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Research Article

Targeting pancreatic cancer with magneto-fluorescent theranostic gold nanoshells

    Wenxue Chen‡

    Division of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Mail: BCM 360, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA and Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University/Hebei Province Tumor Hospital, 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050011, China

    ‡Authors contributed equally

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    ,
    Ciceron Ayala-Orozco‡

    Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA

    ‡Authors contributed equally

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    ,
    Nrusingh C Biswal

    Division of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Mail: BCM 360, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Carlos Perez-Torres

    Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Marc Bartels

    Division of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Mail: BCM 360, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Rizia Bardhan

    Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA

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    ,
    Gary Stinnet

    Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Xian-De Liu

    Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Baoan Ji

    Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Guggenheim 13-21B. Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA

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    ,
    Amit Deorukhkar

    Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Lisa V Brown

    Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA

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    ,
    Sushovan Guha

    Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Robia G Pautler

    Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Sunil Krishnan

    Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    ,
    Naomi J Halas

    Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA and Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA

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    &
    Amit Joshi

    * Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: amitj@bcm.edu

    Division of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Mail: BCM 360, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA

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    Published Online:14 Aug 2014https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm.13.84

    Abstract

    Aim: We report a magneto-fluorescent theranostic nanocomplex targeted to neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) for imaging and therapy of pancreatic cancer. Materials & methods: Gold nanoshells resonant at 810 nm were encapsulated in silica epilayers doped with iron oxide and the near-infrared (NIR) dye indocyanine green, resulting in theranostic gold nanoshells (TGNS), which were subsequently conjugated with antibodies targeting NGAL in AsPC-1-derived xenografts in nude mice. Results: Anti-NGAL-conjugated TGNS specifically targeted pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo providing contrast for both NIR fluorescence and T2-weighted MRI with higher tumor contrast than can be obtained using long-circulating, but nontargeted, PEGylated nanoparticles. The nanocomplexes also enabled highly specific cancer cell death via NIR photothermal therapy in vitro. Conclusion: TGNS with embedded NIR and magnetic resonance contrasts can be specifically targeted to pancreatic cancer cells with expression of early disease marker NGAL, and enable molecularly targeted imaging and photothermal therapy.

    Original submitted 6 November 2012; Revised submitted 25 March 2013

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest

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