ROS-generating TiO2 nanoparticles for non-invasive sonodynamic therapy of cancer

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 21:6:23200. doi: 10.1038/srep23200.

Abstract

The non-invasive photodynamic therapy has been limited to treat superficial tumours, primarily ascribed to poor tissue penetration of light as the energy source. Herein, we designed a long-circulating hydrophilized titanium dioxide nanoparticle (HTiO2 NP) that can be activated by ultrasound to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). When administered systemically to mice, HTiO2 NPs effectively suppressed the growth of superficial tumours after ultrasound treatments. In tumour tissue, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were elevated several fold and intense vascular damage was observed. Notably, ultrasound treatments with HTiO2 NPs also suppressed the growth of deeply located liver tumours at least 15-fold, compared to animals without ultrasound treatments. This study provides the first demonstration of the feasibility of using HTiO2 NPs as sensitizers for sonodynamic therapy in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activation, Metabolic / radiation effects
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Titanium / pharmacokinetics
  • Titanium / pharmacology*
  • Ultrasonic Waves

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium