Background/aim: Sonodynamic cancer therapy is based on the preferential uptake and/or retention of a sonosensitizing drug (sonosensitizer) in tumor tissues and the subsequent activation of the drug by ultrasound irradiation. In the present study, we investigated the sonodynamically-induced antitumoral effect with functionalized carbon nanotubes, such as poly-ethylene glycol-modified carbon nanotubes (PEG-modified CNTs).
Materials and methods: Antitumor effects were evaluated using histological observation and assessing tumor growth following sonodynamic exposure to PEG-modified CNTs.
Results: The combined treatment of 100 μM PEG-modified CNT and ultrasound induced a 2-fold cytotoxicity. Sodium azide, which quenches singlet oxygen, significantly inhibited ultrasonication induced cell damage in the presence of PEG-modified CNTs. This suggests that singlet oxygen produced by the combined use of PEG-modified CNTs and ultrasound is involved in the induction of antitumoral effects. The destruction of tumor tissue was observed with the ultrasonic treatment in combination with PEG-modified CNTs, while neither the treatment with PEG-modified CNTs alone nor ultrasound alone caused any necrosis.
Conclusion: These results indicate that PEG-modified CNT functions as a sonosensitizer and is effective for sonochemical treatment of solid tumors.
Keywords: Ultrasound; colon 26; nanomedicine; poly-ethylene glycol-modified carbon nanotubes; sarcoma 180; sonodynamic therapy.
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