The application of hyaluronic acid-derivatized carbon nanotubes in hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether-based photodynamic therapy for in vivo and in vitro cancer treatment

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown great potential in both photothermal therapy and drug delivery. In this study, a CNT derivative, hyaluronic acid-derivatized CNTs (HA-CNTs) with high aqueous solubility, neutral pH, and tumor-targeting activity, were synthesized and characterized, and then a new photodynamic therapy agent, hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME), was adsorbed onto the functionalized CNTs to develop HMME-HA-CNTs. Tumor growth inhibition was investigated both in vivo and in vitro by a combination of photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy using HMME-HA-CNTs. The ability of HMME-HA-CNT nanoparticles to combine local specific photodynamic therapy with external near-infrared photothermal therapy significantly improved the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatment. Compared with photodynamic therapy or photothermal therapy alone, the combined treatment demonstrated a synergistic effect, resulting in higher therapeutic efficacy without obvious toxic effects to normal organs. Overall, it was demonstrated that HMME-HA-CNTs could be successfully applied to photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy simultaneously in future tumor therapy.

Hyaluronic acid–nimesulide conjugates as anticancer drugs against CD44-overexpressing HT-29 colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo

“…59,60 Besides, it was found that HA-NIR accumulated in the tumor region, indicating active targeting ability of HA in CD44 receptor overexpressing tumors. 61,62 HA-NIR was also found to be present in spleen and heart. To further investigate the differences in tumor accumulation between HAH-NIR and HAL-NIR at 48 h postinjection, the fluorescence intensity of isolated tumor ( Figure 6D) was analyzed by Living Image software.…”

Carbon nanotubes as cancer therapeutic carriers and mediators

“…Shi et al 141 developed hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME)-adsorbed hyaluronic acid (HA)-conjugated CNTs (HMME-HA-CNTs). The tumor growth inhibition of HMME-HA-CNTs by a combination of PTT and PDT was investigated both in vivo and in vitro.…”

Hyaluronic acid-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes as tumor-targeting MRI contrast agent

“…At 600°C, HA-SWCNTs showed approximately 47.27% weight loss, suggesting the relative amount of HA grafted onto SWCNTs was 47.27%. 29 In addition, the morphology of SWCNTs modified with HA was characterized by TEM, as shown in Figure 3A. SWCNTs have self-organizing feature, easy to form bundles and bundles of ring.…”