A new iron(iii) complex-functionalized selenium nanowires (Fe@SeNWs) for potential phototherapeutic applications with red light

Abstract

The strategic combination of more than one therapeutic modality has emerged as a smart tool for anticancer therapy. Herein, we have synthesized and characterized new iron(III) complex-functionalized selenium nanowires (Fe@SeNWs) as a strategic tool for chemo-phototherapeutic applications. The nanocomposite (Fe@SeNWs) (0.1 mg mL⁻¹) potentially depleted glutathione (GSH) (35 μM), and was responsible for cytotoxicity in A549 cells (IC₅₀:181 μg mL⁻¹). However, there was a remarkable enhancement in cytotoxicity (IC₅₀: ∼26.1 μg mL⁻¹) when the A549 cells treated with the nanoconjugate were exposed to red light (600–720 nm, 30 J cm⁻²) with a photo-index (PI) of ∼7.0. The cytotoxicity of the nanoconjugate in A549 cells was related to the facile uptake, glutathione depletion, and remarkable yields of ROS. The nanocomposite localized predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and induced apoptosis through oxidative stress due to enhanced production of ROS. The nanoconjugate (Fe@SeNWs) exhibited photocytotoxicity, although less, also in HeLa cells. Another notable finding in the present studies was the differential photocytotoxicity in HPL1D cells where the nanoconjugate remained non-toxic. Overall, we report new iron(III) complex-functionalized selenium nanowires (Fe@SeNWs) as a potent tool for next-generation chemo-phototherapeutic applications.