Title:Self-Assembled Tocopherol-Albumin Nanoparticles with Full Biocompatibility
for Chemo-photothermal Therapy against Breast Cancer
Volume: 19
Issue: 1
Author(s): Haijun Shen, Qianqian Gao, Tingting Liu, Haoran Wang, Ran Zhang, Jie Zhou, Sihui Ding, Yang Ye and Zhenhua Sun*
Affiliation:
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University,
Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, China
Keywords:
Combination therapy, photothermal therapy, chemotherapy, biocompatibility, albumin nanoparticles, tocopherol.
Abstract: Background: The combination of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy has
proven to be a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Various nanomaterials have shown great potential
in combination therapy, including gold, graphene oxide, iron oxide, and other nanoparticles.
However, their undefinable toxicity in vivo greatly slowed down their development for clinical applications.
Objective: The present work aimed to develop a multifunctional nanoparticle for chemo-photothermal
therapy composed of acknowledged biocompatible materials.
Methods: A novel biocompatible nanoparticle (HIT-NPs) was self-assembled through the intrinsic
interaction between D-α-tocopherol Succinate (TOS), human serum albumin (HSA) and indocyanine
green (ICG). Doxorubicin (DOX) was then loaded due to the ion pairing between DOX and
TOS. The feasibility of combined chemo-photothermal therapy induced by DOX-loaded HIT-NPs
was carefully evaluated.
Results: In vitro, HIT-NPs showed no cytotoxicity on human normal liver cells (HL-7702 cells)
but obvious killing effects on murine breast cancer cells (4T1 cells). The combined chemo-photothermal
therapeutic effect on 4T1 cells was successfully obtained. DOX-loaded HIT-NPs could
effectively accumulate in 4T1 subcutaneous tumors after intravenous injection, and the tumor temperature
rapidly increased under laser exposure, indicating the feasibility of PTT in vivo.
Conclusion: The self-assembled HIT-NPs could provide a promising platform for combined chemo-
photothermal cancer therapy with full biocompatibility.