Enzyme-responsive novel nanoparticles for combined tumor-selective chemotherapy and photothermal therapy

Abstract

The nanotechnology has been applied to the biomedical applications due to its advantageous features over the conventional cancer treatments. The main advantage of nanoparticles is the ability to avoid renal clearance and prolong retention of the drug in biological environment. Despites the benefits of nanomedicine, there is a need to develop multi-functional nanomedicine to kill the carcinoma cells efficiently and to minimize side-effects. In this project, a multifunctional anti-cancer nanomedicine is synthesized using novel materials and the two main characteristics of the product includes photothermal effects and specificity to tumor sites. This allows the Prussian blue nanoparticles to kill the cancer cells by ablation and the side effects is reduced as the nanomedicine will be directed specifically to the gelatinase that resides in carcinoma tissues. Furthermore, upon interaction with the gelatinase, the gelatin is digested and DOX, a cancer drug is released to kill the carcinoma cells. Hence, the purpose of this project is to synthesize a multifunctional anti-cancer nanomedicine and to determine the efficiency of the drug.