title: Doxorubicin loaded polymeric gold nanoparticles targeted to human folate receptor upon laser photothermal therapy potentiates chemotherapy in breast cancer cell lines.
abstract: The current research focuses on the application of folate conjugated and doxorubicin loaded polymeric gold nanoparticles (GNPs) for the targeted treatment of folate receptor overexpressing breast cancers, augmented by adjunctive laser photothermal therapy. Herein, GNPs surface modified with folate, drug doxorubicin and polyethylene glycol were engineered and were used as vehicles for folate receptor targeted delivery of doxorubicin into cancer cells. Subsequently, the GNPs were photo-excited using laser light for mediating hyperthermia in the cancer cells. In vitro studies were performed to validate the efficacy of the combined modality of folate conjugated and doxorubicin loaded polymeric GNP mediated chemotherapy followed by photothermal therapy in comparison to treatment with free drug; and the combination modality showed better therapeutic efficacy than that of plain doxorubicin treatment in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells that express increased levels of surface folate receptors when compared to MCF-7 breast cancer cells that express low levels of folate receptor. The mechanism of cell death was investigated using fluorescent microscopy. Immunoassays showed the up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic protein p53 and down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Collectively, these results suggest that the folate tagged doxorubicin loaded GNPs are an attractive platform for targeted delivery of doxorubicin and are agents suitable for photothermal cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Dubai Campus, P.O. Box 345050, G-04-Academic city, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Cancer Genetics and Nanomedicine Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, P.O. Box 620024, India. Electronic address: hussainamalkhan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hussaina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Banu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Dubai Campus, P.O. Box 345050, G-04-Academic city, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Dipinder Kaur
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Dubai Campus, P.O. Box 345050, G-04-Academic city, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Dubai Campus, P.O. Box 345050, G-04-Academic city, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Adhnaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheriff
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Dubai Campus, P.O. Box 345050, G-04-Academic city, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Nuthan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rayees
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Dubai Campus, P.O. Box 345050, G-04-Academic city, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Renuka
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Dubai Campus, P.O. Box 345050, G-04-Academic city, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Faheem
authors.affiliation: Cancer Genetics and Nanomedicine Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, P.O. Box 620024, India. Electronic address: prembdu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kumpati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Premkumar
authors.affiliation: Holistic International Testing Services FZ-LLC, Unit#G04-A1, Ground Floor, Dubiotech Laboratory Building, P.O. Box 500767, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: geetha9999@aol.com.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vasanthakumar
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004355:Drug Stability; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D058972:Folic Acid Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D053685:Laser Therapy; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009336:Necrosis; D010789:Phototherapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058972:Folic Acid Transporters; D011108:Polymers; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005492:Folic Acid; C077114:styrenesulfonic acid polymer
keywords: Breast cancer; Doxorubicin; Drug delivery; Folate; Gold nanoparticles; Photothermal therapy