Enhancing photodynamic therapy efficacy through silica nanoparticle-mediated delivery of temoporfin for targeted in vitro breast cancer treatment

•Enhanced delivery and Safety: encapsulating temoporfin in silica nanoparticles improves its delivery to cancer cells and reduces toxicity, especially for treating MCF-7 breast cancer cells.•Stable Encapsulation: silica nanoparticles are effective carriers for Temoporfin, ensuring its stability and controlled release.•Optimal dosage Determined: the study identifies the most effective concentration and exposure time for encapsulated Temoporfin, proving it more efficient than its non-encapsulated form.•Greater effectiveness of encapsulated Form: encapsulated temoporfin shows significantly higher effectiveness in destroying MCF-7 cells compared to the free form.•Advances in cancer treatment: this research represents a significant advancement in photodynamic therapy for cancer, showcasing the potential of silica nanoparticles in improving treatment outcomes. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), an approach to cancer treatment, relies fundamentally on two key elements: a light source and a photosensitizing agent. A primary challenge in PDT is the efficient delivery of photosensitizers to the target tissue, hindered by the bodyʼs reticuloendothelial system (RES). Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), known for their unique properties, emerge as ideal carriers in this context. In this study, SiNPs are utilized to encapsulate Temoporfin, a photosensitizer, aiming to enhance its delivery and reduce toxicity, particularly for treating MCF-7 cancer cells in vitro. The synthesized SiNPs were meticulously characterized by their size and shape using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The study also involved evaluating the cytotoxicity of both encapsulated and naked Temoporfin across various concentrations. The objective was to determine the ideal concentration and exposure duration using red laser light (intensity approximately 110 mW/cm2) to effectively eradicate MCF-7 cells. The findings revealed that Temoporfin, when encapsulated in SiNPs, demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness compared to its naked form, with notable improvements in concentration efficiency (50 %) and exposure time efficiency (76.6 %). This research not only confirms the superior effectiveness of encapsulated Temoporfin in eliminating cancer cells but also highlights the potential of SiNPs as an efficient drug delivery system in photodynamic therapy. This sets the groundwork for more advanced strategies in cancer treatment. [Display omitted]