Theranostics for hepatocellular carcinoma with Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites

Biomater Sci. 2016 Feb;4(2):288-98. doi: 10.1039/c5bm00361j.

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to investigate Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites as theranostic agents for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Initially, the transferrin receptor antibody (TfR Ab) functionalized Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites, followed by loading with doxorubicin (Dox) and denoted as Fe3O4@ZnO/Dox/TfR Ab, were prepared as an all-in-one system allowing for a targeted drug delivery with simultaneous concurrent chemoradiotherapy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring. The diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities for HCC were evaluated in vitro and in a murine orthotopic models using cell viability assays, cell cycle tests, histopathological examinations, and serum biochemistry tests. The results demonstrated that Fe3O4@ZnO/Dox/TfR Ab could deliver Dox into the targeted HCC SMMC-7721 cells to enhance its chemotherapeutic efficiency. Besides, with the addition of short term and low dose X-ray illumination, the Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites showed excellent radiosensitizer properties, further attacking the cancer cells. Tumor cells were also mostly arrested at G2/M, resulting in a distinct inhibition of cell proliferation. In vivo, after the treatment, a noninvasive visualization monitoring through MRI showed that tumor growth was significantly suppressed by the targeted chemoradiotherapy mediated by Fe3O4@ZnO/Dox/TfR Ab. Therefore, Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites could mediate the theranostic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / chemistry*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects*
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry*
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Ethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Mice
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Theranostic Nanomedicine
  • Transferrin / chemistry*
  • Transferrin / metabolism

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Ethylene Glycols
  • Transferrin
  • Doxorubicin