Synthesis and Photothermal Effects of Intracellular Aggregating Nanodrugs Targeting Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Chemotherapy for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is usually associated with many side effects; therefore, its treatment options have not yet been completely resolved. Improving distribution to the targeted tumor region and enhancing the cellular uptake of drugs can efficiently alleviate the above adverse medical effects. Near-infrared (NIR) laser light-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are promising strategies for cancer treatment. In the present study, we developed an efficient multifunctional nanocluster with enhanced targeting and aggregation efficiency for PTT and PDT that is composed of a biocompatible folic acid (FA), indocyanine green (ICG) and 2-cyanobenzothiazole (CBT)-functionalized peptide labeled with an aldehyde sodium alginate-modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (ASA-MNP)-based nanocarrier. FA can bind to folate receptors on cancer cell membranes to enhance nanocluster uptake. CBT-modified peptide can react with glutathione (GSH), which is typically present at higher levels in cancer cells, to form intracellular aggregates and increase the local concentration of the nanodrug. In in vitro studies, these nanodrugs displayed the desired uptake capacity by NPC cells and the ability to suppress the growth of cancer cells under laser irradiation. Animal studies validated that these nanodrugs are safe and nontoxic, efficiently accumulate in NPC tumor sites following injection via the caudal vein, and shows superior inhibition of tumor growth in a tumor-bearing mouse model upon near-infrared laser irradiation. The results indicate the potential application of the multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs), which can be used as a new method for the treatment of folate receptor-positive NPC.

Multi-Modal Optical Imaging and Combined Phototherapy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on a Nanoplatform

“…Zhong et al successfully synthesized an efficient multifunctional nanocluster (NPs FA-PEG/CBT@ SPION-ICG) and enhanced the targeting and aggregation efficiency for PTT and PDT. 85 As displayed in Figure 6 , the outcomes indicated that FA-PEG/CBT@SPION-ICG combined with PTT/PDT had a good therapeutic effect on nude mice bearing HNE-1 tumors compared with the control-treated groups. Furthermore, FA-PEG/CBT@SPION-ICG is biologically safe and is expected to be a complementary treatment model for HNE-1 NPC.…”

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Current Challenges and Opportunities of Photodynamic Therapy against Cancer

“…PDT treatment with NIR light on a single tumor in mice bearing two tumors on opposite flanks significantly inhibited tumor growth in the treated tumors compared to the internal control tumor or versus animals treated with NIR light alone, the PS alone, or untreated animals. Of note, the clinically approved indocyanine green (ICG) is a fluorescent dye that was investigated extensively in the preclinical setting due to its diagnostic and therapeutic properties [ 244 , 245 , 246 , 247 , 248 , 249 ], but its instability in the body has hampered its use in the clinic. To this end, an encapsulated form of ICG was investigated in patients, showing an improved clinical response against basal cell carcinoma [ 250 ].…”

Recent developments in photodynamic therapy and its application against multidrug resistant cancers

“…The PDT technique lessens the need for extensive surgery and speeds up recovery; furthermore, it is capable of being performed without accumulating adverse effects and may be used in conjunction with conventional therapies [8]. PDT is also effective against several drug-resistant malignancies, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma [210], breast cancer [211], uterine sarcoma [212], and gastric cancer [213] as shown in (figure 7). In the next section, the mode of action of various NP-based photodynamic therapies for MDR malignancies will be discussed.…”