Triple-functional albumin-based nanoparticles for combined chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy of pancreatic cancer with lymphatic metastases

Abstract

Xinzhe Yu,1 Wenwen Zhu,2 Yang Di,1 Jichun Gu,1 Zhongyi Guo,1 Hengchao Li,1 Deliang Fu,1 Chen Jin1 1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 2Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China Abstract: Lymphatic metastasis is the major metastatic pattern of pancreatic cancer and considered as an independent risk factor of survival. However, there is still no effective way for the diagnosis and treatment for lymphatic metastases of pancreatic cancer. In this study, using albumin as a carrier of gemcitabine (Gem), further modified by pyropheophorbide-a, we have designed and synthesized a nanoparticle (NP) compound named “pheophorbide-a (P@)-Gem-human serum albumin (HSA)-NPs”. By utilization of its tracer ability of lymphatic metastases, which is triggered by near-infrared irradiation and its visible dying ability, the compound is used for drug delivery tracking, meanwhile as a treating drug, as well as the combined effect of photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy. By the nude mice model of lymphatic metastases of pancreatic cancer (BxPC-3-LN7), we aim to explore the feasibility, effectiveness, and biological safety of diagnosis and treatment for the lymphatic metastases of pancreatic cancer by P@-Gem-HSA-NP, thereby, providing new methods and strategies for the study of nanodrug carrier and research on lymphatic metastases of pancreatic cancer. Keywords: theranostic nanoparticles, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, pancreatic cancer, lymphatic metastases, near infrared irradiation

Keywords

• Theranostic nanoparticles
• chemotherapy
• photodynamic therapy
• pancreatic cancer
• lymphatic metastases
• near infrared irradiation