Laser-activated nanoparticles for ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging-guided prostate cancer treatment

Linkang Xiao; Yunfang Wu; Junyong Dai; Weili Zhang; Yang Cao

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2023.1141984

Laser-activated nanoparticles for ultrasound/photoacoustic imaging-guided prostate cancer treatment

Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2023 Mar 21:11:1141984. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1141984. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Linkang Xiao^{1

2}, Yunfang Wu^{1

3}, Junyong Dai^{1

4}, Weili Zhang¹, Yang Cao¹

Affiliations

¹ Chongqing Key Laboratory of Ultrasound Molecular Imaging, Institute of Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Urology Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
² Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China.
³ Chongqing Wanzhou District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Chongqing, China.
⁴ Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor in men. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is overexpressed on the surface of Prostate cancer cells, may serve as a potential therapeutic target. Recently, image-guided and targeted therapy for prostate cancers has attracted much attention by using Prostate-specific membrane antigen targeting nanoparticle. In this study, we produced PSMA-targeted light-responsive nanosystems. These nanosystems of liquid perfluorocarbon cores and polymer shells were loaded with the photosensitizer IR780 and therapeutic drugs paclitaxel. The liquid perfluorocarbon (PFP) in nanoparticles can perform ultrasound-enhanced imaging by liquid-gas transition and promote the deliver and release of paclitaxel. IR780 can perform photothermal therapy (PTT) guided by photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Combination treatment with photothermal therapy and chemotherapy exhibited excellent inhibition of cell proliferation in vitro and a significant therapeutic effect in vivo. In conclusion, we successfully formulated PSMA-targeted nanosystems with precision targeting and ultrasound/PA dual-modality imaging for anti-tumor effects.

Keywords: laser-activated nanoparticles; photoacoustic imaging (PAI); photothermal therapy (PPT); prostate cancer; ultrasound.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX0120), Senior Medical Talents Program of Chongqing for Young and Middle-aged.