Highly Uniform Synthesis of Selenium Nanoparticles with EGFR Targeting and Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Ability for Simultaneous Diagnosis and Therapy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Rational design of multifunctional and smart drug-delivered nanoplatforms is a promising strategy to achieve simultaneous diagnosis, real-time monitoring, and therapy of cancers. Herein, highly uniform and stable selenium nanoparticles with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeting and tumor microenvironment-responsive ability (Se-5Fu-Gd-P(Cet/YI-12)) were designed and synthesized by using EGFR as the targeting molecule, gadolinium chelate as the magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, 5-fluorouracil (5Fu) and cetuximab as drug payloads, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) and 3,3′-dithiobis (sulfosuccinimidyl propionate) as the response agents of intratumoral glutathione, and pH for the treatment and diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This Se nanoplatform showed excellent magnetic resonance imaging capability and has the potential for its clinical application as a diagnostic agent for tumor tissue specimens. Additionally, in vitro cellular experiments showed that by means of introducing clinical targeted drugs and peptides not only validly increased the intracellular uptake of the Se nanoplatform in NPC cells but also enhanced its penetration ability toward CNE tumor spheroids, resulting in simultaneous inhibition of CNE cell growth, invasion, and migration. In addition, the sequentially triggered bioresponsive property of the nanoplatform in a tumor microenvironment effectively improved the targeting delivery and anticancer efficiency of payloads. Overall, this study not only provides a strategy for facile synthesis of highly uniform and stable nanomedicines and tailing of the bioresponsive property but also sheds light on its application in targeting theranosis of NPC.

Triangle-Shaped Tellurium Nanostars Potentiate Radiotherapy by Boosting Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy

“…Osmotic and Inhibitory Effect for A375 Multicellular Tumor Spheroids A375 multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), cultured in 6-well plates for 7 days, were treated with GTe/GTe-RGD at a final concentration of 1.25 mg/L and then irradiated with X-rays at a density of 4 Gy for 3 days of observation. 65,66 The length and width of MCTS were measured and recorded every day by fluorescence microscopy. Meanwhile, a confocal laser 895 scanning microscope (Zeiss LSM, Germany) was used to detect the tumor-penetrating abilities of GTe, GTe-RGD, and RGD peptide blocked GTe-RGD.…”

Using nano-selenium to combat Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

“…Besides, functionalized nanoSe may also be developed to improve their efficiency in combating SARS-CoV-2 [42] . NanoSe has also been found to have good biocompatibility [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , and can also be used as an antiviral drug carrier. Therefore, considering these merits of nanoSe, it is promising in combating COVID-19.…”

Enhanced Cancer Therapy by Combining Radiation and Chemical Effects Mediated by Nanocarriers

“…Se‐containing materials are widely researched as pharmaceutics because of their supposedly low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility . In the past decades, a great number of studies demonstrated that Se species are promising agents for cancer therapeutics, due to their capability of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce apoptosis in tumor cells . Interestingly, Se‐containing compounds combined with radiotherapy appeared to specifically enhance the radiosensitivity of cancer cells resulting in a wave of selenium related publications .…”

“…past decades, a great number of studies demonstrated that Se species are promising agents for cancer therapeutics, due to their capability of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce apoptosis in tumor cells. [88,89] Interestingly, Secontaining compounds combined with radiotherapy appeared to specifically enhance the radiosensitivity of cancer cells resulting in a wave of selenium related publications. [90][91][92] It needs to be mentioned that the mechanism of action of selenium is still not well-understood.…”