title: Targeted iron-oxide nanoparticle for photodynamic therapy and imaging of head and neck cancer.
abstract: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a highly specific anticancer treatment modality for various cancers, particularly for recurrent cancers that no longer respond to conventional anticancer therapies. PDT has been under development for decades, but light-associated toxicity limits its clinical applications. To reduce the toxicity of PDT, we recently developed a targeted nanoparticle (NP) platform that combines a second-generation PDT drug, Pc 4, with a cancer targeting ligand, and iron oxide (IO) NPs. Carboxyl functionalized IO NPs were first conjugated with a fibronectin-mimetic peptide (Fmp), which binds integrin β1. Then the PDT drug Pc 4 was successfully encapsulated into the ligand-conjugated IO NPs to generate Fmp-IO-Pc 4. Our study indicated that both nontargeted IO-Pc 4 and targeted Fmp-IO-Pc 4 NPs accumulated in xenograft tumors with higher concentrations than nonformulated Pc 4. As expected, both IO-Pc 4 and Fmp-IO-Pc 4 reduced the size of HNSCC xenograft tumors more effectively than free Pc 4. Using a 10-fold lower dose of Pc 4 than that reported in the literature, the targeted Fmp-IO-Pc 4 NPs demonstrated significantly greater inhibition of tumor growth than nontargeted IO-Pc 4 NPs. These results suggest that the delivery of a PDT agent Pc 4 by IO NPs can enhance treatment efficacy and reduce PDT drug dose. The targeted IO-Pc 4 NPs have great potential to serve as both a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agent and PDT drug in the clinic.
authors.forename: Dongsheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baowei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Luma V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Halig
authors.forename: Xulei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Zhongliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yongqiang Andrew
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhengjia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sungjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Zhuo Georgia
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D051379:Mice; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D053758:Nanoparticles; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057786:Peptidomimetics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005353:Fibronectins; D007211:Indoles; D019012:Integrin beta1; D017646:Organosilicon Compounds; D057786:Peptidomimetics; C082854:silicon phthalocyanine; C000499:ferric oxide