Co-Delivery of Dihydroartemisinin and Indocyanine Green by Metal-Organic Framework-Based Vehicles for Combination Treatment of Hepatic Carcinoma
Yang Chen,
Bin Wang,
Wenping Chen,
Tao Wang,
Min Li,
Zucheng Shen,
Fang Wang,
Jing Jia,
Fenglan Li,
Xiangyu Huang,
Junyang Zhuang,
Ning Li
Affiliations
Yang Chen
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital, Fuzhou 350007, China
Bin Wang
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Wenping Chen
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Tao Wang
Department of Oral and Maxillofacical Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Min Li
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Zucheng Shen
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Fang Wang
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Jing Jia
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Fenglan Li
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Xiangyu Huang
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Junyang Zhuang
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Ning Li
Fujian Key Laboratory of Drug Target Discovery and Structural and Functional Research, School of Pharmacy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a widely used antimalarial agent, has clinical potential for the treatment of hepatic carcinoma. Although chemotherapy is indispensable for tumor therapy, it is generally limited by poor solubility, low efficiency, rapid clearance, and side effects. As an emerging treatment method, photothermal therapy (PTT) has many outstanding properties, but suffers from poor photostability of photosensitizer and incomplete ablation. Multimodal therapies could combine the advantages of different therapy methods to improve antitumor efficiency. Hence, we designed a nano-delivery system (ICG&DHA@ZIF-8) using zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with a high porous rate and pH sensitivity property, to co-load DHA and indocyanine green (ICG). Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the prepared nanoparticles. The photothermal conversion and drug release performances of ICG&DHA@ZIF-8 were investigated. In vitro antitumor efficacy and cellular uptake were studied. The mechanism of the combination treatment was studied by reactive oxygen species level detection and western blot assays. In vivo antitumor assays were then studied with the guidance of ex vivo imaging. The results showed that the ICG&DHA@ZIF-8 based combination therapy could efficiently kill hepatic carcinoma cells and suppress tumor growth. This research provides a potential nanodrug for the treatment of hepatic carcinoma.
