Robust boron nanoplatform provokes potent tumoricidal activities via inhibiting heat shock protein

Yuying Zhao; Ning Liu; Piaoxue Liu; Taojian Fan; Rui Ma; Huijie Hong; Xiaojia Chen; Zhongjian Xie; Han Zhang; Qi Wang; Tongkai Chen

doi:10.1016/j.ajps.2022.06.003

Robust boron nanoplatform provokes potent tumoricidal activities via inhibiting heat shock protein

Asian J Pharm Sci. 2022 Aug;17(5):728-740. doi: 10.1016/j.ajps.2022.06.003. Epub 2022 Jul 29.

Authors

Yuying Zhao¹, Ning Liu^{2

3}, Piaoxue Liu¹, Taojian Fan^{2

3}, Rui Ma¹, Huijie Hong⁴, Xiaojia Chen⁴, Zhongjian Xie^{5

6}, Han Zhang², Qi Wang¹, Tongkai Chen¹

Affiliations

¹ Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China.
² Institute of Microscale Optoelectronics, Collaborative Innovation Centre for Optoelectronic Science & Technology, Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Photonic Information Technology, Guangdong Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy (SZ), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
³ College of Health Science and Environmental Engineering, School of Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
⁵ Institute of Pediatrics, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518038, China.
⁶ Shenzhen International Institute for Biomedical Research, Shenzhen 518116, China.

Abstract

Near-infrared (NIR)-light-triggered photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising treatment for breast cancer. However, its therapeutic efficiency is often compromised due to the heat-induced up-regulation of heat shock proteins, which confer photothermal resistance. To solve this urgent problem, PEGylated two-dimensional boron nanosheets (B-PEG)-which allow both multimodal imaging and photothermal conversion-were loaded with gambogic acid (GA), which can inhibit heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Experimental findings indicated that this combination of B-PEG and GA could serve as an integrated drug delivery system for cancer diagnosis and treatment. It could be used to administer mild PTT as well as chemotherapy for breast cancer, provide improved anti-tumor effects, and reduce the toxicity of PTT, all while inhibiting breast cancer growth. This drug delivery system could offer a novel tool for administering chemotherapy combined with PTT while avoiding the adverse effects of traditional PTT.

Keywords: Boron nanosheets; Breast cancer; Chemotherapy; Heat shock proteins; Mild photothermal therapy.