Highly effective photothermal chemotherapy with pH-responsive polymer-coated drug-loaded melanin-like nanoparticles

Abstract

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter commonly used in clinical treatment. Polydopamine (PDA) has excellent histocompatibility and biosafety and can efficiently convert near-infrared reflection (NIR) to thermal energy. In this study, PDA was used as a promising carrier, and pH-responsive polymer-coated drug-loaded PDA nanoparticles (NPs; doxorubicin@ poly(allylamine)-citraconic anhydride [Dox@PAH-cit]/PDA NPs) were developed. As expected, the Dox@PAH-cit/PDA NPs exhibited excellent photothermal efficiency. In addition, at a low pH condition, the loaded Dox was released from the NPs due to the amide hydrolysis of PAH-cit. Upon NIR exposure (808 nm), the temperature of the NP solution rapidly increases to kill tumor cells. Compared with unbound chemotherapy drugs, the NPs have a stronger cell uptake ability. In vivo, the PDA NPs were able to efficiently accumulate at the tumor location. After intravenous administration and NIR exposure, tumor growth was significantly inhibited. In summary, the present investigation demonstrated that the Dox@PAH-cit/PDA NPs presented highly effective photothermal chemotherapy for prostate cancer.

T1-Positive Mn2+-Doped Multi-Stimuli Responsive poly(L-DOPA) Nanoparticles for Photothermal and Photodynamic Combination Cancer Therapy

“…The characteristic peak at 490 nm for Doxo was observed in the UV-Vis spectra, indicating the successful loading of Doxo onto PheoA-MNPs ( Figure 2 B). The maximum drug loading capacity was found to be 35% (Doxo:MNPs, w:w), consistent with that found in the previously reported literature [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. For instance, Du et al developed polydopamine nanoparticles conjugated with 33 wt% of Doxo to be used as nanotheranostics for multimodal imaging-guided cancer therapy [ 20 , 24 ].…”

Melanin‐Like Nanomaterials for Advanced Biomedical Applications: A Versatile Platform with Extraordinary Promise

“…Encouraged by the excellent drug binding ability of melanin, DOX and 7‐ethyl‐10‐hydroxycamptothecin loaded PDA NPs have been reported for chemo‐photothermal synergistic therapy, showing a multiple stimuli‐responsive drug release behavior including NIR laser, acidic pH and reactive oxygen species (ROS) 95. Likewise, controlled drug release was achieved by using pH‐responsive poly(allylamine)‐citraconic anhydride polymer 96. In another study, PDA NPs were developed as a versatile nanocarrier to afford simultaneous loading with multiple modules including indocyanine photosensitizer green, chemotherapeutic drug DOX and contrast agent manganese ions (PDA‐ICG‐PEG/DOX(Mn)) 27.…”

Nanotechnology for Cancer Therapy Based on Chemotherapy

“…Under consideration of biocompatibility and biodegradation, a mussel-inspired polymer, polydopamine with strong photothermal conversion ability is appealing in PTT and chemo-photothermal combination therapy. The applications of PDA in chemo-photothermal therapy are classified into three ways: (1) PDA can coat on the surface of drugs-loaded nanoparticles through self-polymerization of dopamine [ 198 ]; (2) dopamine nanoparticles act as photothermal agents that are encapsulated in nanocarriers with drugs together [ 199 ]; (3) PDA is used as a promising carrier for loading various drugs [ 200 , 201 ]. Attributing to π-conjugated structures and residual phenolic hydroxyl groups of PDA [ 201 , 202 ], it has great potential to utilize PDA in the field of theranostic nanoparticles.…”