@article {saide_diatom_2023,
	title = {The Diatom Cylindrotheca closterium and the Chlorophyll Breakdown Product Pheophorbide a for Photodynamic Therapy Applications},
	journal = {Applied Sciences},
	volume = {13},
	number = {4},
	year = {2023},
	note = {Number: 4 Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute},
	pages = {2590},
	abstract = {Microalgae, eukaryotic unicellular plants that are distributed worldwide, have been shown to exert anti-proliferative and anticancer activities on various human cancer cell lines. An example of a microalgal bioactive compound is a chlorophyll breakdown product named Pheophorbide a (Ppa), which has been reported to have anti-proliferative properties against various cell lines. This compound has also been tested with light exposure in photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment. In this paper, we screened eleven marine microalgae against a panel of cancer cells, and evaluated the synergistic anti-proliferative effect with Pheophorbide a, with and without photo-activation. The results showed significant anti-proliferative activity against melanoma cells when Ppa was combined with fraction E of the diatom Cylindrotheca closterium plus 1 h photo-activation. Its activity was also analyzed using gene expression and Western blot experiments. Altogether, these data give new insights into the possible application of microalgae for photodynamic therapy.},
	keywords = {biotechnological applications, cancer, Microalgae, Pheophorbide \textita, photodynamic therapy, RCC1712, \textitCylindrotheca closterium},
	issn = {2076-3417},
	doi = {10.3390/app13042590},
	url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/4/2590},
	author = {Saide, Assunta and Riccio, Gennaro and Ianora, Adrianna and Lauritano, Chiara}
}
