE-1 induced enhanced apoptosis and efficient inhibition of the growth of breast tumor xenografts in NOD/SCID mice models. Herein, we demonstrated the application of aza-BODIPY nanomicelles in photodynamic therapy for the first time, and our results revealed that the DSPE-BODIPY nanomicelles enhanced the cellular uptake as well as the photodynamic activity, thereby demonstrating the use of these nanomicelles as efficient sensitizers in biological applications.