Hyaluronic Acid-Modified and Doxorubicin-Loaded Au Nanorings for Dual-Responsive and Dual-Imaging Guided Targeted Synergistic Photothermal Chemotherapy Against Pancreatic Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic carcinoma (PC) is a highly malignant digestive tumor. Nanotechnology-based minimally invasive techniques have been proposed to provide a new opportunity for PC treatment.

METHODS

A minimally invasive nanoplatform (named HA/DOX-AuNRs) is fabricated by HA modifying and DOX loading Au nanorings (AuNR). Because of their complicated geometric structure and tunable localized surface plasmon resonance peak in the second near-infrared laser window (NIR-II window), HA/DOX-AuNRs exhibit fluorescence/photoacoustic and photothermal properties, dual-responsive DOX release, and tumor-targeting ability. HA/DOX-AuNRs are expected to improve the tumor therapeutic efficiency and reduce undesirable side effects through fluorescence/photoacoustic dual-imaging guided targeted synergetic photothermal chemotherapy under NIR-II irradiation.

RESULTS

The morphological and physicochemical properties of HA/DOX-AuNRs are well-examined at first. The cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and in vitro therapeutic effect of fluorescence/photoacoustic dual-imaging guided targeted synergetic photothermal chemotherapy are evaluated in Panc-1 cells. The in vivo biodistribution, anticancer effects, and systemic toxicity are investigated using PC xenograft models.

DISCUSSION

HA/DOX-AuNRs significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy in a dual-responsive and dual-imaging guided targeted synergy.