A Multimodal Theranostic System Prepared from High-Density Lipoprotein Carrier of Doxorubicin and 177Lu

J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2021 Nov 1;17(11):2125-2141. doi: 10.1166/jbn.2021.3179.

Abstract

Recently, it was demonstrated that doxorubicin (Dox.HCl), a chemotherapeutic agent, could be photoactivated by Cerenkov radiation (CR). The objective of the present work was to develop a multimodal chemotherapy-radiotherapy-photodynamic therapeutic system based on reconstituted high-density lipoprotein (rHDL) loaded with Dox.HCl and 177Lu-DOTA. 177Lu acts as a therapeutic radionuclide and CR source. The system can be visualized by nuclear imaging. Fluorescence microscopy showed that rHDL-Dox specifically recognized cancer cells (T47D) that are positive for SR-B1 receptors. Encapsulated Dox.HCl was released into the cells and produced reactive oxygen species when irradiated with a 450-nm laser (photodynamic effect). The same effect occurred when Dox.HCl was irradiated by 177Lu CR. Through in vitro experiments, it was confirmed that the addition of 177Lu-DOTA to the rHDL-Dox nanosystem did not affect the specific recognition of SR-B1 receptors expressed in cells, or the cellular internalization of 177Lu-DOTA. The toxicity induced by the rHDL-Dox/177Lu nanosystem in cell lines with high (T47D and PC3), poor (H9C2) and almost-zero (human fibroblasts (FB)) expression of SR-B1 was evaluated in vitro and confirmed the synergy of the combined chemotherapy-radiotherapy-photodynamic therapeutic effect; this induced toxicity was proportional to the expression of the SR-B1 receptor on the surface of the cells used. The HDL-Dox/177Lu nanosystem experienced uptake by tumor cells and the liver-both tissues with high expression of SR-B1 receptors-but not by the heart. 177Lu CR offered the possibility of imparting photodynamic therapy where laser light could not reach.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers*
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, HDL
  • Lutetium / pharmacology
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Precision Medicine
  • Radioisotopes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Lipoproteins, HDL
  • Radioisotopes
  • Lutetium
  • Doxorubicin
  • Lutetium-177