Lanthanide-Doped SPIONs Bioconjugation with Trastuzumab for Potential Multimodal Anticancer Activity and Magnetic Hyperthermia.

Iron oxide-based nanoparticles have been modified in their core with holmium(III) in an amount affecting only slightly their magnetic properties. Nanoparticles were conjugated covalently with biomolecule of trastuzumab (Herceptin), the monoclonal antibody that recognizes cancer cells overexpressing HER2 receptors targeting such nanoparticles to the specified tumor tissues. Systematic studies of Ho-doped bioconjugates were carried out as a preliminary step for future replacement of 'cold' Ho with Ho radionuclide, emitting 'soft' beta(-) radiation for possible targeted radionuclide therapy. Physicochemical properties of the obtained bioconjugates were subsequently tested for use in magnetic hyperthermia, considered as an effective, low-invasiveness anticancer therapy. With such a system we expect to achieve both: active targeting and multimodal action by simultaneous internal and localized irradiation and magnetic hyperthermia of specific cancers.