Preparation of biodegradable lipid-based indocyanine green J-aggregate nanoparticles for photothermal therapy

The use of biodegradable agents such as indocyanine green J-aggregate (IJA) offers a promising alternative to nonbiodegradable materials like gold nanoparticles (NPs). However, the scalability and development of IJA face challenges, including poor optical stability in aqueous and biological environments, short in vivo circulation with rapid dissociation, and sensitivity to formulation parameters such as solvent, temperature, and surfactants.

This thesis focuses on engineering multifunctional biodegradable lipid-based systems loaded with pre-formed IJA (p-IJA) as a PTT agent. First, p-IJA-loaded liposomes were developed using the lipid film hydration method, and their physicochemical properties and thermal activity were evaluated. Rigid lipid (DSPC), cholesterol (50% mol), and PEGylation significantly enhanced p-IJA stability, leading to nano-sized formulations (>200 nm) with superior heating capacity.