Selective photodynamic effects on cervical adenocarcinoma cells provided by F127 Pluronic®-based micelles modulating hypericin delivery

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death among women. The endocervical adenocarcinoma (ECA) represents an aggressive and metastatic type with no effective treatment options currently available. We evaluated the antitumoral anti-migratory effects hypericin (HYP) encapsulated on Pluronic F127 (F127/HYP) photodynamic therapy (PDT) against human cell line derived from invasive cervical (HeLa) compared to epithelial (HaCaT). phototoxicity cytotoxicity F127/HYP were by following assays: colorimetric assay, MTT, cellular morphological changes microscopy long-term clonogenic assay. In addition, we performed fluorescence analyze uptake subcellular distribution F127/HYP, pathway reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. PDT mechanism was determined sodium azide D-mannitol migration wound-healing promoted phototoxic result in HeLa cells dose-dependent selective form. Internalization observed mainly mitochondria, causing necrosis ROS production especially II mechanism. Furthermore, reduced proliferation capacity cells. Overall, our results indicate potentially application micelles as novel approach for HYP delivery more specifically treat ECA.