title: Conductive polymer-based nanoparticles for laser-mediated photothermal ablation of cancer: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro evaluation.
abstract: Laser-mediated photothermal ablation of cancer cells aided by photothermal agents is a promising strategy for localized, externally controlled cancer treatment. We report the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of conductive polymeric nanoparticles (CPNPs) of poly(diethyl-4,4'-{[2,5-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-1,4-phenylene] bis(oxy)}dibutanoate) (P1) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) stabilized with 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) as photothermal ablation agents. The nanoparticles were prepared by oxidative-emulsion polymerization, yielding stable aqueous suspensions of spherical particles of <100 nm diameter as determined by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy. Both types of nanoparticles show strong absorption of light in the near infrared region, with absorption peaks at 780 nm for P1 and 750 nm for PEDOT, as well as high photothermal conversion efficiencies (~50%), that is higher than commercially available gold-based photothermal ablation agents. The nanoparticles show significant photostability as determined by their ability to achieve consistent temperatures and to maintain their morphology upon repeated cycles of laser irradiation. In vitro studies in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells demonstrate the cytocompatibility of the CPNPs and their ability to mediate complete cancer cell ablation upon irradiation with an 808-nm laser, thereby establishing the potential of these systems as agents for laser-induced photothermal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Travis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cantu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Varun P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Pattani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Austin J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tunnell
authors.affiliation: Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.affiliation: Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Betancourt
mesh_terms: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D007834:Lasers; D008298:Maleates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010789:Phototherapy; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D008298:Maleates; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; C121383:poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene); C518261:poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid)
keywords: MDA-MB-231; PEDOT; breast cancer; conductive polymers; emulsion polymerization; nanomedicine; nanoparticles; photothermal ablation; photothermal conversion efficiency