Assembly of aptamer switch probes and photosensitizer on gold nanorods for targeted photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapy.
An aptamer switch probe (ASP) linking chlorin e6 (Ce6), a photosensitizer molecule, to the surface of gold nanorods (AuNRs) was used to target cancer cells for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT). In the presence of target cancer cells, the ASP changes conformation to drive Ce6 away from the gold surface, thereby producing singlet oxygen for PDT upon light irradiation. Since each AuNR is modified with many ASP-Ce6 molecules, the AuNR-ASP-Ce6 conjugate yields enhanced binding and therapeutic effect by the added ability to carry many photosensitizers. In addition, absorption of radiation by the gold nanorods enables further cell destruction by the photothermal effect. Consequently, this multimodal AuNR-ASP-Ce6 conjugate offers a remarkably improved and synergistic therapeutic effect compared to PTT or PDT alone, providing high specificity and therapeutic efficiency, which can be generalized to other types of cancer therapies.
Department of Chemistry and Department of Physiology and Functional Genomics, Shands Cancer Center and Center for Research at the Interface of Bio/Nano, UF Genetics Institute and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7200, USA.
Jian
J
Wang
Guizhi
G
Zhu
Mingxu
M
You
Erqun
E
Song
Mohammed Ibrahim
MI
Shukoor
Kejing
K
Zhang
Meghan B
MB
Altman
Yan
Y
Chen
Zhi
Z
Zhu
Cheng Zhi
CZ
Huang
Weihong
W
Tan
D000818:Animals; D052158:Aptamers, Peptide / Q000737:chemistry*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002735:Chlorophyllides; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D052158:Aptamers, Peptide; D002735:Chlorophyllides; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; C062985:phytochlorin; D006046:Gold