We have developed redox-sensitive
folic acid-conjugated
PCL-PEG-PCL (PCEP) nanoparticles for co-delivering chemotherapeutic agent
doxorubicin (DOX) and imaging and
hyperthermia agent
indocyanine green (ICG) with simultaneous imaging and combined
therapy for
breast cancer. DOX and ICG were entrapped into PCEP nanoparticles through the thin-film hydration and ultrasonic dispersion. Then nanoparticles were surface decorated with
folic acid ligands against FR overexpressing breast
cancers.
Drug-loading nanoparticles exhibited an enhanced reduction-sensitivity in the presence of 10 mM
glutathione. Nanoparticle-mediated treatment had synergistic cytotoxicity against
mammary cancer cells. The conjugation of
folic acid improved the uptake of nanoparticles in EMT-6
breast cancer overexpressing cell lines, and the uptake efficacy of DOX was remarkably increased by the
laser irradiation. Furthermore, ex vivo fluorescence imaging confirmed that
folate conjugation also improved
drug accumulation in
tumor. Our unique FA-DINPs system has potential for combination of
chemotherapy and
photothermal therapy for
breast cancer.