Background: Pancreatic cancer is regarded as one of the most lethal types of tumor in the world, and optional way to treat the tumor are urgently needed. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a key role in the occurrence and development of pancreatic tumors. CD133 is a specific antigen for targeting the pancreatic CSCs subpopulation. Previous studies have shown that CSC-targeted therapy is effective in inhibiting tumorigenesis and transmission. However, CD133 targeted therapy combined with HIFU for pancreatic cancer is absent.
Purpose: To improve therapeutic efficiency and minimize side effects, we carry a potent combination of CSCs antibody with synergist by an effective and visualized delivery nanocarrier to pancreatic cancer.
Materials and Methods: Multifunctional CD133-targeted nanovesicles (CD133-grafted Cy5.5/PFOB@P-HVs) with encapsulated perfluorooctyl bromide (PFOB) in a 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) shell modified with poly ethylene glycol (PEG) and superficially modified with CD133 and Cy 5.5 were constructed following the prescribed order. The nanovesicles were characterized for the biological and chemical characteristics feature. We explored the specific targeting capacity in vitro and the therapeutic effect in vivo.
Results: The in vitro targeting experiment and in vivo FL and ultrasonic experiments showed the aggregation of CD133-grafted Cy5.5/PFOB@P-HVs around CSCs. In vivo FL imaging experiments demonstrated that the nanovesicles assemble for the highest concentration in the tumor at 24 h after administration. Under HIFU irradiation, the synergistic efficacy of the combination of the CD133-targeting carrier and HIFU for tumor treatment was obvious.
Conclusion: CD133-grafted Cy5.5/PFOB@P-HVs combined with HIFU irradiation could enhance the tumor treatment effect not only by improving the delivery of nanovesicles but also by enhancing the HIFU thermal and mechanical effects in the tumor microenvironment, which is a highly effective targeted therapy for treating pancreatic cancer.
Keywords: multifunctional nanovesicles, cancer stem cells, high-intensity focused ultrasound, in vivo fluorescent imaging, ultrasonic imaging