In Vivo Targeted Cancer Theranostics by Core/Shell‐Structured Multifunctional Prussian Blue/PLGA “Nanococktails”

Abstract

The construction of high‐performance nanotheranostic agent with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved materials for efficient treatment of breast cancer is still of great challenge. This work reports, for the first time, on the elaborate integration of two FDA‐approved materials together to construct a multifunctional core/shell‐structured “nanococktail” for cancer theranostics. The biocompatible Prussian blue nanoparticles with high photothermal‐conversion performance are coated by poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) followed by further surface targeting engineering (folic acid conjugation). The anticancer drug paclitaxel is concurrently encapsulated into the nanocarrier with high efficiency and capacity. Especially, these “nanococktails” act as the desirable contrast agents for photoacoustic/magnetic resonance imaging dual‐mode diagnostic imaging, providing the potential for guidance and monitoring during the therapeutic process, which has been systematically demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, these “nanococktails” have demonstrated their high performance in synergistic in vivo photothermal therapy and chemotherapy against breast cancer tumor xenograft. This work not only provides a high‐performance theranostic “nanococktail” platform for efficient theranostic treatment of cancer but also paves a new way for the integration of various functional moieties together for realizing the specific diagnostic imaging‐guided and synergistic cancer therapy.

Artificial “Nano-Targeted Cells” for Bimodal Imaging-Guided Tumor Cocktail Therapy

“…Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and the significance of the differences between the two groups was analyzed using the Student's two-tailed t-test (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001). P-PDR nanospheres were prepared by a simple double emulsification method [34,40]. The obtained P-PDR nanospheres were further coated with cancer cell membranes to construct M@P-PDR "Nano-targeted cells" with homologous targeting capability (Fig.…”

“…M@P-PDR nanospheres, unique "Nano-targeted cells" with PB NPs encapsulated in the core, DTX/R837 loaded in the shell, and cancer cell membranes coated on the surface, were constructed for a homologous targeted cocktail therapy that concurrently integrates PTT, chemotherapy and immunotherapy to achieve the optimum anti-tumor effect. These "Nano-targeted cells" actively P-PDR nanospheres were prepared by a simple double emulsification method [34,40]. The obtained P-PDR nanospheres were further coated with cancer cell membranes to construct M@P-PDR "Nano-targeted cells" with homologous targeting capability (Fig.…”

“…Just like a cocktail is a rational combination of several different wines to get the best taste, this study integrates several therapeutic modalities to achieve the best therapeutic effect. In this study, Prussian blue (PB) was selected as the PTA because of its good biocompatibility and excellent photothermal conversion efficacy [40,41]. In addition, PB can also act as contrast agents for the enhanced photoacoustic (PA) imaging and T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, providing guidance/monitoring during the treatment.…”

Amplified Photoacoustic Imaging of Tumor through In Situ Cycloaddition

“…Though endogenous tissue contrast can provide the possibility for both anatomical and molecular PA imaging applications, exogenous tumor‐targeting PA contrast agents are indispensable for precision medicine . Up to date, almost all targeted probes require covalent linking of a targeting moiety (i.e., peptides, antibodies, and aptamers) to a photoacoustic molecule (such as an organic dye) with various bioconjugation strategies . These conjugated PA contrast probes may compromise the binding affinity of the targeted probes and decrease the imaging sensitivity, and shorten their retention time in tumor.…”

PLGA Core-Shell Nano/Microparticle Delivery System for Biomedical Application

“…Cancer therapy using PLGA microspheres includes chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, and others. Like other applications, two or more cancer treatment methods are frequently combined to seek synergistic effects [11][12][13][14][15]. Microspheres are often targeted to cancer cells by adding receptors to the outermost layer or by making them respond to cancer-specific extracellular environments [12].…”