Near-infrared remotely triggered drug-release strategies for cancer treatment

Abstract

Remotely controlled, localized drug delivery is highly desirable for potentially minimizing the systemic toxicity induced by the administration of typically hydrophobic chemotherapy drugs by conventional means. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems provide a highly promising approach for localized drug delivery, and are an emerging field of interest in cancer treatment. Here, we demonstrate near-IR light-triggered release of two drug molecules from both DNA-based and protein-based hosts that have been conjugated to near-infrared-absorbing Au nanoshells (SiO 2 core, Au shell), each forming a light-responsive drug delivery complex. We show that, depending upon the drug molecule, the type of host molecule, and the laser illumination method (continuous wave or pulsed laser), in vitro light-triggered release can be achieved with both types of nanoparticle-based complexes. Two breast cancer drugs, docetaxel and HER2-targeted lapatinib, were delivered to MDA-MB-231 and SKBR3 (overexpressing HER2) breast cancer cells and compared with release in noncancerous RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Continuous wave laser-induced release of docetaxel from a nanoshell-based DNA host complex showed increased cell death, which also coincided with nonspecific cell death from photothermal heating. Using a femtosecond pulsed laser, lapatinib release from a nanoshell-based human serum albumin protein host complex resulted in increased cancerous cell death while noncancerous control cells were unaffected. Both methods provide spatially and temporally localized drug-release strategies that can facilitate high local concentrations of chemotherapy drugs deliverable at a specific treatment site over a specific time window, with the potential for greatly minimized side effects. chemotherapy | cancer | drug release | near-infrared | nanoparticle

Magneto-plasmonic nanostars for image-guided and NIR-triggered drug delivery

“…5(c)). This light-to-heat conversion has been applied to NIR-triggered controlled release of drugs from gold nanomaterials 52,53 . A synergistic anticancer effect from heat-triggered release of an anticancer drug and tumor ablation has been reported when drug-loaded gold nanorods were used for cancer therapy 52 .…”

“…In contrast, the www.nature.com/scientificreports www.nature.com/scientificreports/ heat transfer from gold nanomaterials to surrounding environment is a great concern for heat sensitive organs including the brain. By using a pulsed laser such as femtosecond laser, drug release resulting from the cleavage of the Au-S bond between gold nanomaterials and nucleic acids was achieved without heating the surrounding environment 53 . The light-to-heat conversion property of MNP@Au nanostars is a promising characteristic that can be used for NIR-triggered controlled release of different types of drugs by cleaving the bonding between the nanostars and the drug at the targeted location in body.…”

Nanomedical Devices and Cancer Theranostics

“…These nanoparticles of Au core-silica layer-Au shell contain internal gadolinium ions for T1 imaging contrast, encapsulated within the silica layer between an inner core and outer Au layer, in a multilayered geometry [77]. The absorbing NIR is used to trigger the release, localized in space and time, of drugs conjugated to nanoshells in order to treat cancer cells while minimizing the toxicity of normal cells [78]. Nanorods have been activated with NIR to generate photothermal therapy to treat metastases, they have the ability to inhibit the migration of cancer cells by targeting the cytoskeletons and integrins [79].…”

Inkjet‐Based Technology for Microencapsulation of Gold Nanoparticles within Biocompatible Hydrogels

“…In the biotechnology field, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used for a number of applications ranging from drug release [ 13,14 ] and photothermal therapy [ 15,16 ] to biosensing. [ 17,18 ] In principle, encapsulating nanoparticles in polymers can be employed to enhance nanoparticle stability, provide sustained release, enhance their bioavailability, or improve other aspects related to their delivery and storage.…”