In vitro photothermal therapy of pancreatic cancer mediated by immunoglobulin G-functionalized silver nanoparticles

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 14417 - 9
• Main Authors: Nedelcu, Andreea, Mocan, Teodora, Sabau, Lavinia Ioana, Matea, Cristian Tudor, Tabaran, Flaviu, Pop, Teodora, Delcea, Cristian, Mosteanu, Ofelia, Mocan, Lucian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 22-06-2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/154/433; 631/61; 631/61/350; 631/61/350/354; 692/4028/67/1059/153; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Caspase 3 - metabolism; Caspase-3; Cell Line, Tumor; Confocal microscopy; Flow cytometry; Golgi apparatus; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; multidisciplinary; Nanoparticles; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology; Pancreatic Neoplasms - therapy; Phototherapy - methods; Photothermal Therapy - methods; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Silver; Silver - chemistry; Silver nanoparticles; Treatment; Tumor cell lines; Treatment; Pancreatic cancer; Immunoglobulin G; Silver nanoparticles
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63142-4

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, and treatment options are limited. One therapeutic approach is to use nanoparticles to deliver the active agent directly to pancreatic cancer cells. Nanoparticles can be designed to specifically target cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Silver nanoparticles have the unique ability to absorb light, especially in the near-infrared (NIR) region. In this study, silver nanoparticles functionalized with IgG molecules were synthesized and administered to pancreatic cancer cell lines. Subsequently, the cells were photo-excited using a 2 W 808 nm laser and further examined in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy combined with immunochemical staining were used to examine the interaction between photo-excited silver nanoparticles and pancreatic cancer cells. The photothermal therapy based on IgG-functionalized silver nanoparticles in pancreatic cancer induces dysfunction in the Golgi apparatus, leading to the activation of the caspase-3 apoptotic pathway and ultimately resulting in cellular apoptosis. These findings suggest that our proposed IgG nanoparticle laser treatment could emerge as a novel approach for the therapy of pancreatic cancer.