The effects of lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles on cancer cell biomarkers

Abstract

Lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (Ln-UCNPs) possess optical and physicochemical properties that are promising for the design of new theranostic platforms. This applies in particular to the treatment of cancer. Towards this goal, oleate-capped-NaLuF4:Tm3+(0.5%)/Yb3+(20%)/Gd3+(30%) with an average size of 35 nm ± 2 nm were synthesized by co-precipitation. Due to their hydrophobic surface, these Ln-UCNPs produced agglomerates under cell culture conditions. To assess the cellular response to Ln-UCNPs at the molecular level, we evaluated several key aspects of tumor cell physiology. Using cancer lines of different origins, we demonstrated Ln-UCNP dependent changes of cancer cell biomarkers. Multiple cellular components that regulate tumorigenesis and cancer cell homeostasis were affected. In particular, Ln-UCNPs reduced the abundance of hsp70s, elevated DNA damage, and diminished nucleolin and B23/nucleophosmin, proteins required for the assembly of ribosomes. Treatment with Ln-UCNPs also decreased the concentration of paxillin, a focal adhesion protein that is involved in directed cell migration. Furthermore, epidermal growth factor (EGFR) levels were decreased by Ln-UCNPs for most cancer cell lines examined. Taken together, we identified several potential cancer cell targets that were affected by Ln-UCNPs. Our work thereby provides the foundation to optimize Ln-UCNPs for the targeted killing of tumor cells.

<p>Emerging applications of upconverting nanoparticles in intestinal infection and colorectal cancer</p>

“…Indeed, a recent in vitro study reported a targeted killing of tumor cells by affecting specific tumor markers such as EGF by Ln-UCNPs. 87 Overall, these findings identify a potential use of UCNPs in colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment.…”

Controllable Synthesis of Upconversion Nanophosphors toward Scale‐Up Productions

“…Later in stage three, the α‐phase begins to transform into the β‐phase, followed by ripening and finally particle growth in stage four. [ 59 ] More recently, the high‐temperature co‐precipitation method has been used in the synthesis of a wider range of UCNPs: including NaYF 4 , [ 60 ] NaLuF 4 , [ 61 ] LiYF 4 , [ 62 ] KLu 2 F 7 , [ 63 ] NaGdF 4 , [ 64 ] NaYbF 4 , [ 65 ] LiYbF 4 , [ 66 ] and KSc 2 F 7 . [ 67 ] With proper optimization of the conditions, uniform 4 nm NaREF 4 UCNPs with enhanced upconversion luminescence could be achieved.…”

“…Even though the relationship between optical performance and morphology of UCNPs have had been well understood, [ 23–26 ] relevant developments on commercializing such nanomaterials are hampered due to scaling‐up production process, where bottlenecks normally exist in the reproducibility, repeatability as well as the yield from these methods. By recapping these reported synthesis methods, for example, thermal decomposition, [ 35–40 ] co‐precipitation, [ 60–66 ] hydrothermal, [ 73–78 ] and ion exchange, [ 98–101 ] a common characteristics is discovered that these processes require large amounts of solvents, which easily lead to nonuniform precursor concentrations and temperature distributions. This characteristic represents an essential challenge in managing thermodynamic equilibrium for a smooth and uniform synthesis in lab, [ 27,28 ] and the scale‐up process where the breaking of local thermodynamic equilibrium is likely to occur to yield the uncontrollable changes on the phases and other features for the particle, especially the luminescent performance.…”

Construction of a Dual Drug Carrier on the Basis of Hollow Structured Upconversion Nanoparticles for pH‐Responsive Drug Delivery and UCL/MRI Dual Mode Imaging

“…Noticeably, UCNPs have a low specific surface area, no porous structure or functional groups, so UCNPs cannot carry drugs. In order to achieve the function of drug loading, hollow UCNPs are designed and the huge interior cavities of lanthanide‐doped hollow UCNPs can be hopefully applied as drug carrier …”

“…In order to achieve the function of drug loading, hollow UCNPs are designed and the huge interior cavities of lanthanide-doped hollow UCNPs can be hopefully applied as drug carrier. [17] Taking the photoluminescence advantages, Tm 3+ has received considerable attention as an activator of codoped upconversion nanoparticles. Due to similar chemical properties, Gd 3+ can be easily doped in the lattice of NaYF 4 :Yb,Tm nanocrystals.…”