Biocompatible copper sulfide–based nanocomposites for artery interventional chemo-photothermal therapy of orthotropic hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Transcatheter arterial embolization has been considered as a promising targeted delivery approach for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Currently, chemoembolization was the main treatment for unresectable HCC. However, the traditional chemoembolization treatment suffers from undesirable therapeutic effects and serious side-effects. In this study, the doxorubicin (DOX)-encapsulated and near-infrared (NIR)–responsible copper sulfide (CuS)–based nanotherapeutics was developed for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–guided chemo-photothermal therapy of HCC tumor in rats. The DOX-loaded CuS nanocomposites (DOX@BSA-CuS) demonstrated distinct NIR-triggered drug release behavior and high photothermal effect. In an orthotopic HCC rat model, DOX@BSA-CuS nanocomposites were selectively delivered to the tumor site via the intra-arterial transcatheter. The proposed DOX@BSA-CuS nanocomposites plus NIR laser irradiation exhibited significant tumor growth suppression performance. Moreover, the treatment progress can be monitored by MRI images. Finally, the preliminary toxicity estimate suggested the negligible side-effect of DOX@BSA-CuS nanocomposites during the therapeutic process. These results suggest the clinical translational potential possibility for imaging-guided arterial embolization with DOX@BSA-CuS nanocomposites for the treatment of HCC.

pH-Responsive Polymer Nanomaterials for Tumor Therapy

“…Earlier, Kelly et al ( 175 ) successfully used hematoporphyrin derivatives as photosensitizers in the treatment of bladder cancer, creating a precedent for the application of PDT on tumors. The traditional DDSs relying on photosensitizers have limited application for the PDT of tumors, owing to their poor pharmacokinetics ( 176 , 177 ) and long-term biological safety issues ( 176 – 178 ). For example, MoS2 DDSs, the biotoxicity of which is caused by quantum size effects and surface effects, may have adverse effects on the human reproductive system ( 178 ).…”

“…For example, MoS2 DDSs, the biotoxicity of which is caused by quantum size effects and surface effects, may have adverse effects on the human reproductive system ( 178 ). Previous studies have shown that nanomaterial drug carriers have a higher uptake rate of tumor cells and fewer side effects ( 177 ), and the specific response of drugs to the tumor can be further enhanced by designing stimulus-responsive nano-drug carriers.…”

Mitochondria-Targeting Chemodynamic Therapy Nanodrugs for Cancer Treatment

“…Local high temperature through near-infrared light is also an effective strategy to enhance the efficacy of CDT ( Zhou et al, 2019 ; Li et al, 2021b ). For example, Jin et al (2020) recently reported dual-targeted core-shell nanoplatforms (PTFHD nanoplatforms) for photothermal therapy (PTT) enhanced CDT.…”

Emerging Bismuth Chalcogenides Based Nanodrugs for Cancer Radiotherapy

“…In recent years, photothermal therapy (PTT), as a specific emerging cancer therapy, has been extensively researched in the field of tumor treatment (Liu et al, 2019;Danewalia and Singh, 2021). Many transition metal nanomaterials have been researched for PTT, such as MoS 2 -based nanomaterials (Jianling , CoS 2 nanomaterials (Wang et al, 2020a), copper-based nanomaterials (Ai et al, 2021;Wang et al, 2021b;Li et al, 2021), titanium-based nanomaterials (Wang et al, 2020b;Wang et al, 2021c), covalent organic frameworks (COFs) (Yao et al, 2021b), etc. Compared with above PTT agents, Bi 2 X 3 -based nanomaterials have been proven to be a kind of more excellent photosensitizers due to the strong near-infrared absorption performance and high photothermal conversion efficiency of Bi 2 X 3 (Xie et al, 2016;Cheng et al, 2018).…”