Theranostics for hepatocellular carcinoma with Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposites. (2nd November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Haijun; Patel, Nishant; Ding, Shuang; Xiong, Jian; Wu, Pingping
• Is Part Of: Biomaterials science. Volume 4:Number 2(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2015-11-02
• Subjects: Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1039/c5bm00361j
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-4830

Abstract

Abstract : An Fe3 O4 @ZnO/Dox/TfR Ab was designed and synthesized as a theranostic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma, allowing for a targeted drug delivery with concurrent chemoradiotherapy and visual MRI evaluation of the therapeutic effect. Abstract : The purpose of the current study is to investigate Fe3 O4 @ZnO nanocomposites as theranostic agents for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Initially, the transferrin receptor antibody (TfR Ab) functionalized Fe3 O4 @ZnO nanocomposites, followed by loading with doxorubicin (Dox) and denoted as Fe3 O4 @ZnO/Dox/TfR Ab, were prepared as an all-in-one system allowing for a targeted drug delivery with simultaneous concurrent chemoradiotherapy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring. The diagnostic and therapeutic functionalities for HCC were evaluated in vitro and in a murine orthotopic models using cell viability assays, cell cycle tests, histopathological examinations, and serum biochemistry tests. The results demonstrated that Fe3 O4 @ZnO/Dox/TfR Ab could deliver Dox into the targeted HCC SMMC-7721 cells to enhance its chemotherapeutic efficiency. Besides, with the addition of short term and low dose X-ray illumination, the Fe3 O4 @ZnO nanocomposites showed excellent radiosensitizer properties, further attacking the cancer cells. Tumor cells were also mostly arrested at G2/M, resulting in a distinct inhibition of cell proliferation. In vivo, after the treatment, a noninvasive visualization monitoring through MRI showed that tumor growth was significantly suppressed by the targeted chemoradiotherapy mediated by Fe3 O4 @ZnO/Dox/TfR Ab. Therefore, Fe3 O4 @ZnO nanocomposites could mediate the theranostic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma.