Proton pump inhibitor-enhanced nanocatalytic ferroptosis induction for stimuli-responsive dual-modal molecular imaging guided cancer radiosensitization.

Although radiotherapeutic efficiency has been revealed to be positively correlated with ferroptosis, the neutral/alkaline cytoplasm pH value of tumor cells remains an intrinsic challenge for efficient Fenton/Fenton-like reaction-based ferroptosis induction. Herein, PEGylated hollow mesoporous organosilica nanotheranostics (HMON)-GOx@MnO2 nanoparticles (HGMP NPs) were designed as a ferroptosis inducer, which could specifically release Mn2+ in tumor cells to activate the Fenton-like reaction for ferroptosis induction. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were synchronously administered for cytoplasm pH level regulation by inhibiting V-H+-ATPases activity, enhancing Fenton-like reaction-based ferroptosis induction. Moreover, reactive oxygen species production was facilitated via the glucose oxidase triggered cascade catalytic reaction by utilizing intracellular ß-D-glucose for H2O2 self-supply and generation of additional cytoplasm H+. The PPI enhanced ferroptosis inducing nanosystem effectively inhibited tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo for tumor-specific ferroptosis induction and radiotherapy sensitization, suggesting that PPI administration could be an efficient adjuvant to reinforce Fenton/Fenton-like reaction-based ferroptosis induction for radiosensitization. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The cytoplasm pH value of tumor cells is typically neutral to alkaline, which is higher than that of the Fenton/Fenton-like reaction desired acidic environments, hindering its efficiency. In this study, PEGylated hollow mesoporous organosilica nanotheranostics (HMON)-GOx@MnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized as a ferroptosis inducer, which could specifically release Mn2+ via depleting glutathione and then activate the Fenton-like reaction in the tumor microenvironment. The glucose oxidase was applied for H2O2 self-supply and addition of cytoplasm H+ to further boost the Fenton-like reaction. We found that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increased intracellular acidification by inhibiting the activity of V-H+-ATPases to enhance the Fenton reaction-based ferroptosis induction, suggesting PPIs administration could be a feasible strategy to reinforce ferroptosis induction for radiosensitization.

Functionalized Au@Cu-Sb-S Nanoparticles for Spectral CT/Photoacoustic Imaging-Guided Synergetic Photo-Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy (RT) is clinically well-established cancer treatment. However, radioresistance remains a significant issue associated with failure of RT. Phototherapy-induced radiosensitization has recently attracted attention in translational cancer research. METHODS: Cu-Sb-S nanoparticles (NPs) coated with ultra-small Au nanocrystals (Au@Cu-Sb-S) were synthesized and characterized. The biosafety profiles, absorption of near-infrared (NIR) laser and radiation-enhancing effect of the NPs were evaluated. In vitro and in vivo spectral computed tomography (CT) imaging and photoacoustic (PA) imaging were performed in 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mice. The synergetic radio-phototherapy was assessed by in vivo tumor inhibition studies. RESULTS: Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs were prepared by in situ growth of Au NCs on the surface of Cu-Sb-S NPs. The cell viability experiments showed that the combination of Au@Cu-Sb-S+NIR+RT was significantly more cytotoxic to tumor cells than the other treatments at concentrations above 25 ppm Sb. In vitro and in vivo spectral CT imaging demonstrated that the X-ray attenuation ability of Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs was superior to that of the clinically used Iodine, particularly at lower KeV levels. Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs showed a concentration-dependent and remarkable PA signal brightening effect. In vivo tumor inhibition studies showed that the prepared Au@Cu-Sb-S NPs significantly suppressed tumor growth in 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mice treated with NIR laser irradiation and an intermediate X-ray dose (4 Gy). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Au@Cu-Sb-S integrated with spectral CT, PA imaging, and phototherapy-enhanced radiosensitization is a promising multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform for clinical applications.

Multifunctional NIR-responsive poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-Cu-Sb-S nanotheranostic agent for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal/photodynamic therapy.

Ternary copper-based chalcogenide nanomaterials have become rather attractive due to the near-infrared (NIR) response in cancer theranostic fields. However, it is still challenging to further improve the theranostic efficiency of these nanomaterials. Herein, Cu-Sb-S nanoparticles (NPs) around 24 nm are synthesized facilely and functionalized with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Under the NIR irradiation, the resultant PVP-Cu-Sb-S NPs exhibit a relatively high photothermal conversion efficiency of 53.16% and a simultaneous reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation effect. Due to these outstanding photothermal/photodynamic effects, excellent tumor ablation results can be achieved by the combination of PVP-Cu-Sb-S NPs and 808 nm NIR laser treatments without obvious side effect. In addition, they show remarkable contrast enhancement according to in vitro and in vivo photoacoustic (PA) imaging. These PVP-Cu-Sb-S NPs could be served as a multifunctional nanotheranostic agent for PA imaging, photothermal/photodynamic cancer therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Highly theranostic efficiency ternary copper-based chalcogenide nanomaterials has not been fully developed yet. Herein we report the PVP-Cu-Sb-S nanoparticles (NPs) with relatively high photothermal efficiency, simultaneous reactive oxygen species generation effect and photoacoustic imaging capability. The photothermal conversion efficiency of PVP-Cu-Sb-S NPs is higher than most of copper-based chalcogenide nanomaterials reported before. These findings provide a new kind of ternary copper-based chalcogenide with an enhanced theranostic effect, which could be served as a promising multifunctional nanotheranostic agent in the field of biomedical application.