Polynorepinephrine Nanoparticles: A Novel Photothermal Nanoagent for Chemo-Photothermal Cancer Therapy

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b03458
• Publication Date: 2019-05-15T10:35:21Z
• Authors: Xin Liu; Zhuo Xie; Wei Shi; Zi He; Yang Liu; Huling Su; Yanan Sun; Dongtao Ge
• Keywords: Photothermal effect; Cancer Therapy

Novel photothermal nanoagents (PTNAs) with excellent performance, smart-responsive property, and biocompatibility are in urgent need for precise chemo-photothermal cancer therapy. Herein, polynorepinephrine nanoparticles (PNE NPs) a high conversion efficiency (η) of 808 nm laser (67%), pH/thermal responsibility, little to no long-term toxicity were synthesized from an endogenic neurotransmitter norepinephrine. Compared their analogues, polydopamine NPs, widely used PTNA, PNE NPs exhibited higher η value (enhanced 1.63-fold) better cellular uptake 2.57-fold). After modifying polyethylene glycol (PEG) loading doxorubicin (DOX), PNE–PEG@DOX could realize responsive release DOX under either cytolysosome pH microenvironment (pH 5.0) or irradiation, resulting enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy DOX. Besides, vivo combination therapy leads nearly complete ablation tumor tissues, while significant side effects found normal tissues. Hence, this intelligent biocompatible nanoplatform based on holds great potential promoting the clinic transformation