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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
One Minute, Sub-One-Watt Photothermal Tumor Ablation Using Porphysomes, Intrinsic Multifunctional Nanovesicles
Published on: September 17, 2013
Postoperative tumor suppression via ROS scavenging, VEGF capture, and photothermal therapy using a split
Seongmin Kim1, Jihye Lee1, Huiguk Byun2
1Department of Chemistry, POSTECH-CATHOLIC Biomedical Engineering Institute, POSTECH, Pohang 37673, South Korea.
Abstract:
Surgical resection is the primary treatment for early-stage breast cancer. However, residual tumor cells often lead to postsurgery recurrence. Current adjuvant therapies focus on eliminating residual tumors but overlook the postsurgery tumor microenvironment (TME) on residual tumor growth, resulting in limited therapeutic efficacy. In particular, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during the surgical procedure induce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, which promotes the growth of residual tumor cells. In this study, we developed Apt-Au@Gel, a multifunctional therapeutic platform combining ROS scavenging, VEGF capture, and photothermal therapy (PTT) to enhance postsurgery tumor suppression. Apt-Au@Gel consists of a cross-linked hydrogel composed of polymeric phenylboronic acid (pPBA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), encapsulating VEGF split aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticle (Apt-AuNPs). This platform dynamically scavenges ROS through boronic ester-based covalent interactions, while the released Apt-AuNPs aggregate through complementary sequence binding, and the VEGF split aptamer sequences combine to form the complete VEGF aptamer, enabling VEGF capture. The AuNPs aggregation enhances the photothermal conversion efficiency, allowing PTT upon near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the effective suppression of postsurgery tumor recurrence. These findings provide valuable insights into the synergistic effects of ROS scavenging, VEGF capture, and PTT, offering a promising strategy for postsurgery tumor therapy.
Insights
This study introduces Apt-Au@Gel, a novel platform that scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS), captures vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and uses photothermal therapy (PTT) to prevent breast cancer recurrence after surgery.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Surgical resection is standard for early-stage breast cancer, but residual tumor cells cause recurrence.
- Adjuvant therapies often neglect the postsurgery tumor microenvironment (TME), limiting efficacy.
- Surgical reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote residual tumor growth via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multifunctional therapeutic platform, Apt-Au@Gel, for postsurgery breast cancer treatment.
- To combine ROS scavenging, VEGF capture, and photothermal therapy (PTT) for enhanced tumor suppression.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of these combined therapies on preventing postsurgery tumor recurrence.
Main Methods:
- Developed Apt-Au@Gel: a hydrogel (pPBA/PVA) encapsulating VEGF split aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Apt-AuNPs).
- Platform scavenges ROS via boronic ester interactions and captures VEGF via aptamer assembly.
- AuNP aggregation enhances photothermal conversion for near-infrared (NIR) laser-induced PTT.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated effective ROS scavenging and VEGF capture by Apt-Au@Gel.
- Confirmed enhanced photothermal conversion efficiency upon AuNP aggregation.
- Showed significant suppression of postsurgery tumor recurrence in vitro and in vivo.
Conclusions:
- Apt-Au@Gel effectively suppresses postsurgery tumor recurrence by targeting ROS, VEGF, and utilizing PTT.
- The synergistic approach offers a promising strategy for improving breast cancer treatment outcomes.
- This platform highlights the importance of addressing the postsurgery TME for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
