靶向纳米探针介导的近红外激光热疗

肿瘤靶向治疗的研究是当今生物医学界的研究热点.本研究采用整合素αvβ3单克隆抗体作为肿瘤靶向分子,以单壁碳纳米管(SWNT)作为运输载体,同时利用单壁碳纳米管在近红外区的光吸收特性,开展靶向肿瘤光热治疗.实验结果表明,这种整合素αvβ3单抗标记的碳纳米管探针对高表达αvβ3的U87MG细胞具有高靶向选择性和靶向光杀伤性...     

基于有限元仿真定量探究贵金属纳米探针自组装诱导的非线性光声效应增强机制

构建高转化效率的功能纳米探针是推动光声分子成像发展的关键。随着光声分子成像技术的发展,具有非线性增强光声转换效率的自组装纳米探针逐渐成为研究热点,然而有关其非线性增强的定量研究尚未见报道。本文以纳米金球为例,利用有限元仿真定量探究金属纳米探针自组装诱导的非线性光热及光声效应,揭示自组装纳米探针光声效应增强规律,为构建具备高转换效率的光声自组装纳米探针奠定了理论基础。     

RGD/FA双靶纳米金棒的制备及其在肿瘤细胞协同靶向成像与光热治疗中的应用

目的:通过制备RGD/FA双靶纳米金考察其与高表达整合素与叶酸受体B16细胞的协同靶向成像与热疗作用;方法:采用功能化PEG分子将靶向小分子RGD与叶酸通过强健Au-S键连接至纳米金棒表面,利用激光共聚焦与808 nm近红外激光器评价修饰纳米金的协同靶向作用;结果:RGD与叶酸分子被成功连接于纳米金表面,且双靶纳米金对小鼠黑色素瘤细胞具有较好的协同靶向作用;结论:同时靶向同一肿瘤细胞的不同表位,可克服单一靶向功能化纳米粒子难以在肿瘤位点有效积累的问题,本研究为多功能纳米金棒在临床肿瘤早期诊断与光热治疗中的应用提供研究基础。     

基于有限元计算定量探究金纳米粒子光声转换效率的尺寸依赖性

具备高光吸收能力和良好的生物相容性的等离子纳米探针在光声分子成像中得到了广泛应用。理论分析发现,由于纳米探针的小尺寸效应,其比表面积急剧增大,致使其光、热性质及光声能量转换机制对尺寸具有强烈依赖性。本文利用有限元分析的方法,以金纳米球和金纳米棒为例,定量讨论了浸没在水中具有不同尺寸的纳米探针在受到脉冲激光照射时的光学吸收、温度场分布及热膨胀随时间演绎的过程,并获得了尺寸在20-150 nm范围内探针光声转换效率对尺寸的依赖关系。结果表明:纳米探针的光-声转换效率对尺寸有较强的依赖性,金纳米球和金纳米棒在20-150 nm范围内均存在最佳尺寸使得光声转换效率最大。定量评价金纳米粒子光声转换效率的尺寸效应为指导通过优化纳米探针尺寸实现构建高效率光声探针提供了理论依据。     

叶酸受体靶向的金纳米棒用于细胞内光声成像

目的 分子成像技术具有“早期检测”的特点,由于分子水平上的畸变早于解剖水平上的变化。本研究采用细胞内光声分子成像（PMI）方法,对靶向到癌细胞上的叶酸-金纳米棒（FA-AuNRs）精确定位成像。方法 本文合成了FA-AuNRs,并对其性质包括形貌、吸收光谱和生物相容性进行了研究。修饰叶酸赋予FA-AuNRs特异性靶向到叶酸受体高表达癌细胞的能力。然后,通过PMI实验研究FA-AuNRs对癌细胞的靶向特异性。结果 FA-AuNRs呈棒状,在~800 nm处有一近红外吸收峰。在癌细胞的细胞质中观察到强光声信号,而在正常细胞中只有弱光声信号,表明FA-AuNRs通过叶酸受体介导的内吞作用被癌细胞选择性摄取。这项研究证明了PMI能够实现对靶向到癌细胞上的FA-AuNRs精确定位成像。结论 借助特异性靶向作用,可以通过PMI获得癌细胞表面分子信息。该方法有望实现在细胞和分子水平上对生物过程进行可视化、表征和量化。     

纳米粒子在肝癌靶向治疗中的应用研究进展

增强抗癌药物对癌细胞的选择性、降低其毒副作用及提高疗效一直是肝癌治疗领域一项重要的研究课题,纳米药物载体的研究有望解决这些问题。目前纳米粒子在肝癌靶向治疗中的应用研究集中于被动靶向治疗、主动靶向治疗、基因治疗、栓塞化疗及纳米粒子的直接治疗作用等方面。     

叶酸受体介导的硼中子俘获疗法治疗无功能垂体腺瘤细胞

侵袭性无功能垂体腺瘤手术很难全部切除,且术后经常复发.目前临床上尚无有效药物能控制肿瘤生长.虽然放疗对肿瘤生长有一定抑制作用,但常常导致严重的并发症.硼中子俘获疗法是一种新型的二元靶向放射疗法,能最大程度杀伤肿瘤细胞而对正常组织损伤较小.叶酸受体靶向的含硼碳纳米颗粒是一种新型的硼携带剂,能通过叶酸受体介导的细胞内吞作用被表达叶酸受体的细胞选择性摄取.本实验中,叶酸受体靶向的含硼碳纳米颗粒能选择性地被表达叶酸受体的无功能垂体腺瘤细胞摄取,而无叶酸受体表达的其他类型垂体腺瘤细胞不能摄取这些碳纳米颗粒.叶酸受体介导的硼中子俘获疗法治疗后,无功能垂体腺瘤细胞的细胞活力显著下降,同时凋亡细胞显著增加.而单独的碳纳米颗粒孵育,或单独的热中子照射,并不能抑制肿瘤细胞活力或促进细胞凋亡.同时,叶酸受体介导的硼中子俘获治疗能导致肿瘤细胞中Bcl-2的表达显著下降和Bax的表达显著增强.综上所述,叶酸受体靶向的含硼碳纳米颗粒为无功能垂体腺瘤的BNCT治疗提供了比较理想的硼携带剂.本研究也为侵袭性无功能垂体腺瘤的治疗提供了新的思路,同时拓展了BNCT的应用,尤其是在良性肿瘤中的应用.     

量子点光学成像技术在肿瘤诊断和治疗的应用

纳米技术在生物医学的进展使其在肿瘤的诊治中应用日益广泛。荧光纳米粒子中的量子点(Quantum Dots),具备光学成像特性在肿瘤中应用中显示出独特的优势。其作为一种荧光半导体纳米粒子,具有荧光强度高、稳定性强、激发波谱宽、发射波谱窄等光学特性。同时,它可以结合其他功能基团,包括靶向模式、治疗因素和成像探针,为临床肿瘤诊断和治疗提供了新的潜力。本文就量子点的类型和特点及量子点的肿瘤体外和体内成像进行综述。     

窄等离子体吸收谱线宽度的纳米金锥用于光声成像

无损光声成像技术结合了纯光学成像高选择特性和纯超声成像中深穿透特性的优点,克服了光散射限制,实现了对活体深层组织的高分辨、高对比度成像。该成像技术对内源物质例如脱氧血红蛋白、含氧血红蛋白、黑色素、脂质等进行成像,提供了活体生物组织结构和功能信息,已经在生物医学领域表现出巨大的应用前景。然而,很多与病理过程相关的特征分子的光吸收能力较弱,在活体环境中难以被光声成像系统所识别,从而限制了光声成像技术的应用范围。基于功能纳米探针的光声成像-光声分子成像极大拓展光声成像的应用范围,可以在活体层面对病理过程进行分子水平的定性和定量研究,将为实现目标疾病的早期诊断提供强大的技术支持。本文发展在近红外具有窄吸收线宽(半高宽仅为60 nm)的纳米金锥作为新型的光声探针。通过选择不同径长比的纳米金锥,可以任意调节纳米金锥的吸收峰。通过调谐激光器的波长,可实现对不同吸收峰纳米金锥的选择性激发。纳米金锥将有可能用于多光谱光声成像,实现对不同靶标的目标分子探测。     

胃癌血管靶向肽GX1修饰的人血清白蛋白用于胃癌近红外活体成像

目的:以肿瘤血管靶向肽GX1修饰的人血清白蛋白(HSA)作为吲哚菁绿(ICG)的载体,合成近红外荧光探针GX1-HSA-ICG,研究其作为近红外荧光探针在荷人胃癌裸鼠活体中的靶向成像能力。方法:以HSA作为ICG的载体,通过化学修饰与GX1共价连接,合成GX1-HSA-ICG纳米颗粒探针;使用SDS-PAGE对探针合成进行鉴定;采用探针与脐静脉内皮细胞HUVEC以及与肿瘤细胞共培养的脐静脉内皮细胞Co-HUVEC进行结合和竞争抑制试验,验证探针和Co-HUVEC细胞结合的特异性;利用小动物活体成像系统对皮下荷胃癌小鼠进行近红外荧光活体成像,验证探针在体内的胃癌靶向性。结果:成功合成GX1-HSA-ICG。细胞结合与竞争抑制实验显示GX1-HSA-ICG可与Co-HUVEC细胞特异性结合;荷瘤小鼠活体成像也显示出GX1-HSA-ICG较ICG有更长体内的循环时间,并且胃癌组织局部较HSA-ICG有更强的聚集。结论:本研究成功合成了胃癌血管靶向肽GX1修饰的HSA为荧光染料载体的胃癌血管靶向探针,成功对荷胃癌裸鼠进行了活体成像。使用HSA为载体的探针较单纯使用ICG的肿瘤局部滞留能力显著提高,GX1增加了探针的胃癌靶向特异性。该探针在胃癌的早期诊断和抗肿瘤血管生成治疗评估中具有潜在的应用价值。     

Targeted gadolinium-loaded dendrimer nanoparticles for tumor-specific magnetic resonance contrast enhancement

A target-specific MRI contrast agent for tumor cells expressing high affinity folate receptor was synthesized using generation five (G5) ofpolyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer. Surface modified dendrimer was functionalized for targeting with folic acid (FA) and the remaining terminal primary amines of the dendrimer were conjugated with the bifunctional NCS-DOTA chelator that forms stable complexes with gadolinium (Gd III). Dendrimer-DOTA conjugates were then complexed with GdCl3 followed by ICP-OES as well as MRI measurement of their longitudinal relaxivity (T1 s(-1) mM(-1)) of water. In xenograft tumors established in immunodeficient (SCID) mice with KB human epithelial cancer cells expressing folate receptor (FAR), the 3D MRI results showed specific and statistically significant signal enhancement in tumors generated with targeted Gd(III)-DOTA-G5-FA compared with signal generated by non-targeted Gd(III)-DOTA-G5 contrast nanoparticle. The targeted dendrimer contrast nanoparticles infiltrated tumor and were retained in tumor cells up to 48 hours post-injection of targeted contrast nanoparticle. The presence of folic acid on the dendrimer resulted in specific delivery of the nanoparticle to tissues and xenograft tumor cells expressing folate receptor in vivo. We present the specificity of the dendrimer nanoparticles for targeted cancer imaging with the prolonged clearance time compared with the current clinically approved gadodiamide (Omniscan) contrast agent. Potential application of this approach may include determination of the folate receptor status of tumors and monitoring of drug therapy.     

Folic acid conjugates with photosensitizers for cancer targeting in photodynamic therapy: Synthesis and photophysical properties

Recent researches in photodynamic therapy have focused on novel techniques to enhance tumour targeting of anticancer drugs and photosensitizers. Coupling a photosensitizer with folic acid could allow more effective targeting of folate receptors which are over-expressed on the surface of many tumour cells. In this study, different folic acid–OEG-conjugated photosensitizers were synthesized, characterized and their photophysical properties were evaluated. The introduction of an OEG does not significantly improve the hydrophilicity of the FA–porphyrin. All the FA-targeted photosensitizers present good to very good photophysical properties. The best one appears to be Ce6. Molar extinction coefficient, fluorescence and singlet oxygen quantum yields were determined and were compared to the corresponding photosensitizer alone.     

Pteroyl-gamma-glutamate-cysteine synthesis and its application in folate receptor-mediated cancer cell targeting using folate-tethered liposomes

Cell membrane-associated folate receptors are selectively overexpressed in certain human tumors. The high affinity of folic acid for folate receptors provides a unique opportunity to use folic acid as a targeting ligand to deliver chemotherapeutic agents to cancer cells. Folate-tethered liposomes bearing pteroyl-gamma-glutamate-cysteine-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) as the targeting component are under investigation as mediators of drug and gene delivery to cancer cells that overexpress folate receptors. Pteroyl-gamma-glutamate-cysteine synthesis is one of the crucial starting steps in the preparation of pteroyl-gamma-glutamate-cysteine-PEG-DSPE. However, published methods for the synthesis of pteroyl-gamma-glutamate-cysteine provide low yields and are not easily reproducible. Therefore, we developed a modified synthetic method for the removal of the N(10)-trifluoroacetyl group after cleavage/deprotection that is reliable, is easily reproducible, and has high yield (38%) compared with an unreliable yield of 3-20% with the earlier methods. Folate-tethered liposomes containing calcein or doxorubicin were prepared using pteroyl-gamma-glutamate-cysteine-PEG-DSPE as the targeting component along with nontargeted liposomes with PEG-DSPE. The results of the uptake of calcein and cytotoxicity of doxorubicin in human cervical cancer HeLa-IU(1) cells and human colon cancer Caco-2 cells demonstrated that folate-tethered liposomes were efficient in selective delivery to cancer cells overexpressing folate receptors. The improvement in yield of the targeting component can significantly facilitate "scale up" of folate receptor-mediated liposomal cancer therapy to the preclinical and clinical levels of investigations.     

Engineering tumor-targeted gadolinium hexanedione nanoparticles for potential application in neutron capture therapy

Microemulsions (oil-in-water) have been employed as templates to engineer nanoparticles containing high concentrations of gadolinium for potential application in neutron capture therapy of tumors. Gadolinium hexanedione (GdH), synthesized by complexation of Gd(3+) with 2,4-hexanedione, was used as the nanoparticle matrix alone or in combination with either emulsifying wax or PEG-400 monostearate. Solid nanoparticles (<125 nm size) were obtained by simple cooling of the microemulsions prepared at 60 degrees C to room temperature in one vessel. The feasibility of tumor targeting via folate receptors was studied. A folate ligand was synthesized by chemically linking folic acid to distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) via a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG; MW 3350) spacer. To obtain folate-coated nanoparticles, the folate ligand (0.75% w/w to 15% w/w) was added to either the microemulsion templates at 60 degrees C or nanoparticle suspensions at 25 degrees C. Efficiencies of folate ligand attachment/adsorption to nanoparticle formulations were monitored by gel permeation chromatography. Cell uptake studies were carried out in KB cells (human nasopharyngeal epidermal carcinoma cell line), known to overexpress folate receptors. The uptake of folate-coated nanoparticles was about 10-fold higher than uncoated nanoparticles after 30 min at 37 degrees C. The uptake of folate-coated nanoparticles at 4 degrees C was 20-fold lower than the uptake at 37 degrees C and comparable to the uptake of uncoated nanoparticles at 37 degrees C. Folate-mediated endocytosis was further verified by the inhibition of folate-coated nanoparticles uptake by free folic acid. It was observed that folate-coated nanoparticles uptake decreased to approximately 2% of its initial value with the coincubation of 0.001 mM of free folic acid. The results suggested that these tumor-targeted nanoparticles containing high concentrations of Gd may have potential for neutron capture therapy.     

GSH-responsive anti-mitotic cell penetrating peptide-linked podophyllotoxin conjugate for improving water solubility and targeted synergistic drug delivery

Podophyllotoxin (PPT) is a chemotherapeutic agent which has shown significant anti-cancer effects through inhibiting microtubule assembly. However, because of the poor water solubility and obvious side effects, PPT cannot be used in clinical cancer therapy. In order to solve these problems, a novel glutathione-responsive PPT conjugate has been synthesized in which PPT was linked to an anti-mitotic cell penetrating peptide (PRA) via a disulfide linkage. In particular, the as-prepared PPT-PRA conjugate can self-assemble into vesicle in water, furthermore, another anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin was chosen as an example) can be loaded in the vesicle for synergistic drug delivery. For better cancer cells targeting, the vesicle was then modified with folic acid (FA). The results indicated that the as-prepared FA modified drug-loaded vesicle not only could overcome the poor water solubility and side effects of PPT but also exhibited targeted toxicity and synergistic therapeutic effect.     

Targeting amino acid metabolism in cancer growth and anti-tumor immune response

Recent advances in amino acid metabolism have revealed that targeting amino acid metabolic enzymes in cancer therapy is a promising strategy for the development of novel therapeutic agents. There are currently several drugs in clinical trials that specifically target amino acid metabolic pathways in tumor cells. In the context of the tumor microenvironment,however,tumor cells form metabolic relationships with immune cells,and they oftencompete for common nutrients. Many tumors evolved to escape immune surveillance by taking advantage of their metabolic flexibility and redirecting nutrients for their own advantage. This review outlines the most recent advances in targeting amino acid metabolic pathways in cancer therapy while giving consideration to the impact these pathways may have on the anti-tumor immune response.     

Simulation Studies of Photoacoustic Response from Gold-Silica Core-Shell Nanoparticles

Metal nanoparticles especially of noble metals are used as an exogenous contrast agent for biomedical photoacoustic (PA) imaging in the tissue transmission window extending from visible to near infrared 700–1100 nm band. Different geometrical configurations of gold and silver nanoparticles like spherical core-shell, nanorod, and nanocages are promising candidates for thermoplasmonics, photothermal therapy, photothermal imaging, and photoacoustic imaging. In the current study, we simulated the photoacoustic response of gold and silica core-shell nanoparticle in water medium. Finite element simulations were carried out to study the spectral absorption response and effect of nanosecond laser pulse excitation on the spatial/temporal temperature as well as photoacoustic pressure variations of different core-shell geometry of nanoparticle. We have optimized the dimensions of gold nanosphere, gold-silica, and silica-gold core-shell geometries for optimum photoacoustic conversion efficiency. Further, the effect of shell thickness on the pulse photoacoustic signals for core-shell gold-silica and silica-gold nanoparticle has been studied. We concluded that silica-gold core-shell nanoparticles possess better photoacoustic conversion efficiency in comparison to gold nanosphere and gold-silica core-shell geometries. The prime aim of this study is to design efficient nano-probes for photoacoustic imaging, photoacoustic tomography, photothermal therapy, and drug delivery.     

Dual-targeting multifunctional hyaluronic acid ligand-capped gold nanorods with enhanced endo-lysosomal escape ability for synergetic photodynamic–photothermal therapy of cancer

Au nanorods (AuNRs) have attracted considerable interest as drug delivery systems because of their enhanced cell internalization and stronger drug-loading ability. In addition, the incorporation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) into one nanosystem presents great promise to defect multiple drawbacks in cancer therapy. Herein, we fabricated a multifunctional and dual-targeting nanoplatform based on hyaluronic acid-grafted-(mPEG/triethylenetetramine-conjugated-lipoic acid/tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin/folic acid) polymer ligand capped AuNRs (AuNRs@HA-g-(mPEG/Teta-co-(LA/TCPP/FA)) for combined photodynamic–photothermal therapy of cancer. The prepared nanoparticles displayed high TCPP loading capacity and excellent stability in different biological media. Furthermore, AuNRs@HA-g-(mPEG/Teta-co-(LA/TCPP/FA)) not only could produce a localized hyperthermia to conduct PTT, but also generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen (¹O₂) to perform PDT under laser irradiation. Confocal imaging results disclosed that this nanoparticle endowing the specific function of polymeric ligand could enhance cellular uptake, accelerate endo/lysosomal escape, as well as produce higher reactive oxygen species. Importantly, this combination therapy strategy could also induce higher anticancer potential than PDT or PTT only against MCF-7 tumor cells in vitro. Therefore, this work presented an AuNRs-based therapeutic nanoplatform with great potential in dual-targeting and photo-induced combination therapy of cancer.     

靶向肿瘤治疗的腺相关病毒载体

靶向性是肿瘤治疗取得成功的关键因素。病毒载体用于治疗肿瘤的过程中必须要求特异性作用于肿瘤细胞的同时降低对正常细胞的毒性。腺相关病毒(adeno-associated virus,AAV)较其他病毒载体具有免疫原性小、宿主范围广和介导基因可长期表达等优点,因此得到了广泛的应用。然而,AAV载体针对肿瘤的靶向性一直是近年研究的热点和难点。现就AAV载体治疗肿瘤的概况和靶向策略以及其安全性等方面作一综述。