Construction of Multifunctional Fe₃O₄-MTX@HBc Nanoparticles for MR Imaging and Photothermal Therapy/Chemotherapy

Abstract

To accomplish effective cancer imaging and integrated therapy, the multifunctional nanotheranostic Fe3O4-MTX@HBc core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) were designed. A straightforward method was demonstrated for efficient encapsulation of magnetic NPs into the engineered virus-like particles (VLPs) through the affinity of histidine tags for the methotrexate (MTX)-Ni2+ chelate. HBc144-His VLPs shell could protect Fe3O4-MTX NPs from the recognition by the reticuloendothelial system as well as could increase their cellular uptake efficiency. Through our well-designed tactic, the photothermal efficiency of Fe3O4 NPs were obviously improved in vitro and in vivo upon near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. Moreover, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results showed that the Fe3O4-MTX@HBc core-shell NPs were reliable T2-type MRI contrast agents for tumor imaging. Hence the Fe3O4-MTX@HBc core-shell NPs may act as a promising theranostic platform for multimodal cancer treatment.

Viral nanoparticles for drug delivery, imaging, immunotherapy, and theranostic applications

“…Mammalian viruses have also been utilized in PTT. HBc has been used to encapsulate copper sulfide for PTT only [222], conjugated to a RGD peptide for tumor targeting and loaded with indocyanine green for image-guided PTT [223], and loaded with iron oxide and methotrexate for MRI and PTT [224]. Lastly, ferritin based VLPs have been used to load copper sulfate [225] and gold nanoparticles [226] for cancer theranostics.…”

Virus‐Like Particles as Theranostic Platforms

“…These excellent properties allowed their application as a theranostic nanoprobe for MRI‐guided photothermal chemotherapy for cancer. [ 155 ] TMV coated with serum albumin (SA) acted as a targeting ligand formed SA‐TMV. It encapsulated DOX and was loaded with chelated Gd–DOTA for drug delivery to and MRI detection of tumors (Figure 5b).…”

“…Reproduced with permission. [ 155 ] Copyright 2018, Ivyspring International Publisher. b) TMV encapsulating the chemotherapeutic agent DOX or the MRI contrast agent Gd–DOTA for drug delivery and imaging.…”

FGF2 engineered SPIONs attenuate tumor stroma and potentiate the effect of chemotherapy in 3D heterospheroidal model of pancreatic tumor

“…Recently, we have reported the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to deliver a biologic, relaxin hormone, to tumor stroma and fibrotic liver [21,22]. SPIONs have high biocompatibility and large surface area with functional groups to conjugate a range of ligands and drugs, with high targeting and drug delivery efficiency [23,24]. SPIONs also have the ability to respond to the external stimuli such as magnetic field and heat, and have been used in clinics e.g.…”