Photothermolysis mediated by gold nanorods modified with EGFR monoclonal antibody induces Hep-2 cells apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.
Gold nanorods (AuNRs) have been used in plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT), which is thought to be more efficient and selective than conventional photothermal therapy. The efficiency and safety of PPTT can be improved by functionally modifying the gold nanorods with proteins or biomolecules. In this study, AuNRs were modified with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (mAb), and the apoptotic potential of EGFRmAb-AuNR was assessed in Hep-2 cells in vitro and in vivo. The EGFRmAb modification had no obvious influence on the original optical property of the AuNRs, but it significantly increased the entry of AuNRs into Hep-2 cells. EGFRmAb-AuNRs, with appropriate laser irradiation, resulted in higher Hep-2 cells apoptosis than AuNRs did alone, in vitro, and was accompanied by alteration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Ca(2+) release, change in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), cytochrome c (Cyt-c) release, active caspase-3 expression, and level of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and B-cell lymphoma 2 protein-associated X protein (Bax). EGFRmAb-AuNR-mediated apoptosis in Hep-2 cells was also observed in vivo and had an inhibitive effect on growth of Hep-2 tumor xenografts. Our data suggest that the EGFRmAb modification improves AuNR-mediated apoptosis and may have the potential to be used clinically.
Department of Head and Neck, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming;  Department of Head and Neck, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming,  The People's Republic of China.
Shiwen
S
Zhang
Medical Faculty, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China ; The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province (The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology), Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Yunlong
Y
Li
Department of Head and Neck, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Xiaoguang
X
He
Kunming Institute of Precious Metals, Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Shouan
S
Dong
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Yunchao
Y
Huang
Department of Head and Neck, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Xiaojiang
X
Li
Department of Head and Neck, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Yuxiao
Y
Li
Institute of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Tumor Hospital of Yunnan Province), Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Congguo
C
Jin
Clinical Skills Training Center of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Yingying
Y
Zhang
Department of Anesthesiology, Yan An Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan, The People's Republic of China.
Yuanling
Y
Wang
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D006046:Gold; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
AuNRs; PPTT; laryngeal squamous cancer cells; plasmonic photothermal therapy