Biocompatible chitosan-carbon nanocage hybrids for sustained drug release and highly efficient laser and microwave co-irradiation induced cancer therapy. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Yuliang; Chen, Yang; Han, Pomchol; Liu, Yuxiong; Li, Wenhao; Zhu, Fangliang; Fu, Kai; Chu, Maoquan
• Is Part Of: Acta biomaterialia. Volume 103(2020)
• Page Start: 237
• Page End: 246
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Graphitic carbon nanocages -- Low cytotoxicity -- Sustained drug release -- Laser microwave co-irradiation -- Cancer therapy; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.12.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-7061

Abstract

Abstract: Graphitic carbon nanocages (GCNCs) are unique graphene-based nanomaterials that can be used for cancer photothermal therapy (PTT). However, low toxicity GCNC-based organic/inorganic hybrid biomaterials for microwave irradiation assisted PTT have not yet been reported. In the present study, chitosan (CS)-coated GCNCs (CS-GCNCs) loaded with 5- fluorouracil ( 5Fu) were used for cancer therapy when activated by 808-nm laser and microwave co-irradiation. The cytotoxicity of GCNCs was significantly reduced after coating with CS. For example, fewer cell-cycle defects were caused by CS-GCNCs in comparison with non-coated GCNCs. The release rate of 5Fu from CS-GCNCs was significantly slower than that of 5Fu from GCNCs, providing sustained release. The release rate could be accelerated by 808-nm laser and microwave co-irradiation. The 5Fu in CS-GCNCs retained high cancer cell killing bioactivity by enhancing the caspase-3 expression level. The cancer cell killing and tumor inhibition efficiencies of the 5Fu-loaded nanomaterials increased significantly under 808-nm laser and microwave co-irradiation. The strong cell killing and tumor ablation activities were due to the synergy of the enhanced GCNC thermal effect caused by laser and microwave co-irradiation and the chemotherapy of 5Fu. Our research opens a door for the development of drug-loaded GCNC-based nano-biomaterials for chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy with the assistance of microwave irradiation. Statement of Significance: Graphitic carbon nanocages (GCNCs) are graphene-based nanomaterials that can be used for both drug loading and cancer photothermal therapy (PTT). Herein, we showed that chitosan (CS)-GCNCs hybrid biomaterials had very low cytotoxicity, high ability for loading drug, and exhibited sustained drug release. In particular, although low-power microwaves alone are unable to trigger cancer cell damage by GCNCs, the cell killing and mouse tumor inhibition efficiencies were significantly improved by near-infrared (NIR) laser and microwave co-irradiation compared with laser-triggered PTT alone. This combined use of laser and microwave co-irradiation promises essential therapeutic modality and opens a new avenue for PTT. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract