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Updated: May 27, 2026

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma using anti-HER2 immunonanoshells
Reza Fekrazad1, Neda Hakimiha, Enice Farokhi
1Dental Department, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Laser Research Center, Dental Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
Worldwide, oral squamous cell carcinoma (potentially mediated by HER2) is recognized as the most commonly occurring malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. Anti-HER2 nanobodies conjugated to gold-silica nanoshells and used as photothermal treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma may provide a novel therapeutic alternative to current treatment for this disease.
Methods:
KB epithelial or HeLaS3 cell cultures (controls) were exposed to these immunonanoshells, and plasmon resonance electron initiation specific to gold was employed to burn the tumor cells.
Results:
Following this treatment, significant cell death occurred in the KB tumor cell cultures while there was no evidence of cellular damage or death in the HeLaS3 cell cultures.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that photothermal treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma has considerable advantages.
Insights
Novel photothermal therapy using anti-HER2 nanobodies and gold-silica nanoshells effectively eliminated oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. This targeted approach shows promise as a new treatment for oral cancer.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent oral malignancy, potentially influenced by HER2.
- Current treatments for OSCC have limitations, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of anti-HER2 nanobody-conjugated gold-silica nanoshells as a photothermal treatment for OSCC.
- To evaluate the potential of this targeted therapy as an alternative to existing OSCC treatments.
Main Methods:
- Developed anti-HER2 nanobodies conjugated to gold-silica nanoshells.
- Utilized plasmon resonance electron initiation for targeted photothermal ablation of tumor cells.
- Exposed OSCC cell cultures (KB) and control cell cultures (HeLaS3) to the immunonanoshells.
Main Results:
- Significant cell death was observed in KB oral squamous cell carcinoma cultures post-treatment.
- HeLaS3 control cell cultures showed no evidence of cellular damage or death, indicating treatment specificity.
- The photothermal treatment demonstrated targeted efficacy against OSCC cells.
Conclusions:
- Photothermal treatment using anti-HER2 nanobody-conjugated gold-silica nanoshells is a promising therapeutic approach for OSCC.
- This targeted therapy offers potential advantages over conventional treatments for oral cancer.
- The study highlights the potential of nanomedicine in developing advanced cancer therapies.
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