Photoresponsive Protein–Graphene–Protein Hybrid Capsules with Dual Targeted Heat‐Triggered Drug Delivery Approach for Enhanced Tumor Therapy

Abstract

4144www.MaterialsViews.com wileyonlinelibrary.com A novel photo-responsive protein-graphene-protein (PGP) capsule that doubles as a photothermal agent with core/shell structure is constructed by anchoring reduced graphene oxide nanosheets on one-component protein (lactoferrin) shell through a double emulsion method. PGP capsules can transport fully concealed hydrophilic anticancer cargo, doxorubicin (Dox), with a large payload (9.43 μmol g −1 ) to be later unloaded in a burst-like manner by photo-actuation triggered by near-infrared irradiation. Being biocompatible yet with a high cancer cell targeting effi ciency, PGP capsules have successfully eradicated subcutaneous tumors in 10 d following a single 5 min NIR irradiation without distal damage. Besides, the photochemothermal therapy of PGP capsules eradicates tumor cells not only in the light-treating area but also widely light-omitted tumor cells, overcoming the tumor recurrence due to effi cient cell killing effi cacy. These results demonstrate that the PGP capsule is a potential new drug delivery platform for local-targeting, ondemand, photoresponsive, combined chemotherapy/hyperthermia for tumor treatment and other biomedical applications.

Smart micro/nanoparticles in stimulus-responsive drug/gene delivery systems

“…Photo-triggered thermal systems have also led to a type of photochemotherapy with advantages including on-demand drug release, destruction of tumor cells either in light treated or light-shielded areas (the latter one due to heat-generated diffusing in the tissue), with a light-dosage dependent response. 200 Novel hollow plasmonic nanocrystals made from caged gold nanorods (CGNRs) were fabricated by Xiong et al 201 They showed broad-band dipolar surface plasmon resonances to NIR, obtained via tuning their length and thickness. The strong plasmon coupling between the surrounding gold nanocages and the internal gold nanorods could potentially intensify the efficiency of the photothermal effect thus providing a multifunctional theranostic CGNR-based nanoconstruct for cancer treatment (Fig.…”

Composites of Proteins and 2D Nanomaterials

“…2D layered materials provide novel physicochemical properties compared to bulk materials such as mechanical (e.g., high in‐plane stiffness and strength but extremely low flexural rigidity), optical (e.g., highly nonlinear optical coefficients, highly confined optical modes, linear polarization with minimal loss), chemical (e.g., highly efficient catalytic activity, fast response to external stimuli of pH and temperature changes), and electric (e.g., tunable band‐gap, quantum transport) properties. This rapid growth in the number of available 2D materials has driven the research efforts on nanocomposites, consisting of 2D materials in conjunction with a supporting or a template material, for applications in solid‐state electronic devices, photonics, flexible electronics, energy storage, biomedical applications such as drug delivery and imaging, and chemical/biological sensing . The complementary materials including nanomaterials, synthetic, and natural macromolecules can either guide the assembly of 2D sheets or enhance their surface chemistry after functionalizing them with organic groups .…”

Self‐Assembling Proteins for Design of Anticancer Nanodrugs

“…Sophisticated self-assembly of lactoferrin, a biocompatible protein, with rGO via a two-step emulsion approach was employed to produce protein-rGO-protein capsules with coreshell structure, in which lactoferrin constitutes the shell that stabilized by rGO. [77] The capsules exhibited both photothermal properties and the ability for loading of hydrophilic drugs such as doxorubicin by the aqueous core. The photothermal effect triggered burst release of the drug from the capsules.…”