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Glucose-lightened upconversion nanoprobes for accurate cellular-discrimination based on Warburg effect
Zihe Wang1, Cheng Liao1, Qi Lu1
1Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, PR China.
Analytica Chimica Acta
|February 24, 2024
Summary
This study introduces a novel glucose-responsive nanoprobe that distinguishes cancer cells from normal cells by detecting the Warburg effect. This targeted approach enhances precision medicine by minimizing off-target damage during therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Precision medicine requires accurate cellular discrimination for effective disease therapy.
- Current methods for differentiating normal and cancerous cells are limited, especially without antibody-coupling strategies.
- The unique metabolic microenvironment of cancer cells, particularly the Warburg effect, offers a potential target for selective therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a glucose-selectively lightened upconversion nanoprobe for distinguishing cancer cells from normal cells.
- To leverage the Warburg effect for targeted cancer cell recognition and therapy.
- To integrate photodynamic therapy with the nanoprobe for enhanced cancer cell elimination with minimal damage to healthy cells.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of mesoporous silica-coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP@mSiO2).
- Incorporation of benzoboric acid (BA)-modified fluorescein (FITC-BA) as a glucose-responsive element.
- Loading of riboflavin as a photodynamic therapy agent into the nanoprobes.
- Validation of cellular discrimination and therapeutic efficacy using cancer and normal cell models.
Main Results:
- The nanoprobes exhibited luminescence in cancer cells due to elevated glucose concentrations (Warburg effect), while luminescence was suppressed in normal cells.
- The integrated photodynamic therapy agent effectively produced reactive oxygen species upon laser illumination.
- Demonstrated 97.8% cancer cell elimination with nearly 100% viability maintained in normal cells after 10 minutes of laser treatment.
Conclusions:
- The developed nanoprobe accurately discriminates cancer cells based on their metabolic activity (Warburg effect).
- This approach significantly reduces off-target damage compared to conventional therapies.
- The study highlights the potential of metabolically responsive nanoprobes for advancing precision cancer medicine.
