International Journal of Nanomedicine (Jan 2023)

Radiosensitization with Gadolinium Chelate-Coated Gold Nanoparticles Prevents Aggressiveness and Invasiveness in Glioblastoma

  • Durand M,
  • Chateau A,
  • Jubréaux J,
  • Devy J,
  • Paquot H,
  • Laurent G,
  • Bazzi R,
  • Roux S,
  • Richet N,
  • Reinhard-Ruch A,
  • Chastagner P,
  • Pinel S

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 18
pp. 243 – 261

Abstract

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Maxime Durand,1 Alicia Chateau,1,* Justine Jubréaux,1,* Jérôme Devy,2 Héna Paquot,1 Gautier Laurent,3 Rana Bazzi,3 Stéphane Roux,3 Nicolas Richet,4 Aurélie Reinhard-Ruch,1 Pascal Chastagner,1,5 Sophie Pinel1 1Université de Lorraine, CNRS, CRAN, Nancy, F-54000, France; 2Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardennes, UMR CNRS/URCA 7369, MEDyC, Reims, F-51100, France; 3Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR 6213 CNRS-UBFC, UTINAM, Besançon, F-25000, France; 4Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardennes, Plateau Technique Mobile de Cytométrie Environnementale MOBICYTE Mobicyte, Reims, F-51100, France; 5CHRU de Nancy, Hôpital d’enfants - Brabois, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, F-54500, France*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Sophie Pinel, Email [email protected]: This study aimed to evaluate the radiosensitizing potential of Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles when combined with conventional external X-ray irradiation (RT) to treat GBM.Methods: Complementary biological models based on U87 spheroids including conventional 3D invasion assay, organotypic brain slice cultures, chronic cranial window model were implemented to investigate the impact of RT treatments (10 Gy single dose; 5× 2 Gy or 2× 5 Gy) combined with Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles on tumor progression. The main tumor mass and its infiltrative area were analyzed. This work focused on the invading cancer cells after irradiation and their viability, aggressiveness, and recurrence potential were assessed using mitotic catastrophe quantification, MMP secretion analysis and neurosphere assays, respectively.Results: In vitro clonogenic assays showed that Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles exerted a radiosensitizing effect on U87 cells, and in vivo experiments suggested a benefit of the combined treatment “RT 2× 5 Gy + Au@DTDTPA(Gd)” compared to RT alone. Invasion assays revealed that invasion distance tended to increase after irradiation alone, while the combined treatments were able to significantly reduce tumor invasion. Monitoring of U87-GFP tumor progression using organotypic cultures or intracerebral grafts confirmed the anti-invasive effect of Au@DTDTPA(Gd) on irradiated spheroids. Most importantly, the combination of Au@DTDTPA(Gd) with irradiation drastically reduced the number, the viability and the aggressiveness of tumor cells able to escape from U87 spheroids. Notably, the combined treatments significantly reduced the proportion of escaped cells with stem-like features that could cause recurrence.Conclusion: Combining Au@DTDTPA(Gd) nanoparticles and X-ray radiotherapy appears as an attractive therapeutic strategy to decrease number, viability and aggressiveness of tumor cells that escape and can invade the surrounding brain parenchyma. Hence, Au@DTDTPA(Gd)-enhanced radiotherapy opens up interesting perspectives for glioblastoma treatment.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: gold nanoparticles, radiotherapy, brain tumor, cancer cell invasion, tumor recurrence

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