Cancer Cell-Erythrocyte Hybrid Membrane Coated Gold Nanocages for Near Infrared Light-Activated Photothermal/Radio/Chemotherapy of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Mengqi Sun,1 Yuchen Duan,2 Yumeng Ma,3 Qingyuan Zhang1 1Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qingyuan Zhang Department of Medical OncologyHarbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: The combination of radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy, as a standard treatment for breast cancer in the clinic, is unsatisfactory due to chemoradioresistance and severe side effects.Methods and Results: To address these issues, a cancer cell-erythrocyte hybrid membrane-coated doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded gold nanocage (CM-EM-GNCs@DOX) was constructed for near-infrared light (NIR)-activated photothermal/radio/chemotherapy of breast cancer. CM-EM-GNCs@DOX inherited an excellent homologous target ability from the cancer cell membrane and an immune evasion capability from the erythrocyte membrane, together resulting in highly efficient accumulation in the tumor site with decreased clearance. Following the highly efficient uptake of CM-EM-GNCs@DOX in cancer cells, the RT efficacy was remarkably amplified due to the radiosensitization effect of CM-EM-GNCs@DOX, which reduced the needed radiotherapeutic dose. Importantly, with NIR irradiation, CM-EM-GNCs@DOX exerted a high photothermal effect, which not only ruptured CM-EM-GNCs@DOX to release DOX for precise and controllable chemotherapy, but also potentiated chemo/radiotherapy by photothermal therapy.Conclusion: Therefore, a highly efficient and safe combined photothermal/radio/chemotherapy approach was achieved in vitro and in vivo by CM-EM-GNCs@DOX, which provided a promising strategy for treating breast cancer.Keywords: gold nanocages, biomimetic, cancer cell-erythrocyte, radiation sensitization, combined therapies, breast cancer

Keywords

• gold nanocages
• biomimetic
• cancer cell-erythrocyte
• radiation sensitization
• combined therapies
• breast cancer.