The objective was to use
carbon nanotubes (CNT) coupled with near-infrared radiation (NIR) to induce
hyperthermia as a novel non-ionizing radiation treatment for
primary brain tumors,
glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In this study, we report the therapeutic potential of
hyperthermia-induced thermal ablation using the sequential administration of
carbon nanotubes (CNT) and NIR. In vitro studies were performed using
glioma tumor cell lines (U251, U87, LN229, T98G).
Glioma cells were incubated with CNTs for 24 h followed by exposure to NIR for 10 min.
Glioma cells preferentially internalized CNTs, which upon NIR exposure, generated heat, causing necrotic cell death. There were minimal effects to normal cells, which correlate to their minimal uptake of CNTs. Furthermore, this protocol caused cell death to
glioma cancer stem cells, and
drug-resistant as well as
drug-sensitive
glioma cells. This sequential
hyperthermia therapy was effective in vivo in the rodent
tumor model resulting in
tumor shrinkage and no recurrence after only one treatment. In conclusion, this sequence of selective CNT administration followed by NIR activation provides a new approach to the treatment of
glioma, particularly
drug-resistant
gliomas.