A 2D nanotheranostic platform based on graphene oxide and phase-change materials for bimodal CT/MR imaging, NIR-activated drug release, and synergistic thermo-chemotherapy

Abstract

Recent years have seen considerable progress in the development of nanomedicine by the advent of 2D nanomaterials serving as ideal platforms to integrate multiple theranostic functions. We synthesized multifunctional stimuli-responsive 2D-based smart nanocomposites (NCs), comprising gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) scaffolded within graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets, coated with doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded 1-tetradecanol (TD), and further modified with an alginate (Alg) polymer. TD is a phase-change material (PCM) that confines DOX molecules to the GO surface and melts when the temperature exceeds its melting point ( T m=39 °C), causing the PCM to release its drug payload. By virtue of their strong near-infrared (NIR) light absorption and high photothermal conversion efficiency, GO nanosheets may enable photothermal therapy (PTT) and activate a phase change to trigger DOX release. Upon NIR irradiation of NCs, a synergistic thermo-chemotherapeutic effect can be obtained by GO-mediated PTT, resulting an accelerated and controllable drug release through the PCM mechanism. The biodistribution of these NCs could also be imaged with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in vitro and in vivo. Hence, this multifunctional nanotheranostic platform based on 2D nanomaterials appears a promising candidate for multimodal image-guided cancer therapy.

Smart Nanomaterials in Cancer Theranostics: Challenges and Opportunities

“…It was observed that the rGO/PEG/ICG nanosystem was sustained for a longer time in in vivo and was capable of targeting tumors. Mirrahimi et al used GO for anchoring superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) and AuNPs adapted with phase-change material (PCM) for stimulus-based drug release . The study also reveals that the synergistic effect of all, like NIR absorbance of GO, MRI contrast of SPIOs, AuNPs for X-ray attenuation, and PCM for thermosensitive features, make this platform ideally suited for synergistic thermo-chemotherapy in a controllable drug release .…”

Multimodal Imaging and Phototherapy of Cancer and Bacterial Infection by Graphene and Related Nanocomposites

“…Figure 7 E shows a reduction in tumor volume within a few days after PT with DOX-NCs+NIR. Figure 7 F shows the corresponding morphology of tumor and total mice view from pre injection to 90 days of PT [ 119 ].…”

“…Choi et al, Yang et al, Mirrahimi et al, Hong et al, Jia et al, Yang et al, Belu et al, and Lim et al demonstrated multimodal imaging (CLSM, MRI, CT, PET, PAI, RAMAN and ToF-SIMS) and multimodal therapies including chemo, gene, and PTs. Most of these researchers have also given tremendous efforts to improve the therapeutic capabilities by minimizing GNCs concentration, laser wavelengths from the first biological windows to the second biological window, and less laser powers and irradiation times [ 84 , 97 , 107 , 108 , 119 , 120 , 132 , 139 , 145 , 146 ]. Keshav et al, provided excellent pharmacokinetic data to take the material towards preclinical trials.…”

Nanomaterial-Based Antivascular Therapy in the Multimodal Treatment of Cancer

“…Xu designed a multimodal combination therapy based on ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles [33]. Mirrahimi designed a nanotherapy platform that can be used for CT/MR dual imaging and realized DOX release and strong thermochemotherapeutic effects [34]. You developed a nanoplatform modified with Pt (platinum), which acts as a catalyst to continuously break down H 2 O 2 to O 2 and relieve hypoxic photodynamic therapy [35].…”

“…Pharmaceutics 2023, 15, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 23 realized DOX release and strong thermochemotherapeutic effects [34]. You developed a nanoplatform modified with Pt (platinum), which acts as a catalyst to continuously break down H2O2 to O2 and relieve hypoxic photodynamic therapy [35].…”