Development of two-component nanorod complex for dual-fluorescence imaging and siRNA delivery

J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2014 Sep;24(9):1291-9. doi: 10.4014/jmb.1406.06055.

Abstract

Recently, multifunctional nanomaterials have been developed as nanotherapeutic agents for cellular imaging and targeted cancer treatment because of their ease of synthesis and low cytotoxicity. In this study, we developed a multifunctional, two-component nanorod consisting of gold (Au) and nickel (Ni) blocks that enables dual-fluorescence imaging and the targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to improve cancer treatment. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) peptides were attached to the surface of a Ni block via a histidine-tagged LHRH interaction to specifically bind to a breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. The Au block was modified with TAMRA-labeled thiolated siRNA in order to knock down the vascular endothelial growth factor protein to inhibit cancer growth. These two-component nanorods actively targeted and internalized into MCF-7 cells to induce apoptosis through RNA interference. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using two-component nanorods as a potential theranostic in breast cancer treatment, with capabilities in dual imaging and targeted gene delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry*
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism
  • Gold
  • Humans
  • Nanotubes / chemistry*
  • Nickel
  • Optical Imaging / methods*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / chemistry*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Gold
  • Nickel