Targeted delivery of tungsten oxide nanoparticles for multifunctional anti-tumor therapy via macrophages

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages are highly versatile effector cells that have been used to kill tumor cells. Herein, the macrophages as cell-based biocarriers are used for the targeted delivery of photothermal reagents for promoting the efficiency of killing tumor cells by activating the anti-tumor immune response and photothermal therapy (PTT). In this design, macrophages cause the phagocytosis of tumor cells and activate the anti-tumor immune response by secreting plenty of cytokines. Meanwhile, to improve the tumor-killing effect and track the collaborative therapy system in vivo, a novel nanoplatform based on tungsten oxide (W18O49, WO) nanoparticles and fluorescent dyes loaded in polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) for PTT has been successfully constructed. Subsequently, the nanoparticles are swallowed by macrophages acting as cell-based biocarriers to target the tumor and promote solid tumor ablation in vivo in animal experiments. This system is expected to bring a huge application potential in the visually guided dual-modal therapeutic platform for tumor targeting therapy in vivo.

Tumor‐Targeting W18O49 Nanoparticles for Dual‐Modality Imaging and Guided Heat‐Shock‐Response‐Inhibited Photothermal Therapy in Gastric Cancer

“…Photothermal therapy (PTT), as an emerging noninvasive and precise localized therapeutic modality, has been widely used in tumor therapy . Photothermal agents can absorb the near infrared (NIR) light and generate heat that results in increased tumor temperature and irreversibly destructing cells in tumor tissues . With the advantages of temporally and spatially controllable, much less side effects, and directing of immunological effects, PTT was expected as an alternative technique to traditional therapies (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery) in oncotherapy .…”

Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Therapeutic Regulation of Macrophage Functions

“…Most of MONPs used in pharmacology are uptaken by MФs via clathrin-mediated endocytosis or pinocytosis and can be found within lysosomes or caveolin-1 and LAMP-1 positive endosomes [56,78,79]. Macrophages loaded with iron and tungsten oxide NPs and then injected to the tumor-bearing mice showed a significant antitumor effect in hardly accessible sites [80,81]. Thus, NP transported by MФs provide a sustainable efficacy at the local level, thereby reducing the unfavorable side effects.…”

Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of WO3 nanostructures: Effect of reaction time

“…Recently, the success of cancer treatment using tungsten oxide and ICG has been confirmed in mice [9]. Therefore, the synthesis of tungsten oxide is an interesting domain.…”