Targeted photothermal ablation of murine melanomas with melanocyte-stimulating hormone analog-conjugated hollow gold nanospheres.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To develop melanoma-targeted hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS) and evaluate their potential utility for selective photothermal ablation in melanoma.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

A new class of photothermal coupling agents based on HAuNS was synthesized. HAuNS were stabilized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) coating and attached with alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) analog, [Nle4,D-Phe7]alpha-MSH (NDP-MSH), which is a potent agonist of melanocortin type-1 receptor overexpressed in melanoma. The intracellular uptake of the NDP-MSH-conjugated PEGylated HAuNS (NDP-MSH-PEG-HAuNS) and the distribution of beta-arrestin were examined in murine B16/F10 melanoma cells. The biodistribution of NDP-MSH-PEG-HAuNS was assessed at 4 hours post i.v. injection in tumor-bearing nude mice. Photothermal ablation effect of the nanoparticles was evaluated both histologically using excised tissue and functionally by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.

RESULTS:

NDP-MSH-PEG-HAuNS consist only of a thin gold wall with hollow interior (outer diameter, 43.5 +/- 2.3 nm; shell thickness, 3-4 nm), which displays strong and tunable resonance absorption in near-IR region (peak, 808 nm). The nanoparticles were specifically taken up by melanoma cells, which initiated the recruitment of beta-arrestins, the adapters to link the activated G-protein-coupled receptors to clathrin, indicating the involvement of receptor-mediated endocytosis. This resulted in enhanced extravasation of NDP-MSH-PEG-HAuNS from tumor blood vessels and their dispersion into tumor matrix compared with nonspecific PEGylated HAuNS. Successful selective photothermal ablation of B16/F10 melanoma with targeted HAuNS was confirmed by histologic and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography evaluation at 24 hours post near IR-region laser irradiation at a low-dose energy of 30 J/cm2.

CONCLUSION:

NDP-MSH-PEG-HAuNS have the potentials to mediate targeted photothermal ablation of melanoma.

• Authors: Wei Lu, Chiyi Xiong, Guodong Zhang, Qian Huang, Rui Zhang, Jin Z Zhang, Chun Li
• Journal: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 15 Issue 3 Pg. 876-86 (Feb 01 2009) ISSN: 1078-0432 [Print] United States
• PMID: 19188158 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• alpha-MSH
• Gold
• MSH, 4-Nle-7-Phe-alpha-

Topics

• Ablation Techniques (methods)
• Alpha Particles
• Animals
• Gold
• Melanoma, Experimental (therapy)
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Nanospheres (therapeutic use)
• Phototherapy (methods)
• alpha-MSH (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)