Step-by-Step Design of New Theranostic Nanoformulations: Multifunctional Nanovectors for Radio-Chemo-Hyperthermic Therapy under Physical Targeting

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 26; no. 15; p. 4591
• Main Authors: Ansari, Shoeb Anwar, Ficiarà, Eleonora, D’Agata, Federico, Cavalli, Roberta, Nasi, Lucia, Casoli, Francesca, Albertini, Franca, Guiot, Caterina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 29-07-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Body temperature; Cancer therapies; Central nervous system; Chemotherapy; Curcumin; Doxorubicin; Drug development; Drugs; Fever; Hemoglobin; Hyperthermia; Hypoxia; Iron oxides; magnetic driving; Magnetic fields; Magnetic resonance imaging; Microscopy; Nanoparticles; nanostructure; oxygen; Perfluorocarbons; Radiation therapy; Radiosensitizers; Respiratory distress syndrome; SPIONs; Synergistic effect; theranostic; Transplants & implants; Tumors; United States > US
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules26154591

While investigating the possible synergistic effect of the conventional anticancer therapies, which, taken individually, are often ineffective against critical tumors, such as central nervous system (CNS) ones, the design of a theranostic nanovector able to carry and deliver chemotherapy drugs and magnetic hyperthermic agents to the target radiosensitizers (oxygen) was pursued. Alongside the original formulation of polymeric biodegradable oxygen-loaded nanostructures, their properties were fine-tuned to optimize their ability to conjugate therapeutic doses of drugs (doxorubicin) or antitumoral natural substances (curcumin). Oxygen-loaded nanostructures (diameter = 251 ± 13 nm, ζ potential = −29 ± 5 mV) were finally decorated with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs, diameter = 18 ± 3 nm, ζ potential = 14 ± 4 mV), producing stable, effective and non-agglomerating magnetic nanovectors (diameter = 279 ± 17 nm, ζ potential = −18 ± 7 mV), which could potentially target the tumoral tissues under magnetic driving and are monitorable either by US or MRI imaging.