A Simple and Efficient Embolization-Combined Therapy for Solid Tumors by Smart Poly(amino acid)s Nanocomposites

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanomedicine
• Oncology

Background:

• Interventional embolization and thermal ablation are standard treatments for unresectable solid tumors but have significant limitations.
• Existing therapies often require invasive procedures like catheter use, leading to patient discomfort and potential complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel noninterventional therapeutic strategy for solid tumors.
• To create pH-responsive nanocomposites for targeted embolization and thermal ablation.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of these nanocomposites in preclinical animal models.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized pH-responsive nanocomposites (NPs@PGTTCs) by coating gold (Au) or iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with poly[(l-glutamic acid-ran-l-tyrosine)-b-l-threonine-b-l-cysteine]s (PGTTCs).
• Administered NPs@PGTTCs intravenously for targeted embolization in tumor-bearing mice and rabbits.
• Combined intravenous therapy with noninvasive thermal ablation and assessed multimodal imaging (fluorescence, SPECT, MRI).

Main Results:

• NPs@PGTTCs demonstrated superior targeted embolization and therapeutic effects in vivo.
• Tumor shrinkage and necrosis were observed within 30 days post-treatment, with over 80% long-term survival.
• Combining NPs@PGTTCs with thermal ablation accelerated tumor regression, achieving similar effects within 15 days.

Conclusions:

• The developed pH-responsive nanocomposites offer a simple, efficient, noninterventional approach for treating solid tumors, particularly those in acidic microenvironments.
• This innovation represents a significant advancement in tumor theranostics and nanomedicine.
• The therapy shows promise for improving outcomes in hard-to-treat cancers.