This study evaluated the in vitro effects of two pentacyclic triterpene-based near-infrared aggregation-induced emission (NIR-AIE) derivatives, BA-1 and BA-3, on human A375 and murine B16F0 melanoma cell lines. Cell viability was assessed using CCK-8 assays and live/dead staining under both dark conditions and white light irradiation. Scratch-wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to examine cell migration and invasion capabilities. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using the DCFH-DA probe. Protein expression related to cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion was analyzed by Western blotting. The results showed that BA-1 and BA-3 reduced the viability of melanoma cells, with an enhanced effect observed under light exposure. Both compounds also inhibited cell migration and invasion, increased intracellular ROS levels, and regulated apoptosis-related proteins, including downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cleaved caspase-9. Additionally, the expression of proliferation markers PCNA and C-MYC, as well as the invasion-associated protein MMP2, was reduced. These findings suggest that the tested pentacyclic triterpene-NIR-AIE derivatives may influence melanoma cell growth, motility, and apoptosis through a ROS-associated mitochondrial pathway, highlighting their potential as theranostic agents for targeted chemo-photodynamic therapy.
Zhang et al. (Sat,) studied this question.