Ultrasound Triggered Tumor Oxygenation with Oxygen-Shuttle Nanoperfluorocarbon to Overcome Hypoxia-Associated Resistance in Cancer Therapies.
Tumor hypoxia is known to be one of critical reasons that limit the efficacy of cancer therapies, particularly photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radiotherapy (RT) in which oxygen is needed in the process of cancer cell destruction. Herein, taking advantages of the great biocompatibility and high oxygen dissolving ability of perfluorocarbon (PFC), we develop an innovative strategy to modulate the tumor hypoxic microenvironment using nano-PFC as an oxygen shuttle for ultrasound triggered tumor-specific delivery of oxygen. In our experiment, nanodroplets of PFC stabilized by albumin are intravenously injected into tumor-bearing mice under hyperoxic breathing. With a low-power clinically adapted ultrasound transducer applied on their tumor, PFC nanodroplets that adsorb oxygen in the lung would rapidly release oxygen in the tumor under ultrasound stimulation, and then circulate back into the lung for reoxygenation. Such repeated cycles would result in dramatically enhanced tumor oxygenation and thus remarkably improved therapeutic outcomes in both PDT and RT treatment of tumors. Importantly, our strategy may be applied for different types of tumor models. Hence, this work presents a simple strategy to promote tumor oxygenation with great efficiency using agents and instruments readily available in the clinic, so as to overcome the hypoxia-associated resistance in cancer treatment.
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, China.
Xuejiao
X
Song
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, China.
Liangzhu
L
Feng
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, China.
Chao
C
Liang
School of Radiation Medicine and Protection & School for Radiological and Interdisciplinary Sciences (RAD-X), Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions Medical College of Soochow University , Suzhou, Jiangsu 21513, China.
Kai
K
Yang
Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University , Suzhou 215123, China.
Zhuang
Z
Liu
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000860:Hypoxia; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D053758:Nanoparticles; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D014463:Ultrasonography
D005466:Fluorocarbons; D010100:Oxygen
perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion; photodynamic therapy; radiotherapy; tumor hypoxia; ultrasound