Nucleus-Targeting Nanoplatform Based on Dendritic Peptide for Precise Photothermal Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Therapy

Background:

• Photothermal therapy offers high anti-tumor efficiency by targeting the nucleus.
• Precise nuclear delivery of photothermal agents remains a challenge.
• Development of nucleus-targeting nanocarriers is crucial for effective therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a nucleus-targeting nanoplatform for enhanced photothermal therapy.
• To improve the solubility and stability of photothermal agents.
• To achieve precise photothermal therapy specifically within the tumor cell nucleus.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized an amphiphilic arginine-rich dendritic peptide (RDP).
• Encapsulated the photothermal agent IR780 within the RDP to form the RDP/I nanoplatform.
• Evaluated cellular uptake, nuclear localization, and anti-tumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

• The RDP/I nanoplatform demonstrated efficient encapsulation and improved solubility/stability of IR780.
• Arginine-rich structure facilitated high cellular uptake and rapid nuclear anchoring.
• The nanoplatform exhibited significant nuclear enrichment and potent tumor inhibition effects.

Conclusions:

• The developed RDP/I nanoplatform enables precise nuclear photothermal therapy.
• This targeted approach significantly enhances anti-tumor efficacy.
• The study presents a promising strategy for advanced cancer treatment.