title: Increased Gold Nanoparticle Retention in Brain Tumors by in Situ Enzyme-Induced Aggregation.
abstract: The treatment of brain tumors remains a challenge due to the limited accumulation of drugs and nanoparticles. Here, we triggered the aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using legumain to enhance the retention of chemotherapeutics in brain tumors. This nanoplatform, AuNPs-A&C, is comprised of Ala-Ala-Asn-Cys-Lys modified AuNPs (AuNPs-AK) and 2-cyano-6-aminobenzothiazole modified AuNPs (AuNPs-CABT). AuNPs-AK could be hydrolyzed to expose the 1,2-thiolamino groups on AuNPs-AK in the presence of legumain, which occurs by a click cycloaddition with the contiguous cyano group on AuNPs-CABT, resulting in formation of AuNPs aggregates. This strategy led to an enhanced retention of the AuNPs in glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo due to the blocking of nanoparticle exocytosis and minimizing nanoparticle backflow to the bloodstream. After conjugation of doxorubicin (DOX) via a pH-sensitive linker to AuNPs-A&C, the efficiency for treating glioma was improved. The median survival time for the DOX-linked AuNPs-A&C increased to 288% in comparison to the saline group. We further show the use of the AuNPs-A&C for optical imaging applications. In conclusion, we provide a strategy to increase nanoparticle tumor accumulation with the potential to improve therapeutic outcome.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Shaobo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Xingli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Kairong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery Systems, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University , No. 17, Block 3, Southern Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Huile
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D006046:Gold; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: brain tumors; click cycloaddition; gold nanoparticles; legumain; tumor microenvironment