Fe3O4 Composite Superparticles with RGD/Magnetic Dual-Targeting Capabilities for the Imaging and Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

ACS Omega. 2023 Feb 14;8(8):7891-7903. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07647. eCollection 2023 Feb 28.

Abstract

In clinical practice, the incidence and mortality of non-small cell lung cancer are increasing year by year, which is a serious threat to the health of patients. Once the optimal surgical window is missed, the toxic side effects of chemotherapy have to be confronted. With the rapid development of nanotechnology in recent years, medical science and health have been greatly impacted. Therefore, in this manuscript, we design and prepare chemotherapeutic drug vinorelbine (VRL)-loaded polydopamine (PDA) shell-coated Fe3O4 superparticles, and further graft the targeted ligand RGD onto their surface. Because of the introduction of the PDA shell, the toxicity of the prepared Fe3O4@PDA/VRL-RGD SPs is greatly reduced. At the same time, due to the existence of Fe3O4, the Fe3O4@PDA/VRL-RGD SPs also have MRI contrast capability. Under the dual-targeting effect of RGD peptide and external magnetic field, Fe3O4@PDA/VRL-RGD SPs can accumulate into tumors effectively. The accumulated superparticles in the tumor sites can not only effectively identify and mark the location and boundary of the tumor under MRI, guideing the application of near-infrared laser, but also release the loaded VRL under the stimulation of the acidic microenvironment of the tumor to play the role of chemotherapy. On further combination with photothermal therapy under laser irradiation, A549 tumors are completely eliminated without recurrence. Our proposed RGD/magnetic field dual-targeting strategy can effectively improve the bioavailability of nanomaterials and contribute to better imaging and therapeutic effects, which has a promising application prospect in the future.