Platelet-Like Gold Nanostars for Cancer Therapy: The Ability to Treat Cancer and Evade Immune Reactions

Abstract

The cell membrane-coating strategy has opened new opportunities for the development of biomimetic and multifunctional drug delivery platforms. Recently, a variety of gold nanoparticles, which can combine with blood cell membranes, have been shown to provide an effective approach for cancer therapy. Meanwhile, this class of hybrid nanostructures can deceive the immunological system to exhibit synergistic therapeutic effects. Here, we synthesized red blood cell (RBC) and platelet membrane-coated gold nanostars containing curcumin (R/P-cGNS) and evaluated whether R/P-cGNS had improved anticancer efficacy. We also validated a controlled release profile under near-infrared irradiation for the ability to target melanoma cells and to have an immunomodulatory effect on macrophages. RBC membrane coating provided selfantigens; therefore, it could evade clearance by macrophages, while platelet membrane coating provided targetability to cancer cells. Additionally, the nutraceutical curcumin provided anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, the results presented in this study demonstrated that R/P-cGNS can deliver drugs to the target region and enhance anticancer effects while avoiding macrophage phagocytosis. We believe that R/P-cGNS can be a new design of the cell-based hybrid system for effective cancer therapy.

Cell-derived biomimetic nanocarriers for targeted cancer therapy: cell membranes and extracellular vesicles

“…Because the membrane proteins on PLTs bind to biomolecules expressed at high levels in some tumors, Kim et al prepared a new biomimetic carrier (R/P-cGNS) that used gold nanostars loaded with curcumin (Cur) as the core, and the cloak was a mixture of RBCMs and PLTMs. R/P-cGNS has two membrane functions, because the carrier not only escapes phagocytosis but also effectively targets tumors (Kim et al, 2020 ). Natural cell membranes are affected by temperature.…”

Recent Advances and Implication of Bioengineered Nanomaterials in Cancer Theranostics

“…Platelets can recognize the cancer cells easily and attach themselves to the tumor, causing maximum damage to tumor cells. Based on these factors, gold nanostars with curcumin (R/P-cGNS) were synthesized and coated with RBC and platelet membrane [20]. It was noted that the RBC membrane provided antigens, whereas platelet coating improved the targetability of cancer cells.…”

Biomimetic Nanocarriers for Cancer Target Therapy

“…Moreover, platelet membrane-coated NPs loaded with DOX and modified with RGD peptides, were shown to be capable of avoiding immune-mediated purging and target cancer vasculature [47]. The unique properties of platelet membrane were employed also by Kim and co-workers to produce platelet membrane-coated gold nanostars containing curcumin with the ability to efficiently target melanoma cancer cells [48]. The platelet membrane was able to confer direct targeting capability to gold NPs as photothermal therapy with the anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of the curcumin, while avoiding macrophage phagocytosis.…”