Multifunctional Magnetic Nanoparticles for Synergistic Enhancement of Cancer Treatment by Combinatorial Radio Frequency Thermolysis and Drug Delivery

Abstract

Few-layer, carbon-coated, iron (C/Fe) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized with controlled sizes ranging from 7 to 9 nm. The additional loading of two anti-cancer drugs, doxorubicin and erlotinib, was achieved through - stacking onto the carbon shells. Controlled release of the drugs was successfully triggered by radio frequency (RF) heating or pH variation. Based on the experimental results, C/Fe MNPs act as heat-inducing agents and are able to thermally destroy cancer cells when RF is applied. It was found that the combination of anti-cancer drugs (in particular a low dose of doxorubicin) and RF treatment demonstrates a synergistic effect in inducing cell death in pancreatic cancer cells. Our findings demonstrate that MNPs can be used as highly efficient multimodal nanocarrier agents for an integrated approach to cancer treatment involving triggered delivery of antineoplastic drugs and RF-induced thermal therapy.

Radio frequency responsive nano-biomaterials for cancer therapy

“…Cetuximab (C225) conjugated Au-NPs have shown better target ability and RF-induced heating in pancreatic cancer cells [45,50,[57][58][59]. It was evident that the Au-NPs had an effect on the RF-assisted killing of pancreatic cancer cells (Panc-1), and further surface modification would aid in higher targeting ability [50,60,61]. However, there were not many studies rendered on the effects on normal cells.…”

Nanodelivery of gambogic acid by functionalized graphene enhances inhibition of cell proliferation and induces G0/G1cell cycle arrest in cervical, ovarian, and prostate cancer cells

“…10 Because these complex interactions are affected by pH and cancer cells are characterized by a lower extracellular pH (pH e ) compared to normal cells ($6.7-7.1 and $7.4, respectively), 46,47 the pH is expected to impact the GA release from the GA + fGn complexes. It is hypothesized that in vivo GA would remain attached to the fGn surface while in the blood (pH 7.4), but that, upon entering the more acidic tumor microenvironment, the drug would be released.…”

Antitumor Therapy Using Nanomaterial-Mediated Thermolysis

“…204 as well as silica coated Fe 3 O 4 cored magnetic-quantum dots (Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -QDs) 205 for RF hyperthermia. Fe 3 O 4 /SiO 2 -QDs successfully induced apoptosis in Panc-1 pancreatic cells after exposure to RF for only 2 min, with little change in cell death for exposure exceeding 10 min.…”