Magnetically Guided Theranostics: Enhancing the Contrast of Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Multiple-Layer Montmorillonite-Based Iron/Platinum Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract

In Asia, including Taiwan, malignant tumors such as Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) one of the liver cancer is the most diagnosed subtype. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been a typical diagnostic method for accurately diagnosing HCC. When it is difficult to demonstrate non-enhanced MRI of tumors, radiologists can use contrast agents (such as Gd3+, Fe3O4, or FePt) for T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging, which can remain in the liver for a long time to facilitate diagnosis via MRI. However, sometimes it is difficult for T2-weighted imaging to detect small tumor lesions because the liver tissue may actively absorb iron ions. This makes early cancer detection a challenging goal. To develop a method that can more efficiently diagnose and simultaneously treat HCC during MRI examination, we designed a functionalized montmorillonite (MMT) material with a porous structure to benefit related drugs, such as mitoxantrone (MIT) delivery or as a carrier for the FePt nanoparticles (FePt NPs) to introduce cancer therapy. Multifunctional FePt@MMT can simultaneously visualize and treat various diseases and can be used as an inducer of magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). After loading the drug MIT, FePt@MMT-MIT provides both MFH treatment and chemotherapy in one nanosystem. These results ultimately prove that functionalized FePt@MMT-MIT could be integrated as a versatile drugs delivery system by combining with MRI, chemotherapeutic drugs, and magnetic guide targeting.