International Journal of Nanomedicine (Nov 2023)
Multifunctional AuPt Nanoparticles for Synergistic Photothermal and Radiation Therapy
Abstract
Han Tang,1,* Ji Chen,2,* Lu He Qi,3 Meng Lyu,4 Hong Quan,1 Zhi Jie Tan1 1Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shenzhen People’s Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, the First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Quan; Zhi Jie Tan, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430072, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Photothermal therapy (PTT) has gained considerable interest as an emerging modality for cancer treatment in recent years. Radiation therapy (RT) has been widely used in the clinic as a traditional treatment method. However, RT and PTT treatments are limited by side effects and penetration depth, respectively. In addition, hypoxia within the tumor can lead to increased resistance to treatment.Methods: We synthesized multiple sizes of AuPt by modulating the reaction conditions. The smallest size of AuPt was selected and modified with folic acid (FA) for PTT and RT synergy therapy. Various methods including transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FITR) are used to determine the structure and composition of AuPt-FA (AF). In addition, we researched the photothermal properties of AF with IR cameras and infrared lasers. Flow cytometry, colony formation assays, CCK8, and fluorescent staining for probing the treatment effect in vitro. Also, we explored the targeting of AF by TEM and In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS). In vivo experiments, we record changes in tumor volume and weight as well as staining of tumor sections (ROS, Ki67, and hematoxylin and eosin).Results: The AuPt with particle size of 16 nm endows it with remarkably high photothermal conversion efficiency (46.84%) and catalase activity compared to other sizes of AuPt (30 nm and 100 nm). AF alleviates hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment, leading to the production of more reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the treatment. In addition, the therapeutic effect was significantly enhanced by combining RT and PTT, with an apoptosis rate of 81.1% in vitro and an in vivo tumor volume reduction rate of 94.0% in vivo.Conclusion: These results demonstrate that AF potentiates the synergistic effect of PTT and RT and has the potential for clinical translation. Keywords: photothermal, radiotherapy, hypoxia relief, catalase activity, microscale, synergistic effect
