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Small upconversion-ruthenium nanohybrids for cancer theranostics
Anne Nsubuga1, Nour Fayad1, Federico Pini1,2
1Univ Rouen, CNRS, INSA Rouen, Normandie Université, Laboratoire COBRA, 76000 Rouen, France. anne.nsubuga@univ-rouen.fr.
Nanoscale
|January 6, 2025
Summary
This study introduces small, near-infrared-responsive nanohybrids for targeted cancer therapy. These systems enable on-demand drug release in cancer cell nuclei, inducing DNA damage and cell destruction for improved theranostics.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Photoresponsive drug delivery systems offer promise for cancer therapy but often face limitations due to large size and poor tissue penetration of excitation light.
- Existing nanosystems require excitation light with limited penetration depth, hindering effective therapeutic delivery.
- Development of smaller, near-infrared (NIR) responsive systems is crucial for overcoming these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and develop a novel, small, NIR-excitable, photoresponsive drug delivery system for targeted cancer therapy.
- To investigate the controlled release of a chemotherapeutic agent ([Ru(terpyridine)(dipyridophenazine)(H2O)]2+, Ru(tpy)DPPZ) using NIR light.
- To evaluate the targeted delivery and therapeutic efficacy of the developed nanohybrids in cancer cells.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized azobenzene-modified mesoporous silica coated NaGdF4:Nd/Yb/Tm upconversion nanoparticles (azo-mSiO2-UCNPs) loaded with Ru(tpy)DPPZ.
- Utilized 808 nm NIR excitation to trigger upconversion luminescence, inducing azobenzene isomerization for controlled drug release.
- Performed cellular imaging to track nanoparticle and drug delivery to MCF-7 breast cancer cells, assessing DNA damage and cell death.
Main Results:
- Successfully developed small (10 nm diameter) NIR-responsive nanohybrids capable of targeted drug delivery.
- Demonstrated on-demand release of Ru(tpy)DPPZ triggered by 808 nm light via azobenzene isomerization.
- Confirmed targeted accumulation of nanohybrids and released drug within the nucleus of breast cancer cells, leading to DNA damage and cell destruction.
Conclusions:
- The developed NIR-excitable nanohybrids represent a significant advancement in small-sized, targeted drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.
- The system enables precise, on-demand drug release within cancer cell nuclei, enhancing therapeutic efficacy.
- These versatile nanohybrids hold potential for targeted cancer theranostics, addressing limitations of current approaches.
