Iron oxide–gold core–shell nano-theranostic for magnetically targeted photothermal therapy under magnetic resonance imaging guidance

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 2019-05, Vol.145 (5), p.1213-1219
• Main Authors: Abed, Ziaeddin, Beik, Jaber, Laurent, Sophie, Eslahi, Neda, Khani, Tahereh, Davani, Elnaz S., Ghaznavi, Habib, Shakeri-Zadeh, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cancer Research; Cell Line, Tumor; Disease Models, Animal; Eradication; Ferric Compounds - chemistry; Gold; Gold - chemistry; Hematology; Humans; Hyperthermia, Induced - methods; I.R. radiation; Infrared Rays; Injection; Internal Medicine; Iron oxides; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mice; Nanoparticles; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostructures - ultrastructure; Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasms - therapy; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Oncology; Original Article – Cancer Research; Phototherapy - methods; Remission; Spectrum Analysis; Surface plasmon resonance; Theranostic Nanomedicine - methods; Treatment Outcome; Tumor cells; Tumors; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-02870-x

Recent efforts in the area of photothermal therapy (PTT) follow two important aims: (i) selective targeting of plasmonic nanoparticles to the tumor and (ii) real-time guidance of PTT operation through employing multimodal imaging modalities. In the present study, we utilized a multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform constructed from iron (III) oxide–gold (Fe 2 O 3 @Au) core–shell nanoparticles to fulfill these aims. The Au shell exhibits surface plasmon resonance, a property that is exploited to realize PTT. The magnetic core enables Fe 2 O 3 @Au to be employed as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. Furthermore, the magnetic core has the potential to establish a magnetic drug targeting strategy through which Fe 2 O 3 @Au can be directed to the tumor site by means of magnetic field. To test these potentials, Balb/c mice bearing CT26 colorectal tumor model were intravenously injected with Fe 2 O 3 @Au. Immediately after injection, a magnet was placed on the tumor site for 3 h to concentrate nanoparticles, followed by the near infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. MRI study confirmed the accumulation of nanoparticles within the tumor due to T2 enhancement capability of Fe 2 O 3 @Au. The in vivo thermometry results demonstrated that the tumors in magnetic targeting group had a significantly higher temperature elevation rate upon NIR irradiation than non-targeted group (~ 12 °C vs. 8.5 °C). The in vivo antitumor assessment revealed that systemic injection of Fe 2 O 3 @Au in combination with magnetic targeting and NIR irradiation resulted in complete remission of tumor growth. Therefore, Fe 2 O 3 @Au can establish a targeted PTT strategy for efficient eradication of tumor cells under the guidance of MRI.