title: Highly selective CD44-specific gold nanorods for photothermal ablation of tumorigenic subpopulations generated in MCF7 mammospheres.
abstract: Heterogeneous stem-like populations within tumor tissues are the primary suspects in causing cancer recurrence and malignancy. It is essential to selectively kill these tumorigenic populations. We created a novel system for photothermally ablating specific cells from three-dimensional mammospheres. A CD44-positive subpopulation, with tumorigenic and self-renewal potential, spontaneously arises in MCF7 breast cancer cell-engineered mammospheres. Using anti-CD44 antibody-linked gold nanorods, which strongly absorb near infrared light and increase local temperature, we effectively targeted and photo-ablated atypical cells. This biomarker-specific photothermal ablation model, using a smart nanoplatform, is a promising new strategy for selectively killing cancer cells, while sparing normal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoochan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Jihye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seungjoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haam
authors.forename: Jin-Suck
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Yong-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Jaemoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D036103:Nanotechnology; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold