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Gold Nanorod Photothermal Therapy Alters Cell Junctions and Actin Network in Inhibiting Cancer Cell Collective

Yue Wu1, Moustafa R K Ali1, Bin Dong2

  • 1Laser Dynamics Lab, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , Georgia 30332-0400 , United States.

ACS Nano
|August 18, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Gold nanorods and near-infrared light inhibit collective cancer cell migration by disrupting actin filaments and cell junctions. This nanoparticle treatment offers a novel strategy against metastasis, a major cause of cancer death.

Area of Science:

  • Nanotechnology in oncology
  • Cancer metastasis research
  • Cellular biophysics

Background:

  • Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related mortality.
  • Nanoparticles show potential in inhibiting cancer cell migration.
  • The impact of nanoparticles on collective cell migration remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of gold nanorods (AuNRs) and near-infrared light on collective cancer cell migration.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying nanoparticle-mediated inhibition of collective migration.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized gold nanorods (AuNRs) and near-infrared light exposure.
  • Employed mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics to analyze protein phosphorylation changes.
  • Used super-resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to visualize cytoskeletal and junctional alterations.

Main Results:

  • AuNRs and near-infrared light significantly inhibited collective cancer cell migration.
  • Treatment altered actin filaments and cell junctions, evidenced by protein phosphorylation changes.
  • STORM revealed disturbed actin cytoskeleton filament bundles and decreased N-cadherin expression; zonula occludens 2 showed morphological changes.

Conclusions:

  • Gold nanorods, activated by near-infrared light, can regulate and remodel actin filaments and cell junction proteins.
  • These alterations effectively decrease cancer cell collective migration, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy against metastasis.
Keywords:
STORMcollective cancer cell migrationgold nanorodsmetastasisphosphoproteomicsplasmonic photothermal therapysuper-resolution microscopy

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