Brachytherapy Approach Using <sup>177</sup>Lu Conjugated Gold Nanostars and Evaluation of Biodistribution, Tumor Retention, Dosimetry and Therapeutic Efficacy in Head and Neck Tumor Model
Min-Ying Lin,
Hsin-Hua Hsieh,
Jyh-Cheng Chen,
Chuan-Lin Chen,
Nin-Chu Sheu,
Wen-Sheng Huang,
Shinn-Ying Ho,
Ting-Wen Chen,
Yi-Jang Lee,
Chun-Yi Wu
Affiliations
Min-Ying Lin
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Hsin-Hua Hsieh
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Jyh-Cheng Chen
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Chuan-Lin Chen
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Nin-Chu Sheu
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Wen-Sheng Huang
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Shinn-Ying Ho
Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu 30068, Taiwan
Ting-Wen Chen
Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu 30068, Taiwan
Yi-Jang Lee
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Chun-Yi Wu
Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei Branch, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Brachytherapy can provide sufficient doses to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with minimal damage to nearby normal tissues. In this study, the β−-emitter 177Lu was conjugated to DTPA-polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated gold nanostars (177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS) used in surface-enhanced Raman scattering and photothermal therapy (PTT). The accumulation and therapeutic efficacy of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS were compared with those of 177Lu-DTPA on an orthotopic HNSCC tumor model. The SPECT/CT imaging and biodistribution studies showed that 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS can be accumulated in the tumor up to 15 days, but 177Lu-DTPA could not be detected at 24 h after injection. The tumor viability and growth were suppressed by injected 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS but not nonconjugated 177Lu-DTPA, as evaluated by bioluminescent imaging. The radiation-absorbed dose of the normal organ was the highest in the liver (0.33 mSv/MBq) estimated in a 73 kg adult, but that of tumorsphere (0.5 g) was 3.55 mGy/MBq, while intravenous injection of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS resulted in 1.97 mSv/MBq and 0.13 mGy/MBq for liver and tumorsphere, respectively. We also observed further enhancement of tumor-suppressive effects by a combination of 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS and PTT compared to 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS alone. In conclusion, 177Lu-DTPA-pAuNS may be considered as a potential radiopharmaceutical agent for HNSCC brachytherapy.
