Effective Gold Nanoparticle-Antibody-Mediated Drug Delivery for Photodynamic Therapy of Lung Cancer Stem Cells

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a leading contributor to lung cancer mortality rates. CSCs are responsible for tumor growth and recurrence through inhibition of drug-induced cell death, decreasing the effect of traditional cancer therapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT can be improved to successfully treat lung cancer by using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), due to their size and shape, which have been shown to facilitate drug delivery and retention, along with the targeted antibody (Ab) mediated selection of CSCs. In this study, a nanobioconjugate (NBC) was constructed, using a photosensitizer (PS) (AlPcS4Cl), AuNPs and Abs. The NBC was characterized, using spectroscopy techniques. Photodynamic effects of the NBC on lung CSCs was evaluated, using biochemical assays 24 h post-irradiation, in order to establish its anticancer effect. Results showed successful conjugation of the nanocomposite. Localization of the NBC was seen to be in integral organelles involved in cell homeostasis. Biochemical responses of lung CSCs treated using AlPcS4Cl-AuNP and AlPcS4Cl-AuNP-Ab showed significant cell toxicity and cell death, compared to free AlPcS4Cl. The PDT effects were enhanced when using the NBC, showing significant lung CSC destruction to the point of eradication.

Aluminium (III) phthalocyanine chloride tetrasulphonate is an effective photosensitizer for the eradication of lung cancer stem cells

“…Studies to further improve the effects of PDT and to make it specific are currently under study where clinical PS toxicity arising from non-specific uptake of PS drugs, along with a general question regarding the limited light penetration used for photoactivation in PDT, is under investigation. PDT can be directly aimed at cancerous cells by using nanoparticle and antibody conjugation of the PS, making it more specific and improving its absorption into cancer cells [ 28 ]. PDT may be used clinically with interstitial, endoscopic, intraoperative or laparoscopic light distribution devices with the use of fibres that can be placed at designated positions inside the tumour site due to developments in fibre optics and microendoscopic technology [ 82 ].…”

Synthesis of a novel nanobioconjugate for targeted photodynamic therapy of colon cancer enhanced with cannabidiol

“…Thus, it remains imperative to explore effective therapeutic approaches that may potentially improve prognosis in patients [3]. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a promising noninvasive therapy for premalignant and neoplastic lesions, which is based on three essentials, namely visible light, oxygen, and photosensitizer (PS) [4]. The activation of photosensitizers (PSs) using a suitable wavelength of light, yields cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and singlet oxygen, which in turn induce tumour cell death [5].…”

The Role of Rosmarinic Acid on the Bioproduction of Gold Nanoparticles as Part of a Photothermal Approach for Breast Cancer Treatment

“…Moreover, samples with a PdI < 0.4 are considered homogeneous, >0.4 less homogeneous, and ≈1 completely heterogeneous [ 89 ]. The election of a threshold PdI value is still not consensual, with some stating values <0.3 as optimum [ 80 ], others considering values ≤0.5 still acceptable [ 90 ], and others setting the threshold as ≤0.7 [ 91 ]. In the present work, considering the PdI, both Ratios 1 and 2 are better than the remaining.…”