Tissue Eng Regen Med.  2022 Dec;19(6):1161-1168. 10.1007/s13770-022-00468-y.

Silica-Capped and Gold-Decorated Silica Nanoparticles for Enhancing Effect of Gold Nanoparticle-Based Photothermal Therapy

• Park JH
• Choe HS
• Kim SW
• Im GB
• Um SH
• Kim JH
• Bhang SH

• KMID: 2536447
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-022-00468-y

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Various methods based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been applied to enhance the photothermal effect. Among these methods, combining gold nanoparticles and stem cells has been suggested as a new technique for elevating the efficiency of photothermal therapy (PT) in terms of enhancing tumor targeting effect. However, to elicit the efficiency of PT using gold nanoparticles and stem cells, delivering large amounts of AuNPs into stem cells without loss should be considered.
METHODS
AuNPs, AuNPs-decorated silica nanoparticles, and silica-capped and AuNPs-decorated silica nanoparticles (SGSs) were synthesized and used to treat human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). After evaluating physical properties of each nanoparticle, the concentration of each nanoparticle was estimated based on its cytotoxicity to hMSCs. The amount of AuNPs loss from each nanoparticle by exogenous physical stress was evaluated after exposing particles to a gentle shaking. After these experiments, in vitro and in vivo photothermal effects were then evaluated.
RESULTS
SGS showed no cytotoxicity when it was used to treat hMSCs at concentration up to 20 lg/mL. After intravenous injection to tumor-bearing mice, SGS-laden hMSCs group showed significantly higher heat generation than other groups following laser irradiation. Furthermore, in vivo photothermal effect in the hMSC-SGS group was significantly enhanced than those in other groups in terms of tumor volume decrement and histological outcome.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that additional silica layer in SGSs could protect AuNPs from physical stress induced AuNPs loss. The strategy applied in SGS may offer a prospective method to improve PT.

Keyword

Gold nanoparticles; Silica capping; Photothermal therapy