Doxorubicin-loaded photosensitive magnetic liposomes for multi-modal cancer therapy.
Multifunctional magnetic nanosystems have attracted an enormous attention of researchers for their potential applications in cancer diagnostics and therapy. The localized nanotherapies triggered by the external stimuli, like magnetic fields and visible light, are significant in clinical applications. We report a liposomal system that aims to treat cancer by magnetic hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy simultaneously. The liposomes enclose clinically used photosensitizer m-THPC (Foscan) and anti-cancer drug doxorubicin, in its hydrophobic lipid bilayers, and contains magnetite nanoparticles in hydrophilic core. Three different sizes of magnetic nanoparticles (10, 22 and 30nm) and liposomes (40, 70 and 110nm) were used in this study. Magnetite single domain nanoparticles forming the magnetic core were superparamagnetic but liposomes expressed slight coercivity and hysteresis due to the clustering of nanoparticles in the core. This enhanced the heating efficiency (specific power loss) of the liposomes under an AC field (375kHz, 170Oe). Cell viability and toxicity were studied on HeLa cells using MTT assay and proteomic analysis. Confocal and fluorescence microscopy were used to study the photosensitizer's profile and cells response to combined therapy. It revealed that combined therapy almost completely eliminated the cancer cells as opposed to the separate treatments. Magnetic hyperthermia and photodynamic therapies were almost equally effective whereas chemotherapy showed the least effect.
Department of Physics, Forman Christian College (University), Lahore, Pakistan; Materials Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: saqlainshah@fccollege.edu.pk.
Saqlain A
SA
Shah
Department of Polymer Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
M U
MU
Aslam Khan
Nanoscience Division, National Center for Physics, Islamabad, Pakistan.
M
M
Arshad
Department of Physics, COMSATS institute of information technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.
S U
SU
Awan
Department of Applied Sciences, Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan.
M U
MU
Hashmi
Department of Physics, Islamic International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
N
N
Ahmad
D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D008280:Magnetics; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage
D008081:Liposomes; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D004317:Doxorubicin
Doxorubicin; HeLa cells; Liposomes; MTT assay; Magnetic hyperthermia; Proteome analysis; Superparamagnetic