Polydopamine-enabled surface functionalization of gold nanorods for cancer cell-targeted imaging and photothermal therapy.
OBJECTIVE
A novel biomimetic strategy was employed for presenting antibodies on gold nanorods (NRs) to target growth factor receptors on cancer cells for use in photothermal therapy.


METHODS
Polydopamine (PD) was polymerized onto gold NRs, and EGF receptor antibodies (anti-EGFR) were immobilized onto the layer. Cell-binding affinity and light-activated cell death of cancer cells incubated with anti-EGFR-PD-NRs were quantified by optical imaging.


RESULTS
PD was deposited onto gold NRs, and antibodies were bound to PD-coated NRs. Anti-EGFR-PD-NRs were stable in media, and were specifically bound to EGFR-overexpressing cells. Illumination of cells targeted with anti-EGFR-PD-NRs enhanced cell death compared with nonirradiated controls and cells treated with antibody-free NRs.


CONCLUSIONS
PD facilitates the surface functionalization of gold NRs with biomolecules, allowing cell targeting and photothermal killing of cancer cells. PD can potentially coat a large variety of nanoparticles with targeting ligands as a strategy for biofunctionalization of diagnostic and therapeutic nanoparticles.
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Kvar C L
KC
Black
Ji
J
Yi
José G
JG
Rivera
Daria C
DC
Zelasko-Leon
Phillip B
PB
Messersmith
D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D043942:Nanotubes; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
D007211:Indoles; D011108:Polymers; C568283:polydopamine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold