Development of a Growth-Hormone-Conjugated Nanodiamond Complex for Cancer Therapy

• Published in: ChemMedChem 2014-05, Vol.9 (5), p.1023-1029
• Main Authors: Chu, Hsueh-Liang, Chen, Hung-Wei, Tseng, Shin-Hua, Hsu, Ming-Hua, Ho, Li-Ping, Chou, Fu-Hsuan, Li, MD. PhD. Hsing-Yuan, Chang, Yu-Chuan, Chen, Pei-Hsin, Tsai, Li-Yun, Chou, Ching-Chung, Chen, Jyh Shin, Cheng, Tsai-Mu, Chang, Chia-Ching
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A549 lung cancer cells; Antineoplastic Agents - chemical synthesis; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; apoptosis; Biocompatible Materials - chemical synthesis; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Cancer therapies; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Green Fluorescent Proteins - chemistry; Growth Hormone - chemistry; Humans; Lasers; Lung cancer; Medical research; Molecular Structure; nanodiamond complexes; Nanodiamonds - chemistry; Nanoparticles; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - pathology; Particle Size; Receptors, Somatotropin - antagonists & inhibitors; recombinant growth hormones; Structure-Activity Relationship; Succinimides - chemistry; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 1860-7179; 1860-7187
• DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300541

It is highly desirable to develop a therapeutic, observable nanoparticle complex for specific targeting in cancer therapy. Growth hormone (GH) and its antagonists have been explored as cancer cell‐targeting molecules for both imaging and therapeutic applications. In this study, a low toxicity, biocompatible, therapeutic, and observable GH–nanoparticle complex for specifically targeting growth hormone receptor (GHR) in cancer cells was synthesized by conjugating GH with green fluorescence protein and carboxylated nanodiamond. Moreover, we have shown that this complex can be triggered by laser irradiation to create a “nanoblast” and induce cell death in the A549 non‐small‐cell lung cancer cell line via the apoptotic pathway. This laser‐mediated, cancer‐targeting platform can be widely used in cancer therapy. Small but significant: A new nanosurgery platform was formed using a laser‐mediated, cancer‐targeting nanodiamond (ND) complex. Laser irradiation at 532 nm created a nanoblast of the ND complex and induced cell death within a growth‐hormone‐receptor‐containing lung cancer cell line.