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Cell Membrane-Inspired Polymeric Vesicles for Combined Photothermal and Photodynamic Prostate Cancer Therapy
Jiajia Hu1,2, Huanhuan Luo3,4, Qian Qu1
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|September 8, 2020
Summary
Researchers developed bionic vesicles combining photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for enhanced prostate cancer treatment. These vesicles improve drug delivery and tumor cell destruction using a single light source.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) show promise in cancer treatment but face challenges like low photoconversion efficiency.
- Developing strategies to maximize the synergistic efficacy of PTT and PDT is crucial for improving cancer therapy outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct bionic cell membrane polymeric vesicles with integrated photothermal/photodynamic synergy for enhanced prostate cancer therapy.
- To achieve synergistic PTT and PDT effects at a single excitation wavelength for improved therapeutic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Self-assembly of gold nanorods (AuNRs), indocyanine green (ICG), and polycaprolactone (PCL) into bionic vesicles inspired by cell membranes.
- Utilizing the bionic vesicles for combined PTT and PDT, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and photothermal effects under near-infrared (NIR) light excitation.
- Evaluating cellular uptake, tumor accumulation, photothermal conversion efficiency, and photobleaching resistance for fluorescence imaging and therapy.
Main Results:
- The self-assembled AuNR/ICG vesicles demonstrated improved stability and synergistic PTT/PDT effects.
- Vesicles facilitated intracellular translocation of photosensitizers, enhancing damage to tumor cells and organelles.
- The bionic vesicles exhibited efficient tumor accumulation, high photothermal conversion efficiency, and photobleaching resistance, beneficial for fluorescence imaging.
- NIR excitation of vesicles promoted PC3 tumor cell apoptosis via ROS generation and dual photothermal effects.
Conclusions:
- The developed AuNR/ICG bionic vesicles show significant potential for advanced-stage prostate cancer therapy, particularly for PSMA-negative castration-resistant subtypes.
- The synergistic PTT and PDT approach using these vesicles offers a promising strategy to overcome limitations of individual therapies.
- The bionic vesicle design enhances therapeutic efficacy and provides a platform for combined imaging and treatment.
