Injectable biocompatible nanocomposites of Prussian blue nanoparticles and bacterial cellulose as a safe and effective photothermal cancer therapy

• Published in: Journal of nanobiotechnology 2023-10, Vol.21 (1), p.1-365, Article 365
• Main Authors: Hong, Hwichan, Kim, MinKyu, Lee, Wooseung, Jeon, Miyeon, Lee, Chaedong, Kim, Hoonsub, Im, Hyung-Jun, Piao, Yuanzhe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacterial celluloses; Biochemical analysis; Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Cellulose; Composite materials; Cytotoxicity; Drug delivery systems; Drug therapy; Gold; Health aspects; Hyperthermia; Improved biocompatibility; Iron compounds; Irradiation; Laser radiation; Lasers; Microbial polysaccharides; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Near infrared radiation; Phototherapy; Photothermal therapy; Pigments; Potassium; Prussian blue (Chemical compound); Prussian blue nanoparticles; Quantum dots; R&D; Research & development; Spectrum analysis; Technology application; Therapeutic applications; Tissue engineering; Toxicity; Tumors
• ISSN: 1477-3155; 1477-3155
• DOI: 10.1186/s12951-023-02108-6

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a novel cancer treatment using a photoabsorber to cause hyperthermia to kill tumors by laser irradiation. Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) are considered as next-generation photothermal agents due to the facile synthesis and excellent absorption of near-infrared light. Although PB NPs demonstrate remarkable PTT capabilities, their clinical application is limited due to their systemic toxicity. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been applied to various bio-applications based on its unique properties and biocompatibility. Herein, we design composites with PB NPs and BC as an injectable, highly biocompatible PTT agent (IBC-PB composites). Injectable bacterial cellulose (IBC) is produced through the trituration of BC, with PB NPs synthesized on the IBC surface to prepare IBC-PB composites. IBC-PB composites show in vitro and in vivo photothermal therapeutic effects similar to those of PB NPs but with significantly greater biocompatibility. Specifically, in vitro therapeutic index of IBC-PB composites is 26.5-fold higher than that of PB NPs. Furthermore, unlike PB NPs, IBC-PB composites exhibit no overt toxicity in mice as assessed by blood biochemical analysis and histological images. Hence, it is worth pursuing further research and development of IBC-PB composites as they hold promise as safe and efficacious PTT agents for clinical application.